Diocesan Synod.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XVII, Issue 5, 1 November 1926, Page 1

Diocesan Synod.

Synod opened with a celebration of Holy Communion m the Cathedral at 7.15 a.m., the Dean being the celebrant. At choral eucharist at 10.30 a.m. the Bishop was the celebrant. He was assisted by the Dean and Canon Rice as deacon, and sub-deacon, the Yen. Archdeacon Brocklehurst being his chaplain. There was a very large attendance of clergy and lay members. The Church's traditional music (Merbecke) was, of course, used, and it is gratifying to note that the version of Merbecke m free rhythm, which is now m general use at diocesan functions, is becoming more familiar and was heartily sung. The sermon was preached by Canon Packe from the text "We have an altar" (Hebrews xiii., verse 10). THE BISHOP'S ADDRESS. (Extracts). Mission Workers Needed. Deaconess Esther Brand, Head of the Deaconess House, Gisborne, has at present no students m training. She is giving her time and strength m helping the Vicar of Holy Trinity m the daily ministration m the Parish, and m educational work. I appeal to those women who have the sense of vocation and would give their time and energy to the Church, to regard this need as a serious call. More women workers are needed; especially do I want women workers for the Mission Houses. I want three right away. The Ratana Movement. I would here say something of this movement as it is known to me. In two settlements m the Bay of Plenty — the Tauranga District — our Church people have wholly gone over to Ratana. In one settlement, Matapihi, due notice was given of my coming, and the time of service, but not a single soul turned up. The Maori priest and I said Mattins together m the Church and came away. On the following Sunday m the neighboring settlement, Maungotapu, where due notice had been given, the congrega-

tion consisted chiefly, of children; there were about five adults, who told me after the service, that they and the rest of the people of that pa had joined up with Ratana and th«y no longer wanted the . ministrations of the Church. I heard afterwards that the congregation of Matapihi had some time ago taken a land of official farewell of their minister, and said they did not want him again. These two cases, however, are exceptional, and. of this .Diocese I can only speak. All along the East Coast, amongst the Ngatiporou, and m the 1 part of the Bay of Plenty ministered to by Canon Pahewa, the Church people have been untouched by Ratana's influence; and there is very little evidence of his influence m Rotorua and district. Elsewhere, where the movement has reached, there is a strong body of Church people standing firm, and there is no doubt that the disaffection of some has been the means of stiffening up, and drawing closer together our Church people. There are some marked evidences of this. There has been an effort on the part of Ratanaites, where the numbers have been strong or there has been a strong leader, to obtain the use of the churches for their worship. This, I have withstood on the ground that the land was given to the Church of England, the money for the erectien of the Church was given by Church people, and that the Church, when dedicated, was dedicated "to Almighty God according to the rites of the Church of iTew Zealand commonly palled the Church of England" and for this only. This has had the desired effect. There i* no doubt that the Court case, m the Auckland Diocese, where judgment was given against the Ratanaites, who attempted to keep pur Church people out of their own building, has done much to prevent any further attempt to seize and use the churches. : None of our Maori clergy have joined the movement. A fair number* of our licensed lay readers have done, so— in most cases elderly men. Many followers of Ratana have poured their money into his so-called

"Bank." There are many sad cases where they have parted with every available penny. The boast that while the Anglican Church is always asking for money from its members, Ratana and his followers ask for nothing is both absurd and untrue. Ratana holds thousands of pounds of the people's money. . The movement is weakening. Ratana is drinking and worse. ''There is no religion left m the movement," a thoughtful educated Maori said to me the (other, day. " There is the form of Service,* but the talk is of lands and money, and what they can get. ' * Many ; Maoris, some personally known "to me, realising the fallacy of their action; are asking for their money back, but .-this .is,- of course, refused. J The. money is being spent, most of it is already spent. The lesson io be drawn from the Ratana and such-like movements is plain. The antidote is the teaching of the ffaith, the full Catholic faith. Withqut this our Maoris, young and old, .are a. prey to every "prophet" that arises. ,,. Only direct, define Church teaching,, a thorough r—unling m, the essentials of the^ faith can . develop a strong vigorous Maori Mission. • ■■■•• Heretaunga School. Arrangements have been made by the Board of Governors whereby Heretaunga and Hurworth Schools are being amalgamated under the headmastership of Mr H. E. Sturge. Mr Stu'rge- will -take over the Heretaunga School after the Christmas holidays m the place of the Rev. J. G. T. Castle, resigned. ; Mr Sturge will bring with : him from Hurworth his own staff of ' masters and matron, and it is expected- a good proportion of his boys. ''■ Social Work; . Tfie nf Opening 1 ' of the Abbotsford Home/for children at Waipawa means an added, expenditure" of about £1000 a yearyami can only be met by more liberal giving. Without this the work must bY curtailed. I would urge my clergy to".lay before their people more fully "'tpe claims, of God and "of "His Church, ancl to make. the needs of the . DioceSe more widely known. A fuller knowledge of the .work that is going on iir bur Diocesan Homes, and through pur various, organisations, would call. forth fuller support. Our people do. hot know. Of the work at St. Mary's Home, Napier, St. Hilda's, Otane, and Abbotsford, Waipawa, I can only speak m the highest terms. Nurse Carter,, of St.. Mary's Home, is away on four months' leave getting further training m the Karitane Home, Dunedin. Miss Walter boritinues. Her excellent work at St. Hilda^s^ Sister Elsie Smith is. m charge' of ; the Abbotsford Home, wber6 there are now twenty-five child-

ren and where good work is being done. The World's Unrest. It is natural that men should look to the Church at such a crisis as this, that she should make some pronouncement on one side or the other. There is not a little impatience at her seem- ~ ing reticence m this as m like industrial crises. Men expect and; look for something resembling terms of settlement. But this is not the function of the Church. Her function is to seek first the. Kingdom ,, of God, and. _ His , righteousness, to create a state of living, to promote an atmosphere m which disputes will not arise at all. It is the function of the Church to follow the examplerqf Christ. Himself, when a dispute was referred to Him. When He was asked to compel a brother to divide an inheritance, He said m effect it was not for Him to settle a dispute while, they were still disputing, "lam here to show you how you can so frame and fashion your lives that no. disputes are possible;" Bishop Phillips once preached? a great Sermon, on • f The Vision and 4he Task." ; In this sermon he shows that the loftiest function of humanity is to stand between the truth and: the-, world's heeds and to transmit the one m such a way that it can help" the ' other. This is the Church's task- today. She stands between the Vision of Christ and the task of creating a healthier, happier World where fair treatment and righteousness prevail. That is our Task; •-■■■• Thank God we have m the Premier of England the man he is. Remember his words, m the House of Commons after the coal strike had been declared: — "I have worked two years • to the utmost of my abilities: m one ; direction. I have • failed so far. Everything I care for has been smashed to bits at this moment. That does not take from me either my faith or my courage; T -hall pick up the bits, ' I 'shall -'•' "n." Someu.o nas said of him: — "The Prime Minister has introduced the spirit of the Good Shepherd into English politics and the Good : Shepherd has touched the heart of the Nation." The Dean of one of the English Cathedrals tells us that three thousand strikers, the other day, attended a Sunday service. Surely the Vision and the task are not so far apart. SYNOD SUNDAY. The Bishop was the Celebrant at the 8 a.m. ' Celebration, when there was a large number of Communicants. The Rev. K. E. Maclean celebrated at the Choral Eucharist and the Yen. Archdeacon Brocklehurst was the preacher. The music was Merbecke, with Benedictus and Agnus Dei from the l^issa Seraphica. The Revl Canon Butterfield addressed the children at a Children 's Service ;

m the afternoon. £?'M\ The Rev. A. F. Hall gan#&yftftsong, the sermon being preaehiOTlw the Rev. Canon Maclean. \A\Ui^sisyi^iff were most inspiring^and \ helpf sff|p]iep3 thanks of Synod w% 'sute^ppf^ accorded to Mr Tjdmbs *$$$i ' Cathedral %hoir for the care tKej^Jp|d| taken m rendering th|e services tofeffi|| ciently and devotional^- A • ; ~^M :[: \. /■■ ' . iBUSINESS v /.. ..., x ;-. Ass'essinelnts. '„ '"•;.. .. Pension Fund. — The assessments of parishes for: the-pension- fund were revised and a few changes made with the object of relieving poorer. \dis^: tricts. The sum required to be raised : , this year is .about £530. Misßiioin Quotdfl.- " • ' ; The schedule of suggested quotas from. the various parishes was care-.. , f ully; ! ipnsideredj : l Tlie Maori! clergy, ! expr es^ed :^he'^desire; of their 'districts; to have ' t definite 'share', allotted r • to : them: ;. ,The r Ilev; ; IV A. Bennett' : said the Maoris T had undertaken to provide £100 per. annum for !Bisblbp Azai- .' riah's mission m Southern tiidia an<J ' certain. : amqrints for other missions. ;; piems^ d Pui\dV,', :; : '. " ' :'"'■'' '/:'"* '"'\ ASff^in^trodUc'ed by Archdeacon Williams was passed ' by Syriod : rto amend ttie Pension Fund Stat.ute m such a .way as to provide for the a^so-^ ciation of the new diocese of Waikatq with the: fund and. of any other dior. : cese that rriay^ m future wish "ib i ; be ais- , sociated. The: Sill have to. 'be; passed also m the Auckland Synod before it becomes operative. . " Wiiipu Churcii Gazette." The report of the Sessional Committee on the ' ' Church ; Gazette " . stated that therje had been' no increase ' m circulation. "There was a deficit of £75. .The; Cpmmitjfce.e f r.ec"omm^nd.e|| v that beginning fr6m r 'tra : nuary ' (from" 5 ' which date the " Churchman" ceases publication) the size of the "Gto2£< ette" be increased by four pages arid" that the editor be requested to provide 1 :. m these provincial news such as' 1 has hitherto been supplied by the : "Churchman." The present editor was reappointed. Attention was a calU ; , ed to the fact that 100 copies «pf the. Correspondence Lessons.; are ;being : printed each month extra -tq the r " Gazette. " The... Oommittee recom- : : mended that either these copies should ; : be utilised, or-their printing -be discontinued. Stendini^Cdmmitiwie. ! r The members of the^Standing Committee were elected as follows : — Clergy: Very Rev. Dean Mayne,. Yen. Archdeacon Williams, y&n. Archdeacon Brbcklehurst, Rev. Canon K. E: Maclean, "Rev. F.. A. Bennett, Rev: R.F. Gecldes. Laity: Messrs H. R. Clark,: H. W. C. Baird, H. J. Bull, J, P. Williamson, B, Hqidel-nes^ : A. G. Hallqty P;FI . •Hunter; ; . .','."■'•■■ ••.'.. ■■]... '„ \s