Anglican Genaral Synod.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6751, 4 February 1892, Page 2

Anglican Genaral Synod.

(By TfiLaaBAPH. j WELLINGTON. Fbb. 3, The twelfth session of the General Synod of the Church of the Province of New Zealand was opened this afternoon. Amongst the delegates are the Primate, the Bishops of Chriato iuroh, Auckland, Waiapu, and Dunedin, Dean Jacobs and Dean Bo veil, Archdeacons Harper, Fancourt, Clarke, Dudley, L. Williams, S. Williams, Mules, and Malcolm. In bis address, which was of considerable length, the Primate alluded to the absence of Bishop Suter and Bishop Selwyn from this meeting of the Synod, and expressed his deep regret at the circumstances which prevented their attendance. With regard to Bishop Selwyn His Lordship mentioned that be had received a letter from him, iu which be said that as two distinguished surgeons ia London had distinctly stated their opinion that he could never again be fit for the work he had been engaged in, he bad (though he did so in much sorrow) forwarded bis resignation of the Bishopric of Melanesia. After dealing exhaustively with early church history and (he state of the canon laws, His Lordship passed on to the question of the establishment of a Theological College for the whole province. He held that if the Anglican Church were to educate her own clergy, and it was becoming every day more evident that this must be done, means must bo afforded to students of obtaining moderate scholarship here, in his opinion the establishment of a Theological College for the whole province was urgently needed. His Loiiship observed that attempts had reoendy been made in Parliament to facilitate divorce, and be feared that the Church could not bring any influence to bear upon the State that was at all likely to arrest the extension of the existing demoralising law on this subj ct. He said be had long held (hat divorce, implying liberty to marry another, was not justifiable ; in fact, it was absolutely forbidden by the Word of Qod Touching on the education system he said that be nauet express his fear that the result of our present system would, if persevered in, prove injurious to the well-being of the colony. In the present circumstances he could see no other course than to make every possible effort to establish church schools. Referring to Church work among the Maoris, he expressed regret that more interest was not taken in the religious condition of the original population of these islands. In closing bis address His Lordship informed the Synod that ho had 1 received from a majority of tbo standing I committees of .the dioceses the confirmation

of the Venerable Archdeacon Mules’ nomination to the See of Nelson.

Archdeacon Harper gave notice to move—- “ That, »n the opinion of this Synod, it is desirable that the Education Act should be amended so as to contain a provision far grants in aid of the maintenance of schools set on foot by any religious denomination, provided that the secular instruction given in such schools shall come up to the required standards and satisfy the Government Inspectors ; and further that the Legislature be petitioned to the foregoing effect.” The Bishop of Waiapu gave notice to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the canons in such a manner that women as well as men shall be permitted to vote at parish meetings. The Synod then adjourned. Latee. The service in connection with the opening of the Anglican Synod was at St. Paul’s procathedral this evening. The sermon wee delivered by Bishop Oowie, of Auckland.