CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 41

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

GENERAL SYNOD. NAPIER, April 30. The Anglican General Synod opened today, when the members were accorded a civic reception by tha Mayor. After the roll call and prayer the Primate read his address. The usual sessional committee was appointed. To-morrow will be a quiet day, with a missionary meeting in the evening. May 1. The Anglican General Synod set up a committee to consider the condition of the Melanesian Mission. A select committee was appointed to consider the advisability of establishing a central institution for the.training of teachers for church schools. A select committee was appointed to consider the question of establishing a provincial church in Napier. A motion was carried requesting the bishops to permit the use of the new table of lessons in their various dioceses. A committee has been set up to consider questions relating to the primary conference of laity to consider the inadequacy of clerical stipends, and will meet on Friday morning. The mover believed in a living wage, and thought the high cost of living would continue. The clergy were heavy sufferers. A committee was set up to consider the creation of new dioceses, a petition to this effect from Taranaki being read. May 2. The General Synod appointed a commission to consider what is being done by the Convocation in England regarding the revision of the Prayer Book, and to report at next session of the General Synod. The work, of the Military Affairs Committee in connection with the war was highly eulogised, and the committee was re-ap-pointed to deal with questions connected with returned soldiers and Territorial camps. A Bill for extending the franchise to women passed its second reading. May 5.

At the Anglican Synod to-day resolutions expressing appreciation of the chaplain's work and of the work of the late Bishop Williams were' carried. The General Synod, on a division, passed a resolution affirming the desirability of admitting women as churchwardens and members of the vestry. The second reading of a bill for an alternative confirmation of the franchise was defeated by the lay votes. May 6. At the General Anglican Synod meeting to-day the Laymen's Committee recommended a considerable increase in clerical stipends, which are now utterly inadequate. The Synod expressed recognition of the noble response of churchmen to the call of the Empire, sympathy with bereaved parents and wives and the sick and disabled, its hope for prompt liberal Government treatment of disabled, and appreciation of the work of the Church Army. The speakers condemned the Government treatment of consumptives, who were being discharged uncured. The Synod recommended the promoting of church schools in the centres of population. May 7. At the Anglican General Synod the Primate announced that, owing to the strain of Synod business, he would leave for Dunedin next morning (Thursday). The Bishop of Nelson was enthusiastically received on his return from the front. ■ The Primate announced that the Archbishop of Canterbury had conferred on him (the Bishop of Nelson) the honorary degree of D.D. A scheme for the formation of a new diocese of Tajanaki was heartily approved. The committee on the primacy question recommended the fixed primacy at Wellington. The Bishop of Nelson 'will leave for his home to-morrow morning. May 8.

At the General Synod today, speaking on the question of reviving the Bible-in-Schools League, the Bishop of Wellington said that modern civilisation were merely nominally Christian, but was really heathen, with a tincture of Christianity. Religious education by convinced Christian teachers was necessary. Canon P. T. Williams all the social evils to the absence of religion from the education system. The whole-hearted support of ohurch schools was essential. A Bill regulating the mode of election of the Primate passed its second reading. May 9. At the meeting of the General Synod of the Anglican Church to-rjay, Archdeacons Richards, Williams, and Johnson, Canons Tisdall and Purchase, and the Dean of Nelson were elected a Board of Theological Studies. The report to a select committee on Melanesiar. affairs justified the recent action of the mission staff for the adjustment of difficulties, and promised sympathetic consideration of such proposals as they mis-lit make. The Bishop of Wellington, Archdeacon Williams, and Messrs T. P. Martin, H. D. Andrews, and J. W. Henderson were elected as a standing committee, and authorised to appoint a on tho fundamental clauses of the constitution. A vigorous debate took place on alleged

widespread immorality. The speakers attrl* butod it largely to the secular school system, A Bill on a Fixed Primacy wag relegated t 6 tlic Diocesan Synods for consideration. ThJ» question of inudequuto stipends for clergy was discussed. Laymen ttrongly advocated! a considerable increase. May 12. At the meeting of the General Synod ol the Anglican Church to-day Archdeacon, Kcmpthorno presented the r?po:t of th# committee on accounts and financial matters, which was adopted. The Bishop of Auckland, in moving the' adoption of the report of tlio Select Conii mittee which was appointed to consider thej present condition of the Melanesian Alia. sion, said that all deeply regretted tha resignation through ill-health of the Right Rev. C J. Wood as bishop. He also stated that a commission was set up by the siori to carry en the affairs of the' diocpse hi the meantime, and that the staff had adopted the only course which was open to it. On the motion of the Dean of Waiapu, i& was resolved that tho thanks of the Synod be given to the Rev. J. A. Asher, Modera-tor-elect of the Presbyterian Church of Neyf Zealand, for his gracious letter of greeting, and that tho writer be informed that hrf kind wishes ere reciprocated by this Synoav * It was resolved that the next session of the General Synod will be held in Auckland on April 27, 1920. Various bills were passed through theijl final stages. Votes of thanks were passed, and letter* of welcome are to be sent to General Si* Andrew Rus&ell and General Richardson. Tho Synod then closed with a short thanksgiving service in the cathedral.