DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17179, 24 October 1923, Page 6

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

THE OPENING SESSION. The first session of the twenty-fourth Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch was opened in tho Provincial Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, the Primate, Archbishop Julius, presiding over n large attendance of clergy and laity. There was also a large attendance of tho public. Tho Archbishop, in the course of his presidential address, referred to the loss sustained by the Synod by the deaths of Archdeacon C. H. Gossett and Mr Edward Hill. They had also lost the services of Archdeacon Ensor through ill-health and the Rev F- JR. Rawle, who had gone to Auckland. Tho effort to establish a. Church Hospital in tho city was worthy of the generous support of the church people throughout the diocese- St Anne’s House and Tho House of the Sacred Name wore doing good work and St Saviour’s Guild were accommodating as many as they could both in the Timaru and Shirley homes. Leave was given to Mr E. C. Hogg to introduce a Bill to amend Financial Regulations 3 and 33 of the Synod and to Mr H. D. Andrews to introduce a Bil to amend tho Clergy Widows and Orphans Trust Fund regulations. It was decided to instruct the Church Property Trustees to place at the disposal of the Archbishop a sum not exceeding £IOO from tho surplus revenue of the Bishophric Estate for the benefit of invalided clergy. The Hospital Chaplain was granted pay at- the rate of £393 per annum as Bishop’s Officer for the first year and £3To per annum thereafter. The report- of the Foreign Missions Committee showed a distinct growth in missionary interest. More volunteers had gone into tho mission field in the period under review than in any previous year. Tlie annual report of the Cathedral Chapter was presented and showed that tho reo«*ints ’from general offertories were £733 3s 7d. being £52 6s 7d less than last year. The installation of electric light had proved a great gain in evert' respect. Tlie Diocesan Board of F-ducatiou reported a serious condition of its fiancee. There was a debit- balance of .£(373 8s fid. The bonrd could not hut be perturbed that +he diocese seemed to support so fechly the work it- had it-s-df initiated, and from which it undoubtedly derived so much benefit.