THE GENERAL SYNOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6089, 28 January 1898, Page 4

THE GENERAL SYNOD.

I An event of considerable importance) 1 particularly to the Anglican members of the community, will take place in Christchurch next week ; namely, the dpening of the General Synod of the Province of New Zealand. The session will open at 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1, and will be held in the Provincial Council Chamber. The General Synod meets only once in three years, and as its sessions have to be held in all the dioceses of the colony in turn, eighteen years must elapse before it can meet in Christchurch again. It is composed of the Bishops of the province— all seven of whom, including Pr Wilson, the inissionaiy Bishop of Melanesia, will attend the forthcoming meeting — with three clerical and four lay representatives from each diocese. The arrangements for the proceedings on opening day are as follows : — A celebration of the Holy Communion will takd place in ; the Cathedral at 11 a.m., when the Primate, ! the Bishop of Auckland, will be the cele- < brant. The Synod will meet in the Provincial Chamber for business at 3.30 p.m., when the Primate will give his Presidential address. At 7.30 p.m. there will be a festival aervice in the Cathedral, ■where tbe Bishop of Dnnedin will preach. ! It is expected that the session will continue through two weeks. Meetings will be held in the afternoon .and evening at . hours to be fixed on the opening day. Much of the business will of necessity be of a' technical character, but it is likely that many important matters affecting the growth and development of the Church in New Zealand will be dealt with. Among these questions will be that of the proposal to appoint a suffragan bishop for the ! diocese of Dunedin, and that of the suggested formation of a new diocese in the North Island — for the provincial district of Taranaki. Another question which will como up for consideration will be the proposition that the Anglican Primate of New Zealand should bear tho title of Archbishop. Consideration will also be given to matters arising out of the recent Lambeth Conference. One of the principal of these is that of bhe adaptation of church services to local needs. On this question the Conference at Lambeth, passed two important resolutions, which are as follows : — (1) "That this Conference recognises the exclusive right of each Bishop to put forth or sanction additional services for use within his jurisdiction, subject to such limitations as may be imposed by the provincial or other lawful authority." (2) "That this Conference also recognises in each Bishop within his jurisdiction the exclusive right of adapting the services in the Book of Common Prayer to local circumstances, and also of directing or sanctioning of additional prayers, subject to such limitations as may be imposed by provincial or other lawful authority; provided also that any such adaptation shall not affect the doctrinal teaching or value of the service or passage thus adapted." On Thursday and Friday next conferences, distinct from the sessions of the General Synod, will be held in the Provincial Chamber. These will be open to the public, both to attend ai>d to take part. The subjects to bo discussed will bo the Observance of the Lord's Day, Modifications in and Advantages of the Book of Common. Prayer and Missions to the Heathen, with especial reference to Maori, Melanesian and Chinese missions. Papers on these subjects will be read and will be followed by addresses by selected speakers and general discussion. On Thursday the Conference will begin at 7.30 p.m., and on Friday at 3 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Several gatherings of interest, from a social point of view, will take place during the weeks of the session. A public meeting in connection with foreign missions will be held on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 5. The Eight Eev Dr Wilson, Bishop of Melanesia, will give an address on the Melanesian Mission, illustrated by limelight views, in the Opera House, on Thursday, Feb. 10. On Saturday, Feb. 12, there will be a garden party at Bishopcourt in the afternoon. It is probable that the Most Eev the Primate will give a lecture on the troubles in India, in aid of one of ■fche local church institutions. On Sunday next the Primate will preach at the Cathedral in the morning. The Bishop- of Christchurch will preach there in the evening. It has also been arranged that the Bishop of Wellington is to preach in the Cathedral on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 13.