ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3743, 8 December 1925, Page 11

ANGLICAN CHURCH.

BISHOP TO MAORI RACE. NEW SYNODICAL ORGANISATION. WELLINGTON, December 3. The General Synod of the Anglican Church, now sitting in Wellington, has practically accomplished th e work for which is was specially convened. The appointment of a bishop to the Maori race is as sured and a synodical organisation created. The name of the new Maori diocese will b e ‘Ao-te-aroa.” The special session of the General Synod of the Church of England, Province of New Zealand, has for the past two days had under consideration a proposal to appoint a separate diocese and bishop for the Maori people. The proposals before the Synod, which were fully outlined by Archbishop Averill in his address, were submitted to the Synod by a commission appointed to carry out the requests of the Maori Committee which had been acceded to by the conference held earlier in the year at Rotorua. These requests were: 1. That the Maori mission work should be united into mission for the whole of the Province of New Zealand. 2. That the mission be constituted with a bishop at its head and with archdeacons to be members of the Maori race working under H.M. Synod and the Standing Committee. 3. That the mission be given representation in the General Synod. 4. That there should be in each archdeaconry a board. Th e report indicated that stimulation of interest among th e Maori race would ensure the requisite permanence. It also indicated the preference of Maoris for a Maori bishop, but the point would not be stressed in view of the difficulties which must be met in the initiation of the new organisation The Bill creates a new diocese at Te Aute (Hawke’s Bay), which has been tho seat of education of the Maoris in connection with the Anglican Mission from very early times. The position achieved as the matter stands at present is as follows: (1) An organisation is granted to Maoris under the Church and its creed and constitution to manage their own spiritual affairs as best adapted to their racial temperament and habits; (2) a bishop, either European or Maori, is to be appointed by Maoris in concert with bishops of the province, special provision for the first election being arranged; (3) this appointment can be made forthwith after the meeting of Synod or at a meeting of Synod, or at such period as technical arrangements can be mode. It is generally admitted by members of Synod to be a tremendous experiment justified by facts that Maoris (1) now, if ever, are fitted for enfranchisement; (2) that the beneficial results of European supervision have been carried as far as possible; (0 that Maoris for tho future are placed upon equality with Europeans as having synodical representation in the General Synod which, heretofore, they have never possessed.