Diocesan Synod.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XV, Issue 4, 1 October 1924, Page 445

Diocesan Synod.

(Extracts from the Bishop's Address). r THE MAORI MISSION. There are clear and distinct signs of renewed spiritual life amongst the Maoris m the Diocese. This is being manifested m many ways. For one, m the reduced amount of drinking. Drinking, where it is still bad, is due m a g-reat measure to the unlawful sale of liquor on the part of the hotel proprietors, and to the lax supervision of the police m that particular district. There are glaring eases of this, where reformation is urgently needed. Where liquor laws are observed, and where police supervision is good, the evil ie greatly reduced. Whether our liquor laws, as they obtain to-day, are the besb for the country and for the highest development of our race, is for the country to decide when the question once more comes before the people of this Dominion. Then, as faithful Church people, we must cast our vote deliberately and prayerfully, not m our own interests, nor m the interests of any section of the community, but m the interests of the people as a whole. This is the burden of responsibility that rests upon each one of us, a responsibility far greater than many who go lightly to the poll seem to realise. But whatever the issue, whatever the legislation passed, we do claim, we have a. right to claim, that those laws are enforced. It is the failure on the part of the Government to enforce these laws that has made our Maori brothers- fall easy victims to the drink habit, and which compels all who care for the welfare of our people, especially for our Maori people, to seek for other and more stringent remedies. Christian Influence. What we want m the Dominion is a strong public opinion that will not allow the few to enrich themselves, by unlawful means, at the exjjense of the many. To create and maintain a strong, healthy public opinion is the work of the Church. We are not here to act as police, nor to exert any force, save the force of public opinion that will react upon legislation and compel the Government to pass righteous laws and to see when passed that they are enforced. Unfortunately, there is not a strong public opinion on these great moral questions. Had there been, no Legislature, m a country that stands for Christianity, nominally at any rate, dare pass such laws as the Matrimonial Causes Act; yet it was passed .

and scarcely a paper m the country (I refer to the secular press) lifted up its voice against it. That* alone shows both the lack and need of a strong public opinion, and this the Church has failed to create. Why? Not because Church people are too Christian, but because we are not Christian enough, because we have not enough of the Spirit of Christ to care for what He cares for, to love what He loves, to oppose what He opposed. The Church is here to express the mind and spirit of Christ. What the world wants to-day, as Bishop Gore is constantly reminding us, is the moral witness ..' of the Church. The world can hardly believe, not because it cannot accept this dogma or that dogma, but because it is not attracted by representative Christianity. It is waiting to see the Christ revealed m us. It is riot increase m numbers that is so needed to-day. There are too many nominal Christians already. What is needed is a faithful manifestation of the character of Christ to a world that is not attracted by Him, becaus they have not seen the Christ m us who profess Him. Hopeful Signs. There is the more positive side of this growth and development, which may Avell be a cause of deep thankfulness. This is manifest m various ways — m the better up-keep of the Churches, m the spiritual atmosphere of the services, the increased number of Communicants, the desire of our Maori people for fuller ministrations of the Church, above all m the offer of some of the best of our young Maoris for the Ministry. The Maori Ministry. A year ago the outlook was indeed gloomy. We then needed seven or eight Maori Priests to fill vacant Native Pastorates. These we still need ; but instead of having no Maori Students m training at St. John's College we now have four; three others are waiting to enter next year; while at Te Aute we have four boys who have definitely decided to enter the Ministry and are having special training. There are several others m various settlements with whom I have had interviews, whose thoughts are turning to the Ministry. Nor is this spiritual manifestation limited to the Church of this Province. There is m the hearts of men to-day a deeper hunger after GOD. The same story reaches us from different parts of the world. Men want GOD ; and Aye know that only the revealed religion of our Lord Jesus Christ can satisfy this deep craving of humanity. The human soul can only rest m Him "m whom dwelleth the fulness of the n Godhead bodily. "■

REGISTRATION OF CHURCH MEMBERS. I would call attention to the Canon bearing upon this subject where it is clearly laid down that only registered members, that is, members of the age of 21 years and upwards, are entitled to vote at Parish meetings. There has been, and is, a good deal of laxity m this respect m some of our Parishes, a laxity which might lead to serious difficulty if a crucial question arose at a Parish meeting, which had. to be put to the test, and it was found that a very small proportion of those present cojild record their votes. Such a position has aristtn m my own experience. The paucity of registered members arises not from any desire on the part of Church members to eyade the Canon, but from lack of knowledge. I would, 'therefore, ask the Vicars of all Parishes and Parochial districts to make the position known to their Parishioners; and, further, I. would ask all Churchwardens to take immediate steps to enrol all eligible members, both male and female, so that each Parish and Parochial district may have a complete list of its members who are entitled to vote. We may not be m agreement as to the present basis of the franchise being the best working basis. I do not think anyone considers it ideal, but there it is on our Statute Book and we should be loyal to.it until a better way is found. My own opinion is that the Communicant basis, as it obtains m the Church of the Province of South Africa, is the best workablebasis; it is clear and definite. The South African Church clearly defines m the terms of the Prayer Book what is meant by a Communicant: "A Communicant is one who Communicates at least three times a year, of which Easter should be one." With our increased and increasing number of Communicants we might well adopt this. PERSONNEL OF OUR VESTRIES. There is another Canon m the keeping of which there has been, and is, a good deal of laxity. I refer to Clauses 5 and 6 of CanonW. Here it is laid down that both Churchwardens and Vestrymen shall be Communicants of the Church. Both clauses of this Canon date back to 1859, clearly showing what the early fathers of our New Zealand Church thought and felt m their day on this subject. They were not mere idealists; nor are. our Church laws mere ideals. They are laws to which we have subscribed arid 'which we are called upon to obey. Whatever practical difficulties there? may be m the way of conforming- to these laws there must have been far more m the days when the Canon came into being, wheu Commiurcants

must have been few. There are practical difficulties, but these apply •to newly-formed up-country districts,, not. to the established centres. In upcountry districts the difficulty 'could be met by forming 1 a small Vestry, or by the formation of a Committee :, m lieu of a Vestry till such time as a Vestry could be formed. GENERAL DIOCESAN FUND. The Report of our General Diocesan Secretary is worthy of close attention. To whatever degree this Fund is supported by the Diocese, to that same degree can the progressive, I might say the aggressive, work of the Diocese be done. If the donations are limited, the progressive work of the Diocese, both Maori and Pakeha, must be correspondingly limited. We are dependent upon this Fund for the opening up of new Districts m the back-blocks, and for pioneer work generally. There is need of such development m the Diocese now. What is holding us back is not lack of men so much as lack of funds. The General Diocesan Fund goes to augment what is needed for the support of our existing- institutions — St. Mary's, St. Hilda's, etc., and of existing organisations. This is as it should' be; but it is to be remembered that we have only what is over for the development of the work m the frontier places of the Diocese. It is most important, therefore, if this Diocese is to grow year by year m activity and usefulness that this General Fund should be a growing fund. Now,, from a study of the Table that accompanies the Secretary's Report it will be seen that while there arc 91 new subscribers the total amount raised is £2096, that is, about £10 less than the previous year. While the General Secretary is doing his work, touring the Diocese and diligently getting new subscribers, many of last year's subscribers are falling out, so' that the Fund is not a growing Fund. It has grown considerably from what it was before our Organising Secretary was appointed, but it does not grow from year to year as it would if m addition to each year's new subscribers the old subscribers continued to support the Fund. The remedy is plain. While congratulating the Organising Secretary on his year's work, I would take the opportunity of commending 1 this General Diocesan Fund to your generous and continuous support, and I would ask my Clergy to do all m their power to help the Secretary m their ■respective--Parish.es. His work is arduous and difficult and needs all your sympathy and co-operation. Money that goes out of the Parish for the extension; of Christ's Kingdom

amongst men comes back to it with richer: blessing. , , The* official oj)ening of Synod took place on Friday afternoon,' September 12th, m St. John's Schoolroom, but the session was preceded, as usual, by a Solemn Eucharist at 10.30 a.m., at which the Bishop was the Gele.brant. The Rev. E. Ward was elected Clez'ical Secretary and Mr R. H. Pil--son, Lay Secretary. Mr C. A. Delautour was appointed Chairman of Committees. The proceedings of Synod were fully reported m the "Hawke's Bay Herald! We will endeavor m the following report to summarise some of the speeches. . The first business after the appointment of the officials was the discussion of the following motion: — LIQUOR IN THE KING COUNTRY, Leave was given to the Yen. Arch-, deacon Chatterton to introduce a motion without notice as follows:— "That this Synod strongly protests against the attempts being made to induce the Government to break the solemn covenant that was entered into with the Maori people m the King Country 40 years ago when the natives of that area freely gave all the land required for the construction of railways and roads on condition that the Government made provision that no liuqor should be allowed to be sold m that area. Such contract the Government is bound m honor to observe. This Synod further urges that more effective measures be taken than have hitherto been used to secure the enforcement of the pledge that has been repeatedly given by the Government that the original agi-eement shall be maintained. " The Archdeacon moved this motion at the request of the Cathedral Chapter. He detailed the circumstances m which after the Maori war the agreement was made. The Maoris had given the land for the Main Trunk railway and for roads through the King Country without asking for any compensation, but stipulating as an essential condition of the gift that this compact should be strictly observed. The condition of the agreement was embodied m a statute and recorded m the Gazette- On several occasions when the Maoris suspected that an effort was being made to evade the condition they had reiterated their desire to 1 safeguard it. They took every precaution by means of repeated reminders and petitions to leave no loophole for evasion. It was said by, those who were endeavoring to obtain a repudiation of the compact that conditions had now changed, that ajarge

number of Europeans had . now settled m this aorea and- that they desired local option-. The settlers knew when they took up their farms what the compact was; they had taken farms m the King Country with their eyes open, and they had reaped the benefit of the roads and; railway which were obtained only on this : condition. If; the Government broke the contract by repudiating their part of the agreement, the speaker continued, the natives would be justified . m demanding .full compensation for the land they had given. As late as last year, suspecting that an attempt was to be made to break the agreement, they t signed a petition, with .1400 signatures, asking for : its strict/ observance.. It. was true that sly grog-selling m the King Country was, rife, but it was not true" that the licensed sale, of liquor would. provide a remedy for the illegal trade. A native had recently stated that: whereas about ten per cent, of the young Maoris were learning to drink under present conditions, ninety per cent, of them would drink if legal bars were established. The 400 signatures to- the petition which had been presented recently asking for . local option had been obtained by parties interested m the liquor trade, by persuading the Maoris that their rates would be reduced if they had . licensed houses. Other speakers addressed Synod m favor of the motion and it was carried unanimously. SUNDAY SCHOOL EFFICIENCY: A most interesting discussion took place on this subject. . All speakers agreed — 1. That the Sunday School is one' of the most vital parts, of parish work. 2. That the Vicar must accept full responsibility for its teaching and organisation. 3. That Superintendents should be, if possible, trained teachers. •••,.• 4. That a definite syllabus should '"' be laid down — preferably by a Diocesan Board. 5. That every effort must be made to render Sunday Schools more efficient. . 6. That the Vicar should hold classes of instruction for the teachers and take the lead m management and, if possible, as Superintendent of the Sunday School. 7. That the Sunday School funds should be included m the general administration of the parish; where necessary, furniture and equipment should be provided out of parish funds ; the Sunday School balancesheet should be included m the parochial accounts. 8. That a Sunday School organiser should be appointed. ;_We should be

ready to copy from any other body anything' that would enable us to make our Sunday Schools' more efficient. . : The Bishop announced that Miss Turner, whom he had asked to come out as organiser, was unable to come. He was writing again to her to ask her to recommend a substitute. MISSIONS. The Rev. F. B. Redgrave (General Secretary of the Board of Missions;), having been invited to a seat m Synod, took part m some of the debates. With regard to his own department, "The Board of Missions," he said:— The Board of Missions was the 'Church of New Zealand acting m its missionary capacity. It had done a i>reat deal to bring home to people that missionary work was not the fad of a few enthusiasts, but the normal duty of every church member. He advocated the establishment m every parish of a branch of the newly - formed Church Missionary League. It is the duty of the church not to fossilise but to evangelise. A non-missionary church was a decaying church and a non-missionary parish could not succeed. The Ancient Church of North Africa died out because it neglected missions. He urged the importance, of prayer and the use of the Cycle of Prayer and the Missionary Litany issued by the Board. The missionaries were upheld m times of difficulty and discouragement simply by the knowledge that prayers were constantly being offered "for them. He urged every Sunday School to support a scholar or to take shares m a mission school. He deprecated spasmodic giving; a great deal of income came from missionary boxes. The absolutely necessary second voyage of the Southern Cross this year would cost £2000. Church people might be divided into three classes, like the passengers m the old coach. When the coach came to a hill the first-class passengers kept their seats, the sec-ond-class passengers got out arid walked alongside, while the third-class passengers got out and pushed. There were too many first-class passengers who were a dead weight m, the church, and second-class passengers who walked along and criticised. We wanted all to be third-class passengers who would push the church along. Mr Redgrave replied to questions and the Bishop urged churchmen to remember that organisation could not be done without some expense. Open contributions to enable the Board to carry on its propaganda and its business^ and to subsidise the funds specially given to particular societies were just as helpful to the missionary

cause as 'Contributions which ..were earmarked for special missions. .. T&e feijd of Missions. ';■; The Rev. F. B. Redgrave said the Board had gradually co-ordinated various missions and he hoped that ultimately the Maori Mission would come within the scope of its activities. The Maoris themselves were now evincing the true missionary spirit. T Over £150 had been contributed to- missions during the past year by the Maori pastorates. Hukarere- School .had given £44. The Bishop of Dornakal had emphasised the duty of Maoris to support other missions. The Maori church should have its own missionary working m Polynesia. Mission Finance. - The expenses of management of; the Board of Missions had been reduced from 16 per cent, to _ 8 per cent, of the income, but this, of course, had necessitated the cutting down of the staff by half, and a ; great deal of deputation work had to be cut out. He replied to criticisms of the management; for example one man had complained that between them the officials had four telephones. It was true that, each official was on the telephone, but each of them paid for the telephone himself, so that this did not cost the Board a penny. Other criticisms were similarly dealt Avith. The Board of Missions was not a missionary society, but by making one appeai to include various missionary societies it had reduced the expenses of collection and raised a great deal more money for the various missions than they had had before. For example, five years ago, before the Board of Missions began its work, the Melanesian Mission raised £4617 less the heavy costs of collection, and m the same year the C.M.S. raised £4100 less similar heavy costs.. This year the Board of Missions would provide Melanesia with £8000 net and the C.M.S. with £5000 net,. all the expenses of propaganda and office expenses being paid by the Board. THE FISHERMEN'S SUNDAY. Synod expressed itself heartily m favor of the Napier fishermen who wish to have a. holiday on Sunday instead of on Saturday. Mr Speight brought out unanswerable arguments proving that Sunday fishing is not at all necessary. One felt a great deal of sympathy for the fishermen, especially for those who, after twelve hours' work from 5. a.m. to 5 p.m., attend religious service m the evening. These men throughout the whole of the summer half of the year have no opportunity of making, their Communion unless a Saint's day happens

to fall on ; ;.a .Saturday. We hope the Sunday Fishing; Bill" which should surely be '/No.. Sunday Fishing Bill!", will pass. , ' CAN^IAN PRAYER" BOOK. : " : A motion was introduced, which urged the General Synod to favorably consider the adoption of the Canadian Prayer Book. To those who know the years of patient study ; that have been devoted to Prayer '; Book revision by the most able liturgiologists m England, and who realise the many difficulties of the subject, it came as a surprise to be asked to recommend for acceptance by the Church of. a book which they had either never seen or had only cursorily examined. ; Speakers in' favor of the motion seemed never to have ' heard of the practically universal opinion of revisers outside Canada, that the Canadian revision was a most imperfect piece of work ' and utterly, inadequate to satisfy the demands of any school of thought m the Church. Certainly even a Synod of experts would have demanded months of patient study before pronouncing* an opinion on such a subject. Prayer books are not lightly to be adopted or rejected on the recommendation of a diocesan Synod not half, a dozen Of whose members could pretend to any ability to pass judgment m the matter. On the advice of members the mover withdrew the resolution. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. The Rev. Canon Rice moved :— "That the time; has arrived when the. collectings of -money m parishes for missionary and other outside objects should not be done through-the Sunday collections." The motion was the subject of a good deal of discussion. Special Sunday collections are a precarious source of support, for example because last Whitsunday happened to be a wet day the Maori Mission suffered. : • Giving for Missions should be systematic. All : Churchmen, whether present or not on a particular Sunday, should do their share. The: present system laid the support, of- special objects on the few regular churchgoers; whilst others did nothing. Canon Rice advocated the Duplex s ystem, by which ; each Churchman, has a double envelope;- m one pocket of it he puts his offering for parish needs, m the other his. offering for outside objects every Sunday whether he is present at service" or not. The envelopes are • presented at Church whenever he attends, or sent to the Churchwardens. . The; Rev. F. B. Redgrave reeom- 0 mended a book called "Efficient Church Finance" (obtainable at the Bible House, Wellington). He also

advocated the Duplex envelope. He recommended the Rotorua scheme (''The Mite Society") and the/Mission box system by which £3000 was raised for the Board of Missions last year. PAYMENT OF STIPENDS. At the request of the laymen's conference, Mr R. Gardiner brought forward a motion for the payment of all stipends through the Diocesan Office. A similar motion was passed several years ago, which directed the Standing Committee to bring 'm this system whenever it thought the time was opportune. Synod was now asked to declare that m its opinion the time had arrived for giving effect to this system. An interesting discussion followed during which Archdeacon Simkin said that the General Diocesan Fund, as soon as it was strong enough, would provide a re- ; serve out of which temporary parochial deficiencies could be financed and the scheme could then be inaugurated. Synod, however, by a fair majority, decided that the change should no longer be delayed, and the Standing Committee will be called upon to devise some means of carrying 1 it into effect. GENERAL DIOCESAN FUND. The following is a condensed report of Archdeacon Simkin's remarks referred te under the previous heading : — The Diocesan Secretary explained that the Standing Committee had hesitated to introduce the system, because if it were done a considerable guarantee against overdraft would be required. When the General Diocesan Fund was on a more satisfactory footing its reserve funds could be drawn upon m case of emergency until the parishes paid up their contributions. The General Diocesan Fund at present paid out one-third of its income m aid of needy districts, the remainder was used to provide for deficits m the maintenance funds of the orphanage (St. Hilda's) and the rescue home (St. Mary's), and enabled help to be given to parishes when it was a matter of urgency to make some forward movement. It was also used m opening up the work m new country districts, and, generally, m the extension of work. The General Diocesan Fund deserved much more support than it got. It was the only fund which provided for aggressive work. Before the fund was established special appeals were made for every institution; this system Was irritating and did not produce satisfactory results. The General Diocesan Fund made one appeal, which included all Diocesan naeds. People should realise its great importance 5 the exten-

sion of Church work, whether social or aggressive depended entirely on the fund. As soon as it was strong enough the wishes of Synod would be complied with. DRUNKENNESS OF YOUNG WOMEN. At the Conference of Clergy on Monday morning a matter of very serious import was discussed and it was decided that the attention of Synod should be drawn to it. In consequence the Rev. W. T. Drake moved m Synod: "That m view of the reports throughout the country of a serious increase m drinking amongst young people and especially among young women and girls, this Synod urges members ef the M.U., Sunday School teachers and all who have any influence with the young to •bring before them the dangers of alcohol, and encourage them to practice total abstinence." It was : impossible m open Synod to disclose all the evidence that had been brought before the Clerical Conference but enough was said to show that not only drunkenness but, m many cases, flagrant immorality is rife amongst young girls, especially those who belong to what are considered the "higher" classes of "society." The evil, seems to be connected with cabarets, sports clubs, and more especially with public and private dances. The evidence showed a most disgusting and disgraceful state of affairs that bids fair to degrade and to demoralise our young girls. Anglican clergy are not usually guilty of hysterical wowserism and the solid evidence (drawn from personal observation) given by both clergy and prominent business men, proved that it is . absolutely necessary to take drastic steps to put an end, if possible, to this abominable state of things. A full report of the discussion appears m the "Hawke's Bay Herald'" of September 18th and m other daily papers. We will not repeat it. It behoves all decent women to use their utmost endeavor to protect the purity and character not only of their own daughters but of other girls as well. The evil is spreading like a fire and the innocent girls, of to-day will be the debauched to-morrow if something is not done. It was suggested that ' Christian parents, especially leaders m society, should refuse to invite to their dances (regardless of their social position) young men and young women who have shown themselves a source of corruption. In most cases the drinking goes on m motor cars from liquor supplied by supposedly respectable men, with the deliberate intention of corrupting- the girls. The towns of New Zealand are nearly as bad as Sydney, which has earned an unenviable notoriety as the result of its Artists'

Ball. I We hope the fairly full report m the . ' ' Hawke 's Bay Herald" will arouse all respectable (not to say Christian) men and women to stampout this terrible evil. Although some members of Synqd deprecated prohibition as the remedy, others declared thier intention of voting prohibition as the only solution of the problem. At any rate it is the duty of all who have any share m the religious training of the young td' warn them, wisely, against the'■temptations' they are sure to meet. Thecraze, for. pleasure is fast developing into a craze for vice, and it can result m nothing else but the degradation of the nation. Only the love of Christ and th« power of the Holy Ghost can prove sufficient to enable our young people to pass unscathed through tke corruption. SYMPATHY. Votes of sympathy with the relatives of Canon Clarke, who is seriously ill, and with those of the Revs. F. W. Martin and Thomas Fisheiy who have gone to their reward- were passed by Synod ; also motions of sympathy with members of Synod who were sick. All these were remembered at the Celebrations during Synod. AN" ANOMALY. There are a few parishes m the diocese where the clergy are required to pay their own travelling expenses. The result is that the more work they do the less stipend they receive. This topsy turvey system was severely criticised by the lay members of Synod and by the Bishop. The stipend of a married vicar is fixed at a minimum of £350 per annum, but where the Vicar has to pay either the whole or a portion of the expenses for running" and upkeep of a car his stipend is considerably reduced. Such an arrangement would never be tolerated m any business concern and Mr C. A. Delautour and others condemned it unreservedly. At the request of the laymen's conference he brought forward a motion that where a motor car is used for parish work the parish should pay the cost of its upkeep and running expenses. The motion was carried unanimously. BOUNDARIES. The Boundaries of the Dannevirke parish were altered so as to exclude Te Rehunga and Matamau. The Standing Committee .will probably provide for the working of Te Re-hunga-by the Woodville Vicar. In the meantime Dannevirke will continue to provide services at Matamau. PENSIONS FOR LAY WORKERS. A . scheme for pensions for lay workers, men and women, was approved. When the scheme has been

approved by the Auckland Synod it will by adopted by the Pensions Board. ELECTIONS. Standing Committee: Clerical members : Re vs F. A: Ben - nett, Canon Butterfield, W. T. Drake, R. F. Geddes, Very Rev. the Dean, Yen Archdeacon Siriikin. Lay members: Messrs H. J. Bull, J. S. Kibblewhite, Captain Lake, A. G. Pallot, R! H. Pilson, A. E. Turner Williams and J. P. Williamson. Creneral Synod Representatives; Clerical: Yen. Archdeacons Siinkin and Chatterton, Rev. Canon Rice. Lay: Messrs H. J. Bull, C. A. De Lautour, A. G. Pallot and A. E. Turner Williams. HOSPITALITY. Members of Synod, were greatly indebted to Napier residents who so kindly provided hospitality and to the ladies who provided afternoon tea every day. GENERAL REMARKS. Although many lay members' (Napier business men) are unable to be present so early, Synod decided, as last year, to begin its session at 2.30 p.m. each day and after an interval for dinner to sit till. 10 p.m. A great deal of work was done. This session has been perhaps the best for many years, m that very little time was spent m financial business and m revising canons and a much greater proportion was devoted to discussion of moral and spiritual questions at the heart of the Church's work.