ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7202, 10 February 1892, Page 4

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

[PKB PfiBBB A.SBOOIATIOH.I WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. The Synod met at 3 p.m. .... The Select Committee appointed to consider the Standing Commisfiion's decision in the matter of the election to the Piimacy la February, 1889, recommended certain additions to the existing provisions, the most important suggestion being "that the General Synod shall as occasion may require elect one of the Bishops to be Primate, and such election may be held ai.any time after a vacancy haa occurred, or after receipt by the Senior Bishop of the resignation by the Primate of his office, whether the time fixed by auch resignation has arrived or not." The Dean of Christchurch intimated bis intention of bringing in a Bill in conformation with the report. A Bill introduced by Archdeacon W. L. Williams for the addition of a proviso to Title A, Canon I, clause 8, was read a first time. The clause defines how the Standing Committee thaU decide the question o£ sanctioning the nomination ot a bishop, and the proviso iB that no such question shall be decided without the vote of the Bishop of tbe Diocese present in person. Archdeacon Harper moved — " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider too desirableness of a draft canon ; which stall provide that no alteration shall be made by the General Synod in the book of Common Prayer in the form and manner of the making, ordain- j ing and consecrating of bishops, priests and deacons, and in the , thirty-nine j articles of religion, except 6uch alteration shall have been made in accordance with Clause 30 of the Constitution, and in pursuance of Title G, Canon 11 ; and if this seems desirable, then to prepare a draft of Buch canon." The motion waa agreed to on the voices. The Bishop of Auckland moved—" That this Synod desires to place on record its sense of tha great service rendered to the Church of New Zealand, and especially to the diocese of Nelson, by the late bishop of that diocese, the Right Rev Andrew Burn Suter, D.D., and bega to assure Mrs Suter of its profound sympathy with her in the critical state of her husband's health, which has necessitated his resignation, and that the Primate be requested to send a copy of this resolution to Mis Suter." The motion was carried. The Bishop of Dunedin moved— "That thio Synod has heard with regret that certain Bishops of the Anglican Communion, consecrated within the Province of Canterbury, although not for sees within that Province, have, nevertheless, taken the oath of canonical obedience to the Archbishop of Canterbury, that this Synod regards such action as a contravention of the principles of the Catholic Church, and in particular requires that should arrangements be made for the consecration in England of a Bishop for Melanesia that no such oath or other declaration of submission to the Archbishop be taken by the Biehopelect." The debate waa interrupted by the 5.45 adjournment. On the Synod resuming at 7.30 the adjourned debate on the second reading of Bmhop Nevill'a Bill for constituting a Board of Missions for the Ecclesiastical Province of New Zealand waa taken. The Primate said that in his opinion there waa no need whatever for this Board, and he spoke Btrbngly against the Bill. He Biacerely hoped that the Synod would reject the BUI aa not only useless but mischievous. " . Bißhop Julina explained with reference to his remark on the previous evening that tbe Maoris had all gone back to heathenism that he meant there was a turning away of young Maoris from the faith of Christ, and he was glad to hear from the Primate that he had been misled in making the statement. Several other members took part in the debate. The second reading was negatived, rb there was not a majority of each order in favour of it, as required by the rules of Synod. The division liat was aa follows :— Ayes— Bishops 3, clergy 13, laymen 9; Noes— Biahopa 1, clergy 5, laymen 12. The rest of the sitting was occupied in debating the Bishop of Dunedin' a resolution as to the oath of canonical obedience to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The debate waa again interrupted by the 10.30 adjournment.