THE GENERAL SYNOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 146, 30 October 1868, Page 3

THE GENERAL SYNOD.

The correspondent of the Otago Daily Times furnishes the following account of the proceedings of the Synod : — The Fourth General Synod of the English Church was opened on the sth inst. .As a whole the greatest unanimity and good feeling prevails amongst the ministers and laity present. It would be impossible for me to communicate all the interesting aud important topics brought under discussion. The. appointment of a Metropolitan in place of Bishop Selwyn has been considered, and a bill passed regulating the mode of election of Bishops to fill the office of Primate in the event of a vacancy by death, resignation, or any other cause. The bill provides that the Synod should proceed to elect by ballot, and that no member shall have the right to mention any Bishop as the object of his choice. On the motion that the Bill be read a third time and passed, the Bishop of Nelson raised a dissentient voice, and moved an amendment to the effect — " That in order to secure the more ancient and catholic office of Metropolitan in connection with our Church, in place of that of Primate, the duties of which are wholly official, as provided by the Bill, it be postponed until Her Majesty, as supreme governor of the Church of-England, haa nominated one of the Bishops of New Zealand to be Metropolitan." One Mr Kemptborne, who has a monomania touching the Queen's supremacy, and who has written an infinity of letter- to the papers, and published a pamphlet on the subject, seconded the amendment. The Bishop made the remark that every body believes that Friend Kemptborne would, under Queen Mary, have gone with the greatest alacrity to the stake, fully convinced that he was bearing witness to the Queen's supremacy. The Bishop also made the following observation, which was much cheered on its delivery : — " History could be appealed to in order to show that the supremacy of the Crown was the greatest safeguard from Ecclesiastical tyranny, but he could point to a greater safeguard, the presence of the faithful laity in the Synod, which had the power at any time, if it found the clergy usurping too much power, to veto tbeir action. The supremacy of the Queen, whatever it may have been in years past, had undergone so many changes Bince the that it was now very different from what it was in that time. He was quite willing to defer to the Queen's supremacy in reality, but he objected to be influenced by the constant constitutional changes that were occurring. He would not regard Mr Bright or Mr Eoebuck as the undisputed disposers of 50 colonial bishoprics. If they were to have the Queen's supremacy, let them have a reality, and not a mere sham. Despite what had been said about the Queen's supremacy, the Church of England was still prospering under the Providence of God, and would continue to prosper. They

ought to endeavour to make their voluntary system as perfect as possible, and for that reason he supported the original motion." The election of a successor to Bishop Selwyn took place yesterday by ballot, with the following result : —

The Bishop of Christchurch was declared to be duly elected ; and Bishop Selwyn, in making the announcement, said he did so with sincere pleasure, as he should resign into the hands of one in whom he had the most entire confidence. It so happened that Bishop Harper and himself were ordained together, and began life as ministers of one church side by side with one another. From him he received the first impression of the admirable character of a parish priest. In his ministration at Eton a great change took place in the whole manner of conducting divine service in the college and in the parish church. It was for that reason that after many attempts had been made to procure a Bishop of Christchurch, and several attempts had failed, he said at ouce, at public meetings in Canterbury, at Christchurch, that there was one person whom he could recommend to that oflice with perfect confidence. He was quite sure, after many years experience, that all the clergy would concur in the choice wliich God's providence led him to make, and that the action was fully justified by the result. Now that he (Bishop Selwyn) had been called upon to resign, he was moat thankful to be able to resign office into the hands of one in whom he had the most entire confidence. During the sitting of the Synod, the clergymen in attendance have occupied the various pulpits of the Church in Auckland aud neighbourhood. On Sunday last the Bishop of Nelson preached a sermon on " The Unity of Protestant Churches," whish has created a sensation, and is to be reprinted from the Cross. It waa an admirable discourse, but I sadly fear the Bishop's views are impracticable. If his Lordship had preached the sermon from a Primitive Methodist or Congregational pulpit, I would have believed in him, and hoped for the best. But there seems no disposition on the part of the Bishop to move himself. He would have Wesleyan and Presbyterian Ministers ordained by the Church, so that they might have a right to occupy the pulpits of the Established Church, and so on. But the Bishop forgets that this very subject of ordination involves principles that cannot be submitted to by many. I should like to see a practical expression of the desire for union on the part of the Bishop and Clergy of the Established Church by their giving up an adherence to some of their own dogmas, aud by less of that standoff dispooition that now exists. A lengthy discussion took place ou Tuesday in the Synod onthe subject. It originated iv the following motion by the Dean of Christchurch : —

" Whereas the Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch has prayed this Synod to memorialise the Convocation of Canterbury, and such other bodies as it may think fit, requesting them to take into their consideration the bases and conditions on which proposals for unity may be made to Christian bodies not now in communion with the Church of England : Kesolved, that this Synod adopts the substance of this prayer, and respectfully requests the Primate, as Bishop of Lichfield, to bring this subject under the consideration of the Upper House of the Convocation of Canterbury." After some minor amendments had been suggested, the Bishop of Nelson moved an amendment. He said if the matter were referred to the Convocation they would hear no more of it. He would propose that a select committee be appointed to consider the subject of the best mode of intercommunion between the Christian Churches in this country,andtoreporton the same to the next Synod. The Bishop of Waiapu seconded the motion. Dr Maunsell made an objection to the Bishop of Nelson's amendment which was rev ceived with laughter and cheers, " because it did not recognise the Queen's supremacy " — no doubt a gentle rub at the Bishop's pet crotchet. The amendment was lost, and the Synod then divided on the original motion with the

following results : — Ayes — Bishops, 1 ; clergy, 8 ; laity, 6. Noes — Bishops, 5 ; clergy, 9; laity, 13. I think tbe Synod is going on as nicely as could, be desired. They seem as if they were desirous of reducing everything to practical tests. The question of altering the Ordination oath has been brought up, and a committee appointed to consider and report upon it. The Rev A. Gifford has also moved, " That this Synod take into consideration the importance of providing a staff of auxiliary or unattached clergymen for the ecclesiastical province of New Zealand. And if the Synod make any definite recommendation in this behalf, that the Synod will determine the following points : — 1. The number of such clergymen at present proposed to be secured. 2. Their designation. 3. The amount of stipend. 4. The duties and services generally to be discharged by them. 5. And under what authority to act." After consideration the motion was withdrawn.

Bishops. Clergy. Laity. Total. Bishop of Christchurch 5 13 9 27 „ Wellington 0 2 6 8 „ Waiapu 1113