DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5040, 28 August 1894, Page 4

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

• Monday, August 27. AFTERNOON SESSION. The President took the chair at 4.5 p.m. QUESTION. Tho Rev F. Knowles asked the President — Whether ia his Lordship's opinion the incumbent of a parish, or the curate of a parochial district, is em officio a membar of any cub-committee of hia vestry or church officers ? The President said that in the absence o! any regulation on the subject he was of opinion that an incumbent of a parish, or curate of a parochial district, could not claim to bo an ex officio member of any Babcommibtee of hiß vestry or church officers. BESEEVKS. The Rev P. Knowles moved—" That the Church Property Trustees be authorised to apply the sum of £846 11s 10d, and interest to date', now standing to the credit of tho Cranmer Square parish capital account, to the reduction of tbe loan from the General Trust Estate to the Christchurch parishes' loan capital account." Tbe report of tbe Church Propsrty Trustees on the Chrisfcchurch parochial reserve, stated that application having been made to the trustees to distribute among the three Chrietchurch parishes the balances shown at April 30, 1893, in the accounts of the Oxford Terrace reserve and tbe Cranmer Square reserve, the trustees took the matter into consideration with reference to the several resolutions of Synod affecting these reserves. They came to the conclusion that, in view of the extensive repairs urgently necesßary to the buildings on the Oxford Terrace reserve and impending on the Cranmer Square parsonage reserve, it was not advisable to distribute the balances in question. They farther pointed out that no provision existed for the payment to the General Trust Estate of the loan made by it, now standing at- £3767 10a 9d, or even for diminishing it. This sum was advanced from the capital of the General Trust Estate to pay off the former loan from the Sinking Fund Commissioners, who held a mortgage over the reserve aa security for the same. The trustees held no security for the advance other than their possession of the reserve in their capacity. They were of opinion that the Diocesan Synod should authorise the application of the sum of JEB46 11s lOd standing to the credit of the yet unformed fourth parish (and which was set aside out of the original loan), together with any accrued interest thereon, towards tbe reduction of the balance of the advance, and that all surplus income arising from the Cranmer Square and Oxford Terrace reserves should be bo applied in future until the whole had been paid off. The general condition of the Oxford Terrace reserve was very unsatisfactory, the buildings being old and decayed, and a* considerable depreciation bad taken place in the value of the property. The motion was seconded by Mr H. J. Ainger. Mr W. H. Eargreaves moved as an amendment — "That the question of the preaenfc position and future dealing with the loan made to the Cbrietchurch Parsonage Reserve and the Cranmer Square parish account, be referred to a Select Committee." The amendment, which was seconded by Mr- E. Denham and supported by Meeera J. M. Bafcham and J. Baldwin, was carried. The Yen Archdeacon Lingard, the Rev C. H. Gosaety and Messrs J. M. Batham, S. C. Latter, H. D. Andrews and W. H. Hargreaves were appointed members of the Select Committee. BIBLE CLASSES IK STATE SCHOOLS. The Rev R. F. Garbett moved—" That in tbe opinion of this' Synod it is desirable that a Diocesan Association be formed, under tbe presideccy of the Lord Bishop of the diocese, for the epeoial object of promoting the holding of Bible classes in the State Bchoole, under the time hour clauses of the Education Act." The motion was seconded by Mr G. Dunnage, and spoken to by the Revs H. Williams, H. T. Purchas, E. E. Chambers, C. H. Gosset, J. Preston, and Messrs H. R. Webb, J. Baldwin and C. E. BevanBrown. The Rev. J. £. Teakle moved, as an amendment—" That it be a recommendation to the Standing Committee to take such measures as are practicable to promote the holding of Bible classes in the State schools until such time as some change shall have taken place in the present syetem of education." The Very Rev the Dean seconded the amendment, which was supported by the Rev P. P. Pendall. The Rev B. F. Garbett was replying when the Synod adjourned at 6 p.m.