ANGLICAN SYNOD

Otago Witness, Issue 3557, 16 May 1922, Page 51

ANGLICAN SYNOD

COMMUNITY MORALS DISCUSSED. AUCKLAND, May 8. Comments upon, the moral condition of thp community were contained in the report of the Sessional Committee on Social Services, presented to the Anglican General Synod to-day by Bishop Sedgwick. “That there are grave reasons for disquiet none can doubt,” stated the report, “and those who have the best opportunity of judging are foremost in warning us that all is not well with our children and young people ” The committee suggested that the Synod should initiate a movement of earnest prayer in every parish. It was felt that there was need for reform in the presentation of Christianity. They needed an enlightened view of Sunday observance, which, while emphasising the duty and joy of warship, would recognise reasonable demands for recreation on the weekly day of rest. Again, the cause of purity would be appraised by more definite teaching about reverence to the body as the temple of the Holy Ghost, and about, the sac-redness of all bodily functions as God’s provision for the carrying out of His Own purposes. It had also to be admitted (the report continued) that many of the things which they deplored were the mistaken expression of a God-given instinct for beauty and romance. The committee called upon the clergy, teachers, and other leaders of the church to emphasise these points, and to seek not so much to (repress, but rather to sanctify the primitive instincts of humanity. BIBLE-IN-SOHOOLS QUESTION. Regarding the Bible-in-sehools question, Synod carried two resolutions, as follow: ‘‘That the General Synod, having at previous sessions adopted the programme of the Bib!e-in-State Schools League, in unison with the authorities of other churches,, can only modify that programme in consultation with those authorities, and therefore respectfully requests the bishops, in conference with the heads of other Christian bodies, and later with representatives of the Education Department and of the State school teachers, to find with as little delay as possible some method acceptable to all State school teachers to give religious instruction to children in school hours.” “And be urged—(l) To make all possible use of the facilities at present available for religious instiruoliioin of school children. (2) To try to organise and equip parochial bands of teachers willing to help them in this work. (3) To try to create a united public opinion in favour of the religious instruction of the children in the dominion: and that the Synod call upon the whole church of the province seriously to consider the advisability of persevering in the policy of building church schools wherever it is found to be practicable. MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES. Bishop Steward moved that the Synod approves the appointment of two assistant bishops for the missionary diocese of Melanesia, one to work in the southern part, including the New Hebrides, Banks, Torres Groups, and adjacent islands, and one to initiate work in those islands of the Solomon Group, lately under the rule of the German Empire. Bishop Steward said the natives of the islands governed by the condominium were in urgent need of an ecclesiastical head. No one was satisfied with condominium rule, and everybody in touch with the islands felt that the existing rule must come to an end. In the southern portion of Melanesia the difficulties were great. There was a great danger from the drink traffic, and the natives were depressed and miserable. The islanders were now in the third generation of Christianity, yet there were recrudescences of heathen customs. It was only in the southern islands where a bad state -of morals obtained, and it was there that an assistant bishop was rteed/.d. The stipend on a moderate scale was ilready guaranteed. He did not propose the church should trespass on the Presbyterian sphere in the New Hebrides, though permission to carry on work there had been given by the Presbyterian' Mission, should the Anglican mission have men to spare. Part of the assistant bishop’s duties, however, would probably be to visit this sphere. The Presbyterian Chqrch was doing a most noble work in these islands, and he took an opportunity to express the Melanesian mission’s gratitude for the great work done there. Tlie motion was .carried unanimously. The Synod carried a motion asking the Primate to urge upon the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge the need for _ appointing chaplains to ships carrying imniigrants. This motion also urged the appointment of an honorary central organiser, and that each bishop appoint an Immigrant Reception Coarlmittee in his diocese. The Rev. LI. D. Blackburn (Palmerston North) was appointed (honorary central organiser Tlie Chairman of the Sessional Committee on Social Services (Bishop Sedgwick) moved that the Synod records its conviction that while repressive measures have their place i.n checking the social evils of the day, the effective remedy must be positive and spiritual, and therefore calls upon church people (1) to support every effort which strives after a higher moral', intellectual, and spiritual standard in the life of the nat ion; r&'i (2) to pray daily that the Holy Spirit may sanctify the soul's and bodies of the people of the dominion. The Rev. H. Parata (Dunedin) moved an amendment, by way of addition, that church people bq called upon to initiate, where possible, intercessory services for citizens. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the motion was carried bv acclamation. The next meeting will be held in Dunedin in 1925. The Synod concluded to-night.