DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4165, 26 August 1881, Page 4

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Thubsday, August 25. The Primate took his seat at 4 p.m. PETITIONS.

A petition was received from Church members resident in the Parochial District of Ellesmere, praying that it might be constituted a parish.

The Bey A. W. Hands presented a petition from certain Ohuroh members resident in the parish of Ashburton, praying that a portion of that parish might be constituted a new parish. BBPOBTB. The President laid on the table a number of papers, including the report of the Cathedral Chapter, which was read, and ordered to be printed for the use of the Synod. The report of the Ohuroh Property Trustees on the insurance of church buildings was also read. SUNDAY IUNBBALB. The Bey E. A. Lingard obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend clause 3 of rules and regulations for the management of the Church of England Cemeteries, by the addition of a provision for increased fees in the case of Sunday funerals. The Bill was introduced, read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for next day. STANDING OEDEEB. The Bon J. B. Acland obtained leave to bring in a Bill for extending the operation of the standing orders. The Bill was introduced, read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday next. TOTB OF THANKS. The Yen Archdeacon Harper moved — " That the thanka of this Synod be given to the Bey H. 0. M. Watson for the sermon which he preached in St Michael's Church on Tuesday evening last." He spoke in high terms of the sermon preached by Mr Watson.

Mr F. de 0. Malet seconded the motion, which was carried nem con.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS

The Yen Archdeacon Harper moved — 11 That this Synod recognises with satisfaction the efforts which have been made during the past year to improve the efficiency of the Sunday schools throughout the Diocese." He thought that the time was como when some recognition should be made by Synod of the labours of those who devoted their time and energies to the work of the religious training of the young. He gave some statistics connected with the Sunday schools of the Diocese, in the course of which he stated that there were 7000 children in attendance. The average attendance was about two-thirds of this number. The teachers numbored 558. The estimated number of children of school age belonging to the Church of England in the Diocese was 12,000, so that they had seven-twelfths of these in their Sunday schools. He thought this was satisfactory, especially as that number showed an increase of 800 on that of last year. He gave some particulars of the Rev W. 0. Harris' examination of the schools, which were, on the whole, of a satisfactory nature. He spoke in eulogistic terms of the labours of the Bey W. 0. Harris.

The Bey T. Flavell seconded the motion. He wished to add to what the Yen Archdeacon had said, a testimony as to the highly beneficial results which the visits of the Rev W. 0. Harris had had in his own Sunday school.

On the suggestion of the Eev 0. Bowen, the word " successful," was inserted before " efforts " in the resolution, which was then carried unanimously. MAHEIAGB LICENSES. The Rev B. A. Lingard moved— "That in the opinion of this Synod it is desirable that the coat of a marriage license, for a marriage to be solemnised in the Cathedral, bo £10, and that the Bishop be respectfully requested to give effect to this resolution." He considered that these increased marriage licenses would afford a very legitimate means of raisin? money for the assistance of the general fund. He moved his motion subject to the understanding that his Lordship would deal with the fees for marriages in the Cathedral in the same manner as the ordinary marriage fees, and hand them over to the general fund. The Key J. W. Stack seconded the motion.

The Eev 0. Bowen and the Hon H. B. Qresson spoke briefly in favour of the

motion.

Mr H. B. Webb spoke against the resolution. He had supposed that the Cathedral was to be the poor man's church, and it certainly was not right to lay an embargo on marriages solemnised in it, which would prevent the poor from availing themselves of the Cathedral for the purpose of being married. After bouip further discussion, during which the opinion was expressed that, in the matter of marriages, care should be taken lest the Cathedral should interfere with parochial rights, the motion was carried.

CBMETEBY BESESVB,

It was resolved, on the motion of the Rev E. A. Lingard, seconded by the Very Key the Dean— "That a select Committee be appointed to take into consideration the question of the disposal of that portion of the Christchurch Cemetery reserve which will no longer be required for burial purposes." After some discussion as to the claim of the country parishes to share in the proceeds of the sale of the reserve, it was resolved— " That the - number of the Committee be nine."

A ballot was then taken for the members of the Committee, wh'oh resulted in the following gentlemen being elected : — The Very Bey the Dean, the Yen Archdeacon Harper, the Beys E. A. Lingard, E. G. Penny, H. 0. M. Watson, Messrs Hargreaves, Herman, Curnow and Grigg. At 6.30 p.m. the Synod adjourned to 7.30 p.m.