THE LIGHTER SIDE OF SYNOD

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XVIII, Issue 5, 1 November 1927, Page 6

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF SYNOD

It has been suggested "to us that we should delicately touch upon the lighter side of Synod. Now, while we welcome suggestions for the Gazette, ii we availed ourselves of all those thrown but we should doubtless appear haggard" or grey headed at the next synod. Appearing thus either ascetic looking or venerable probably we should be listened to with respect. But having a whole year m which to say ihrngs, while other members of Synod have but a few days, we feel it. would he discourteous unduly to take up the fjrae of Synod, which members might employ much more agreeably m listening to the pleasant music they themselves produced. It is certainly instructive to compare the opening and 1 closing sittings of any synod. In the earlier stages, even after a most impressive speech, a member will pop up almost before the speaker has. resumed- Ins seat, so that one is left with the impression that each speaker is interested mostly m the sound of his own voice. Towards the close of the session an ennui and listlessness appear among the members, so that much business is done m a short time. It may even happen that some seats are deserted m favour of other attractions. It is also instructive to compare clerical and lay attitudes towards ■ sy nodical procedure. We should imagine that there are at least ten clerical speeches to one lay. This we. account for, not by any lack of knowledge or eloquence m the laity, but >by the training m self-repression which each lay member has received, during the year while his vicar has occupied the pulpit. But the lighter side of synod would appear to be the more human side, and so would include the pathetic. One pathetic picture rises before us. It. is of a Synod Hall deserted by all save one of its members who have sought their well earned rest. One solitary figure is left busily writing reports for the daily papers. In the morning they will be read with varying comments, but how many readers will have thought of the solitary worker? Now that synod is over and its 'members have dispersed to the four quarters of the diocese, how many think of the incessant labours m the d-ocesan office carrying out the bland behests of s.M'od, or of a wearied editor having to write up its lighku' side? The Hall is dlsii' allied, the seats of the mighty no .longer ccfiijy the platform, the academic gfiwns en nut away, a«nd once more all h vanity, as saith the Preacher. We can no longer catch the spirit of synod. The echoe s of its kindly

laughter have - well, nigh died away. Somehow the pathetic stands out. Our thoughts turn 'more and more to the lone figures gone back to their far off country parishes. We are no iomger air- used by the thought of a young vicar who had not enough wor'-: to keep him / out of mischief ; nor by the anecdote of another to whom a little girl handed a dirty envelope containing his cheque with the remark "Father has •sent you your wages." We think •.rather of the great hearted men and 1 women toiling m back country parishes, m railway camps and Maori Mission houses, who come up year by year to laugh at each other's troubles, that they may return with renewed courage to face their own. Truly laughter and tears are near akin.