GENERAL SYNOD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 700, 9 May 1916, Page 2

GENERAL SYNOD.

THE TWENTIETH SESSION.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

The sittings of the General Synod were continued yesterday afternoon after The Sun had gone to press.

Dean (Harrington presented the report of the Select Committee appointed lo consider and report on the supply and training of candidates for the ministry in this province. The report referred lo the very large number of theological students who had gone lo the front, and indicated that at some of the seminaries (here were no theological students left. The report further staled that the lime had gone by when candidates for the ministry could be expected to maintain themselves during the period of training. Such maintenance must be regarded as a primary charge on ine funds of the Church. Dean Carrington gave notice lo move that the report he submitted to a commission of the Synod of the diocese.

The Dean of Dunedin moved:—

"That the Synod records its high estimate of the life and work of Charles Christie Graham, for many years Chancellor of the Diocese of Dunedin, and sometime a member of this Synod." The mover said that Mr Graham was always ready to give his lime and attention and experience to the service of the Church. The molion was seconded by Mr E. Balcohn Brown, and passed.

The Bev. A. M. Johnson moved:— "That the thanks of this Synod be accorded to the Rev. H. .1. Rogers for the inspiring and elevating addresses given by him to the members of Synod on the Quiet Day."—This was carried.

Mr J. Henderson moved:—"That consideration of the report of the eommiltec appointed by the session of 1913 on the amalgamation of the Pension Funds of the province be an order of the dav for Monday, May 8."

It was pointed out that the report had not been printed, and Thursday, 11th, was substituted. Archdeacon Williams moved:— "Thai the Te Aute Trust Board Incorporated be authorised to raise a loan not exceeding £15,000 on their property, for the further development of the work and the improvement of the estate and premises, provided that arrangements be made for a sinking fund to extinguish the loan in 15 years." The motion was passed after information concerning the proposal had been given. A number of motions dealing with several northern properties, proposed by Dean Williams, were passed. Archdeacon Mac Murray moved: — "That this Svnod has learned with great regret that the Right Rev. W. L. Williams is unable through infirmity of body to be present at this session of the General Synod. The General Synod desires to express its keen appreciation of the services which Bishop Williams has rendered to the Church of the Province of New Zealand, practically through her whole history, and is sensible of the loss it sustains by his inability to give it at this time the benefit of his ripened knowledge and counsel, and prays that in his bodily weakness God's peace will keep him in safe keeping." Archdeacon Mac Murray said that Bishop Williams was the most picturesque figure.in the Church in this country. He had sat at eight General Synods with Bishop Williams, and he had never risen from attending the Synod without feeling that there was one man present whose knowledge and wisdom could sleer them safely through all diflicullies. The motion was seconded by Mr J. B. Fielder, who said that tfie Church owed Bishop Williams a deep debt of gratitude. In speaking of (he virtues of the Bishop, he felt as if he were trying to paint the moon.

The Bishop of Auckland said that, having succeeded Bishop Williams in the see of Waiapu, he, too, would like to add his testimony to that of others. Bishop Williams's help to him, inexperienced as he was in episcopal work, had been of tremendous value.

The motion was passed. The Bishop of Auckland moved:— "This Synod has learned with regret of the death of the Yen. William de Laval Willis, formerly Archdeacon of Waikato, and some lime a member of this Synod. The Synod desires to record its appreciation of his faithful service to the Church in many capacities, and specially in the struggle to secure religious teaching in Slate Schools." —The resolution was passed. THE EVENING SESSION. The General .Synod continued in session last evening, when the Primate, the Most Rev. S. T. Nevill, D.D., Bishop of Dunedin, presided. MISSION BOARDS. The Bishop of Auckland moved the second reading of a Bill providing for the constitution of Mission Boards. His Lordship said that three years ago he had presented such a Bill before the General Synod, which agreed in principle with the one now before the Synod. The earlier Bill had then been referred to the Diocesan Synods, who, while agreeing with its objects, objected to certain clauses. The matters in contention had now been deleted. It was the duly of the Church to carry on mission work. The Bill presented was still rather tentative, but, as the boards constituted engaged in their labours, improvements could be effected. The time was coming when the labours of the Church among the Maoris would cease to be regarded as mission work, but would form part of the work of a diocese. This would also apply in years to come to Melanesia. As the primary object of

the Church was to spread the Gospel, the desirability existed for setting apart a day at the General Synod session lor the discussion of mission work, when the public would see that the Church as a body was attempting to live up to the principles of the teaching of Jesus Christ.

The Bishop of Nelson said that in his district the Synod had constituted itself a mission hoard, the work being undertaken by its executive body, in addition to the Jailer's other duties. lie would, however, support the Hill.

The Bishop of Christchurch considered that the Bill must be accepted on its principles, as il merely provided for the organisation of the mission work undertaken by the Church, which was the only logical method, if its labours were lo he effective.

The Primate said that under the guidance of the boards created, the mission work would increase. The second reading was carried, land the Synod went into commitI tec to consider the Bill. Considerable discussion followed on the wording of many of the clauses, particularly those dealing with the spheres of work. On a motion to i report progress, application was ! made, and the committee obtained leave to sit again on Thursday. LAND TRANSACTIONS. The Synod again went into committee on a Bill by Mr J. B. Fielder to amend Title F, Canon 3, Clause 3. The object was to empower a diocese owning land in another diocese to sell or exchange such land without reference to the Diocesan Synod of the diocese in which the land is situated. At a previous sitting the wording of the Bill did not find general favour, but Mr Fielder had since redrafted the clause, which now read as follows:—"All applications for the sale or exchange of real estate to be laid before the General Synod shall, before presentation to the General Synod, be endorsed with the approval of the Synod or Standing Committee of the diocese which controls the administration of the trusts of such lands." in this form the Bill was adopted, the third reading being iixed for Thursday. The Synod then adjourned until 2.30 p.m. the following day.