GENERAL SYNOD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 698, 6 May 1916, Page 3

GENERAL SYNOD.

THE TWENTIETH SESSION. SITTINGS CONTINUED. The sittings of the twentieth session of the General Synod of the i Church of the Province of New Zea-j land were continued yesterday. The Primate, the Most Rev. S. T. Nevill, D.D., Bishop of Dunedin, presided. On the motion of Archdeacon I Richards (Dunedin Diocese), the Synod expressed its high apprecia-i tion of 'he life and work of the late Veil. Hc.ry George Gould, sometime j vicar of St. Paul's, Dunedin, and Archdeacon of Dunedin, and former-' ly a member of the Synod. Arch-J deacon Richards paid a tribute to, the work and character of the late Archdeacon Gould. He was follow-' ed by other speakers, including' Archdeacon Gosset, who spoke of Archdeacon Gould's work as a parish | priest in several- parishes of the' Christchurch Diocese, for manyl years before he went to the diocese of Dunedin. The Primate joined with the other speakers in expressing the Synod's sense of its deep loss CENTRAL CONSULTATIVE BODY. Archdeacon Richards moved—(l) "That in accordance with a resolution of the Lambeth Conference this Synod appoint a member to represent the Church of the Province of New Zealand on the central consultative body," and (2) "That the Right Rev. Bishop Wallis be the member to so represent the Church of the j Province of New Zealand." There was considerable discussion J on this subject. The bench of bishops had invited Bishop Wallis to sit as their representative on the central consultative body. This had been done because the Archbishop of Canterbury had invited the bishops to nominate a representative. It was made clear that as a representative of the episcopal bench Bishop Wallis did not officially represent the Church of the Province of New Zealand. Several members of the Synod expressed the fear that if the General Synod appointed a representative on the central consultative body, it would cause the pronouncements of that bodv to be binding upon the Church of the Province of New Zealand. Archdeacon MacMurrav (Auckland) drew the attention of the Syond to the fact that the Lambeth Conference is but an aggregation of bishops of the Anglican Church, and while its findings should be received with respect by Churchmen throughout the world, they were not necessarily binding on the various provinces. It was quite competent for the bishops to appoint a representative on the central body, but if the General Synod were to appoint any representative it would take the first step toward creating a body to have legislative authority over the! Church in New Zealand. It was: better to leave the position as at present. On the motion of the Bishop of Waiapu, the Synod proceeded to the next order of the day, thus taking no action in the matter of representation on the central consultative body. READING OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. Dean Carrington (Christchurch) moved:—"That the bishops of the province be respeetfullv asked to consult as to what plan may best be adopted to render the reading of the Holy Scripture in the public services of the Church more profitable to the congregations, by means of a supplementary lectionary or otherwise; and give the necessary instructions to their clergy."—This was carried. FRANCHISE FOR DIOCESAN SYNODS. Archdeacon H. W. Williams (Waiapu) moved the second reading of a Rill to so amend Title B, Canon 11, Clause 1, as to provide that a clergyman in deacon's orders who shall be entitled to a scat in the Diocesan Synod should not be entitled to a vote. This was seconded by the Rev| A. Neild. (Melanesia). After some discussion, in which the proposal was opposed as a retrogressive one and as involving a wrong principle in further limiting the franchise, the second reading was negatived. TRANSACTIONS IN LAND. Mr J. B. Fielder moved the second reading of a Bill to amend Title F, Canon 111, Clause 3, the object of which was to empower a diocese owning land in another diocese to sell or exchange such land without reference to the Diocesan Svnod of the diocese in which the land is situated. The second reading was carried, and the Synod went into committee to further consider the Bill. However, the wording of the Bill did not find general favour, as it was likely to adversely afreet Melanesian «Mission property situated in the Diocese of Auckland. Eventually the committee obtained leave to sit again. PROPOSED TARANAKI BISHOPRIC. On the motion of the Bishop of Auckland, a commission, consisting of the Bishop of Wellington, the Bishop of Waiapu, Archdeacon Cowie, Archdeacon Reeve, Mr C. J. Tunks, Mr W- J. Birch, and (he mover, was set up to reconsider the boundaries of the suggested Taranaki bishopric and to report to the present Synod. The boundaries of the proposed new bishopric had been already practically fixed by General Synod, in readiness for the time when the bishopric could he established, but the clergy in the archdeaconry of Taranaki had passed a resolution asking General Synod to reconsider the matter of the suggesfed boundaries. The Bishop of Auckland pointed out that the building of a new railway from Strafford to the Main Trunk line, through the King Country, should be taken into consideration in this matter. He had no desire personally to give up any part of his diocese al the present time, but for (he good of the Church he was prepared to give up any part when General Synod decided that the time for a new bishopric had come. The Synod adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on Monday.