NELSON DIOCESAN BTNOD.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1897, 6 April 1875, Page 3

NELSON DIOCESAN BTNOD.

! --•-. ■ . . . The Dioceaan Synod opened on April 2nd, in the Masonic Hall, when there were preaent—the President (the Bishop of Nelson), Yen. Archdeacons Butt and Thorpe, and the Revs. S.Poole, Leighton, Ronaldson, Flavell, "Watkins, Moon, Cross, Hutchinson, Grace, Rutherford, and Kempthorne; and of the Laity, Messrs. Fell (Registrar), Greenwood, Brown, Pierson, Turner, A. J. Richmond, Walmsley, Collins, Ifi. Baigent, Pickering' Acton Adams, Pasley, Boor, H. Martin, jun, and >Scaly. The Rovb. J. Spear and Mules, and Mr. H. D. Jackson were absent through sickness. The following is » brief notice of the President's opening acldresß:—•

. His Lobdship oalled attention to the fact that the General Synod had, in some particulars, already . altered the Prayer Book in parts rendered obsolete \ by the position of the Church here, and, noyr it invited the Diocesan Synod to consider the best means of regulating such power of necessary alteration for the future. One of the most necessary changes was that of avoiding those repetitions which were occasioned by the combination of services ori« ginally distinct. People like to have all the services together, but would like them better if they could omit the repetitions. The Bishop announced that of the eighteen ourea in the Diocese three were vacant, and one only temporarily filled, but five placet have had clergy during the last year whioh had not had them before. More clergy were wanted, and we must ]p->k to ourselves, not to England/ for them. The Bishop said, "I trust parents will not thwart the aspirations of those of their children who may entertain, from a spiritual point of view, the desire of entering the holy ministry. The present influence of the Christian ministry, however muoh tome May question its existenoe with too evident a desire to depreciate it, is great, and is likely to remain so, and its duties are so honorable and difficult where con* scientiously and thoroughly performed, that it may be well considered a generous choice for the work of a life, even when, as in youth, it can only be partially apprehended. To lead men's higher nature by spiritual and intellectual motives alone, seems to me to be the noblest and most honorable task that can be undertaken by man. To minister to souls diseased, and in any way to be identified with the advancement of revelation, seems to be one of the most loving occupations ever presented to man for him to engage in. To be occupied in studying, for constant reproduction, the character and words of One who, even by those who see only one side of His nature, is declared to be the very ideal of humanity, is a profession for which no talents are too great, no abilities'too brilliant, and where adequately carried out, no esteem for those who make such,an attempt can be excessive. If Christian parents had faith in the promises, dignity, and value of their religion, they would not sigh with regret over a son who desired to offer himself as an aspirant to spiritual and intellectual rather than to material honors, they would make sacrifices that he might be free to qualify himself by education thoroughly for the work, and account themselves happy in being the parents of one destined to make many of his fellowmen happior is this chequered world. Ere long others would envy their lot, and say as Manoah of Sampson— " I gained a son, | And suoh a son as all men hailed me happy." With these, views, I need only repeat the request I made to you to assist me in my efforts to obtain a well instructed clergy for the future of the Diocese. Every day deepens the conviction that this is the most important part of our work, notwithstanding the indifference of many to what is being attempted. His Lordship called attention to the neoessity of supporting the Pension and Superannuation Fund, which was more than ever necessary in an unendowed Church. He passed in rapid review the Diocese which he had just visited, stating that although Jiere and there, there were Parishes in not so satisfactory a state as could be desired,.yet on the whole, and especially on the West Coast there was progress; the clergy he'had every reason to believe were men who had their work at heart rather than themselves, and therefore deserved the, love and gratitude of their Hooks. In conclusion, his Lordship added the following—Our work is, as a Diocese, comparatively on a small soale, but we are dealing with the growing germs of a great nation, and the thought of the oapabilities of the future dignifies the present. Thank God that, whether it be by this Church or that » Church—by this form of worship, or that form of worship—thanks to Q-od's mercy, thanks to liberal Christian men and soaieties of men at Home, thanks to labors of those who have been in the field before us, whose efforts we are following up, thanks to all these agencies, there is no fear of New Zealand not being a Christian nation.

His Lordship was thanked by the Synod for his able address.