NELSON DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14869, 18 September 1918, Page 3 (Supplement)

NELSON DIOCESAN SYNOD.

(From "The Colonist," Sept. 4th.) Tho Diocesan Synod met yesterday at 4. p.m., when the Yen. Archdeacon Kempthorne (who presided in tho absence of tho Bishop) delivered his address. In the course of his remarks he referred to tho Bishop's absence at the front. He made sympathetic reference to the loss the diocese had sustained by the deaths of the Yen Archdeacon Grace, the Rev. Canon Lucas, the Revs. A. J. 5. Seaton and C. W. Jennings, tho Hon. A. T. Maginnity, M.L.C., Mr Packard, and Miss Marsdon. Tho various changes which had taken place amongst the clergy of the diocese were referred to, and ho also touched on the- shortage, of men. and the business to come before the Synod.this session. * , It was moved by the Dean of Nelson \ and seconded by 'the Yen. Archdeacon' York, that tho president 'be thanked' for his address, and that he be re-! quested to allow it to be printed in ihe \ proceedings of Synod. I The president read a telegram from the Bishop 'of Nelson, stating that lie! had arrived safely in England. It" was1 proposed that a ' cable bo sent to the i Bishop, wishing him God-speed in his! work with the troops. The^ following were present:—-Clergy : The1 Yen. Archdeacon Kompthorne (President), the' Right Rev. Bishop' Mules, the Do»in of Nelion (Rev. Dr. Weeks), the Yen. Archdeacon York, the Rev.' Canons Wollstein and Dart, tho Revs.' F. J. Ferry, A. H. Heron, J. W. Bloyce, C. F. Saunders, 3. F. Coursey, G. A. Crossman, H. B. AY. White, F. Quintrell, W. W. Bedwell, F. A. Tooley/ and A J. Carr. Laity: Messrs Wilson Hoops, S. H. Strong,JE. E. Bpyes, C. H. Coote, H. S. Frederick, G. E. C. Saston, W. Thorn, C. F. Faulkner, W. York, D. S. Evans;i A. C. Maginnity, G. A. Edmonds, Dr. j Mackay, Messrs J. B. Harrison, C. H. White, .C. de Vero Teschemaker-Shute, Chas. Page, P. A. Irving, and A. J . MillS. : .-'.', The following appointments were made:-r-Mr C. W. Pitts Brown, chair-i man of committees; Mr G. E. C. Sax?, ton,"'deputy chairman; Rev. Canon I Dait, clerical secretary; Rev. A. J. Carr assistant clerical secretary; Mr W. J. Girling, lay secretary; and the Revs. F. J. Dayiies and J. W. Bloyce, reporters to the press. & ■ . ..■-•", ] A special sendee was held in the Ca-' thedral in the evening, and was well attended. It opened with, a pro- j session consisting of the women, j ! boys, and men of the choir the lay representatives of Synod, and the clergy,! the hymn sung being "Angel voices' were singing." Tlie Dean (Rev. Dr. Weeks) took the service, and the Magnificat and'Nunc/Dimittis were sung to j Tom-s' settings in F. Psalm 136 was \ sung to an effective chant. The. first lesson was read by Archdeacon Kempthorne, and-the second by Archdeacri-i i York. The anthem, < 'The Wilderness" j (Isaiah xxxv.), by Goff, was effectively1 rendered by the 'choir. The Rev. F. Quintrell, vicar of Picton, was the preacher, and took as his text 11. Co-i yinthians v. 20, drawing a parallel be-.! tween the office of an ambassador and that of a-member of tho Christian ministry. He spoke of the appointment of men to the ministry and-*the equipment' require of them, which embraced sur-; render to Gcd, knowledge of His Word, and the use of all possible wisdom and skill in urging and "bringing about tho .peoples-reconciliation- with God. At .tfie--clo.se of the service the Dean read a telegram announcing the Bishop's safe arrival ,at his destination, and the Te Deum was sung as an act of thanksgiving. Bishop Mules pronounced the Benediction, and ' l Thy hand, O God,! hath guided," was sun£ as a recessiona* i hymn.

% September 5. .The Diocesan Synod resumed its sitaings yesterday. The President, tho Yen. Archdeacon Kempthorne, moved the following votes of sympathy from the chair: "That this Synod' places on record its high appreciation of the life work of the Hon. A. T. Maginnity, a member, of this Synod and chairman of committejes, who.for her generous and noble gifts, and by her i' thiß, diocese loyally and faithfully .;{ and that .the president be asked to con- [ vey to Mrs Maginnity and her family j the sympathy of Synod in their loss." "That this Synod records its appreciation of tho work and Jife of Miss Mursden, a devoted and sincere member I of the- Church of this in-ovinco,' who by her generous and noble gifts 3 by her consistent and Christian life, had* been a true helper of the Church of God in this diocese and expresses its sympathy with her family in their loss." The Rev. A. H. Heron moved and Dr. Mackay seconded, "That this Synod place on record its regret at the loss of the Rev. A. J. S. Seaten by the hand of death, and that this Synod express its sympathy to his relatives in their sad bereavement. 3' The Rev. Canon Dart moved, and Dr. Mackay seconded, "That this Synod expresses its gz-eat loss "in the person of Mr A. E. Hedges, Diocesan Secretary and Treasurer, a member of this Synod, who laid down his life in his country's cause, and that the President convey tlie sympathy of the Synod to Mrs Hedges." The \en. Archdeacon York moved, and Canon AVollstein seconded, "That thus S3 nod "desires to place on record its high appreciation of'the long and arduous 'sen ices Tendered to the Church by the late Venerable Thomas Samuel Grace, \icar of Blenheim and1 Archdeacon of Marlboroughj also of his apostolic and self-denyiag work in connection- with' the Maori race; and that tho deep sympathy of the "Synod and the Church be extended to the widow

and family :n their sad bereavement;" ' The various votes were all agreed to. The Rev. J. F. Coursey moved, and the Rev. G. A. Grossman seconded, "That the members of General Synod from tins diocese be instructed to support and if necessary introduce a bill with "the object of obtaining the franchise for women of the Church of tho Province of ;New Zealand." After an interesting, discussion, the resolution was carried. • The Synod went^into committee and considered the report of the Foreign Missions Committee. The Rev. A. J. Can;,-in. his report, stated that '•Although the present-war has been an'awful strain on the finance of the nation,, ten of the leading missionary societies of Great Britain haft records in the way of financial receipts, showing that Christian people are waking -up to the truth that the. nations' only hope is the Lord Jesus' Christ." He also stated that "in the foreign field co-operation and union "are becoming facts. Tho joining of the different evangelical societies 'in establishing Oncological colleges, and their- working together in evangelical, medical, and literary work, will mean tremendous eaying^in overlapping and expense. This evidence of. the times should call forth praise on our part." Elections resulted as follows:— For- the Standing Committee: Archdeacon Kcmpthorne, Archdeacon York, i-cv. De. Weelis, Rev. Canon Dart,. Roy. F; J. Daynes, Messrs C. W. Pitts I'.rown, \V. J. Girling, J. B. Harrison, and F. 11. Richmond, and Dr. Mackay. For tlie General Synod: Archdeacon Kempthdrno, Archdeacon York, and the Ho-. i)v. Weeks. For the Board of Nomination: The Rev. Canon Dart -and Mr C. W. Pitts Brown. , - Archdeacon York read tho report of the Trusts Committee, which on the whole showed a satisfactory state nf affairs, great credit being-due to the Bishop 'of> Nelson for the interest he had taken in the trusts of.the diocese. Tliis brought out a vote of -thanks, which was proposed foy Archdeacon

Kempthorne and seconded by Mr A. C. Maginnity, "That this Synod desires to record its-heartfelt thanks to the Bishop of the diocese for his personal efforts to complete the titles"'of the diocesan properties, in which the Synod rejoices to find ho has been eminently successful." This was carried unanimously. September {J. Ihe Anglican Synod "resumed at 11 a.m. yesterday. The Yen. Archdeacon York moved, I "That this Synod" urges upon all' thei clergy and laity of the diocese the necessity of heartily supporting the 'work of the Military Affairs Committee." The Archdeacon spoke warmly of the great work done by the' Church Array amongst the New Zealand soldiers. Arising-out of this motion a discussion took.place on the work of the Church Army on behalf of our troops in France and on other battlc-ironts. The Rev. J. F. Coursev gave a glowing account of- the work of the Church Army m Franco as seen by him in the front lines. Et is not generally known that the Church Army was the first organisation on behalf of our troops in France, lie urged whole-hearted support of tlio Synod and Church peoole on behalf uf this oxcolient society. " The Rev. H. H. \.V. "While, tlie Rev. A. Berryman, and Dr. Mackay also .spoke vi favour of this work. h was proposed by Dr. Mackhy, seconded^ by tho Dean"-or" Nelson, '"That this Synod desires to place on record an expression of its gratitude to Almighty God for having permitted the recent and continuing ism-fe^s of our armies, ancl those of cur AUirs. and its deep thankfulness for the ''hri-hter prospects ot' complete deliverance irom an^ imminent and o/cnvhelming peril." This was carried unaniraously, the" whole Synod rising and singing % t'ue National Anthem 'and the Doxolu'iy" Mr H. S. Fredericks "prooosed seconded by Mr J. J. W. AVhite, "That this. Synod take into consideration the ad-v-isability of having a universal hymn book throughout the diocese for use in our Sunday schools, and refer the same to,the Sunday School Committee."— Agreed to. it was proposed by the Rev. F. J. Ferry, and seconded by Mr C. W. Pitts Brown, "That this Synod expresses its approval of the National Efficiency Board's recommendation regarding the liquor question, and earnestly iiopes that it will be carried into effect; and that this resolution be forwarded to the Hon. the Acting-Prime-Minister by the President."- This was unanimously carried, after discussion, the whole Synod feeling the time -had come to purge the country of an unnecessary evil. It was resolved that- a retiring collection on behalf of the Military Affairs Committee be made in. air churches on the third Svfiiday in November. ■ .. The Rev. F. Quintretl moved, "That this. Synod places on Record its 'appreciation o£ the self-denying work of the Rev. Canon Dart as acting-diocesan secretary. His uniform- courtesy and tho marked ability which characterise his work are fully recognised throughout the diocese, and this, Synod desires to take this opportunity of making a. permanent record of these services." The motion was seconded by the Rev. G. A. Grossman, supported by other members, and carried amid Warm applause. A suggestion was made that Canon Dart's services should be recognised in a substantial manner. On the motion of the Rev. J. F. Coursey it was resolved that a message of greetings foe sent to those members of Synod who are at present away serving with the Expeditionary Forces. The President pronounced the Benediction, and the session closed at about 5.45 p.m.