DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Colonist, Volume XLIV, Issue 9950, 7 November 1900, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

YESTERDAY. The Synod met at 3 p.m., the President (the Bishop of Nelson) in the ohair. : The report of the Committee appointed, on the petition from the Wakefield Vestry re the Brewster Trust !wasr considered" in Committee, agreed to, repprtjsd to the Synod, and on the motion of the Rev. E. AilansonT (the chairman of the Committee) finally ! passed. The report stated that the Com-, ! mittee, having considered the matters, and having 5 heard the statements of the Rev. T. A. BoWden thereon, recommend the followiog reply be given to the -petitioners: <1) That no such resolution as that stated in the petition was ever" adopted by the Synod. (2) That the Synod is of opinion that the Diocesan Trustees hold the property and moneys. devised and bequeathed to them by the tete Dr Brewster's .will -upon a private trust.: "'.;.' ,""',',... :■ --'i .*■■ ■■ ,' ■ The Synod went into Committee on the report of the Committee appointed to consider the question of the status of Deacons, also the minority report brought up by Mr Lubecki>lwho clearly pointed. out thaT he was noi against Deacons sitting in Synod, his only object being *fo Have things done legally and in order. Oh the motion of Mr John Greenwood, the report of the Committee, which was to the effect that Deacons were entitled to a seat in the" Synod, was agreed to. »

Mr Lubeeki said he probably would state a case for the General Synod, in order to get the matter dealt with, and if necessary get the law amended so that there would be no doubt whatever on the point. The report was reported to the Synod, and adopted. The Synod went into Committee on the report of the Committee on Sunday Schools, which passed without alteration, was reported to the Synod, and adopted. The Rev. J. R. Dart moved — That in accordance with the Act to regulate the Eleotion of Diocesan and Parochial Nominators, 1878, the Diocesan Nominators shall be the Rev. J. P. Kempthome, Hon. J. W. Barnicoat, and Dr. Hudson. Seconded by Rev. Mr Heron, and carried. Mr H. A.- Tarrant moved— That his Lordship the Bishop convey the thanks of the Synod to those ladies who provided the breakfast at the All Saints' Schoolroom on Friday last. Seconded by Archdeacon Wright, and carried. Dr Mackie moved — This Synod emphatically affirms its conviction of the grave daiiger to the country, and the injustice to the children involved in the present incomplete education given in the State schools, and the necessity for correcting this evil by provision being made for the giving of such lessons from the Bible as shall impress on the children's minds suoh knowledge of the laws of God, and of the facts and ennobling hopes of the Christian Faith as shall fully equip them for the battle of life. It also cordially sympathises with the efforts now being made by the Wellington, Nelson, and kindred organisations for the y .introduction of Scripture teaching into the State schools, and recognises the duty of co-operation with any scheme which seems ; practicable and reasonably efficient. — The mover stated what was being done in Wellington, where a Committee comprising the Reverends R. Coffey (Anglioan), C. Dallaston (Baptist), J.R. Glasson (Congregational), G. H. ;Mann (Primitive Methodist), W. C. Oliver (Wesleyan Methodist), J. Paterson (Presbyterian), with the Bishop of Wellington as convener, were considering the enunciation of a scheme which might be adopted. Mr A. S. Collins in seconding the motion, said no heritage could equal in importance the one of giving the children a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Mr Lubeoki pointed out that a scheme had been decided upon in Victoria, but it was being attacked by the Roman Catholics. The motion was put, and earned. The Rev A. H. Sedgwick moved, That this Synod desires to put on record its appreciation of the successful efforts which have been made in establishing a Church Gazette for the Diocese, and trusts that it may meet with still wider circulation. The mover considered Archdeacon Wright deserved thanks for the great trouble he had taken in connection with the paper.

Seconded by Mr Tamer. Mr Kingsley, in reply to a question, stated the circulation of the Gazette numbered 720 copies, if increased to one thousand copies, it would just clear the cost of publication. ' * ' Motion put and carried. The Rev W. H. Howell moved, That a portion of the income accruing from the premises in Havelook now in occupation by Messrs Brownlee and Co., be devoted for five years towards defraying the debt of £100 now owing on the Havelook Vicarage. ' Seconded pro forma by Mr Lubeoki. The Hon W. D. H. Baillie and Archdeacon Grace pointed out that the lease of the property named was about to expire, so it was extremely doubtful whether any inoome would accrue from it. The motion, by leave of the Synod, wag withdrawn. Mr Wilson Heaps moved, That the thanka of the Synod be given to the Rev W. S. Lucas for his able, most interesting, and instructive sermon delivered at the opening service of the present- session of this Synod. Seconded by Mr Tarrant, and carried. The Hon. A. Pitt moved— (l) That the Standing Committee be requested to consider the matter of placing all Church properties in the Diocese under the trusteeship of one and the same set of trustees. (2) That in the case of any differences between the trustees and the beneficiaries, such differences be dealt with in the manner suggested by his Lordship the Bishop in his opening address to this Synod under the heading " Trusts." Seconded by Mr Lubecki, and carried. The Synod adjourned until 7.30 p.m; EVENING SITTING. The Synod resumed at 7.30 p.m., the President (the Bishop of Nelson) in the chair.

The Hon. W. D. H. Baillie moved— That a speoial effort be made during the fi r3t year of the new century to raise the sum of five t thousand pounds, to be called the Twentieth Century Thanks-offering Fund, to be devoted to the extension of Churoh work, eto. ; and that the Standing Committee be instructed to take immediate! steps for the drawing up of such a scheme, and for the carrying out of the resolution. Seconded by Archdeacon Grace, and carried unanimously. The Synod went Into Committee on the Pension Fund Act, 1900, which, with a few amendments, passed " through " Committee, was reported to the Synod, read a third time, and finally passed. -. Mr Maginnity moved — That a copy of the report of the Committee on the Brewster Trust be sent to the Wakefield Vestry petitioners. • Seconded by Mr Patterson, and carried. The Rev. J. R. Dart moved— That in accordance with the Pension Fund Act, 1900, the Commission for the ensuing year shall consist of the Rev. A. fl. Sedgwiok, Dr Mackie, and Mr C. Y. Fell. Motion put and carried. Archdeacon Wright moved — That the Eevs F. W. Chatterton, J. P. Kempthorne and the mover be a Committee to forward and help the work of the Sunday Schools. Seconded by the Rev Mr Baker, and carried. The Rev Mr Webb moved — That the Synod approve of the provisions of the proposed Electoral Bill for the Synods to elect the clerical and lay representatives to the General Synod. Seconded by the Rev Mr Baker, and after a discussion was put, and declared lost. Mr Kingsley moved. —That it be an instruction to the Standing Committee to prepare proper burial registers. Seconded by Mr Tamer, and carried. •Mr Turner moved— That the thanks of the Synod be tendered to Archdeacon Grace, for the valuable services rendered by him to the General Church Fund as Organising Secretary. Seconded by Mr Lubeoki, and carried. Mr Greenwood moved — That the President, Rev J. P. Kempthoane, Re* Erne3t Ensor, and the mover be a Committee to confirm the minuiea. •-.■■-■

-Motion put, and carried. Votea of thanks were accorded to the - President, the Bishop of Nelson; to Mr Tarrant, for his services as Chairman of Committees; to the local newspapers, for their reports of the proceedings ; to those who had kindly entertained the visiting members of the Synod during their stay in Nelson; to Rev. Ernest Ensor, for his services as Clerical ; Secretary ; to •Mr ; John Greenwood, for hi 3 services as Lay Secretary; to all Lay Readers; and workers in the Sunday Schools, for their valuable services; and to Mr Kingaley, the Diocesan Secretary, for his painstaking services, and courteous treatment of members of the Synod. - _ The President announced that the elections for representatives to the General Synod had resulted aa follows:— Clerical ,: representatives : Archdeacon Wright, Archdeacon Grace, and Rev F. W. Chatterton. Lay representatives: Mr Lubecki, for NelI son ; Mr W. W. de Castro, for the Waimeas ; jMr Thomas, for Greymouth ; and the Hon ! W. D.H. Baillie, for Marlborough. i The President closed the session of the Synod with prayer, about eleven o'clock.