Pronouncement by the Bisbop.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 4, 2 October 1922, Page 410

Pronouncement by the Bisbop.

FOR THE. GUIDANCE OF LAY READERS. There are two questions that arose at the Conference of Lay Representatives of Synod held on September 13th. -■ = '..•... The majority of those present AA^ere also ' Lay Readers. The first question was as to the shortening or 'alteration of the/services. ■ . ■ : MATTINS AND EVENSONG. \.^ I do not sanction the abbreviation of t Mattins or Evensong. The full service should be ' taken, includirig the State Prayers. '-■•■'" Would these be omitted if the King were present, or if the service was taken on board a' battleship 1 ? And I particularly require not only that the Prayers for the King and Royal family should be said regularly, but also that for the Gover-nor-General. Special Prayers will be. found m the Diocesan Year Book for 1921. Amongst those are one for the Governor-General to be used when Parliament is not m session, and another to be used for .the GovernorGeneral and Parliament during its "session. '" We criticise our : members of Parliament .'and complain sometimes of un-Christiah legislation, but how seldom is the Governor or Parliament included m our : prayers either at Mattins or Evensong? Then as to, alteration m the services of our Church. The only alteration sanctioned by me is the substitution of the Lessons, and alternative Psalms as accepted by both Houses of Convocation. RE BAPTISM BY LAYMEN. The Licenses: issued by me to.. Lay Readers make it quite clear what they are to do and what they are not to do. They are not to baptize infants, except "m extremis " when no priest is at hand ; that is, only m very exceptional cases. But what I want to make quite clear is this, that this exception does not apply merely to Lay Readers. Any baptized person, who is also confirmed, can. baptize infants who are "m extremis." I am thankful to say that -some of our District, as Avell as Maternity, Nurses knoAv this, and do baptize dying infants, Avh^n no priest is available, but I would urge that m the absence- of the clergymari the licensed Lay; Reader should baptize ; failing him, soriie other baptized person, but on no account should the child be left to die . upbaptized. V .. . ' Win.' WAtMSLEY WAJAPU.