DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16037, 20 October 1917, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS

The Christchurch Diocesan Synod resumed yesterday at 4 the Bishop of Christchurch presiding. CHURCH VOWS. Mr F. Z. D. Ferriman (Ashburton) moved to < ask the president if . his Lordship would furnish the Synod with the full text of the vows taken by candidates for the ministry of the Church of the province of New Zealand ?

In reply, his Lordship said the tows were identical with thoso to be found in the ordinal of the Boob of Common Prayer, omitting any reference, however, to the "laws of the realm." CHURCH SERVICES. The Rev. H. Jones asked the president whether Section 11. of tho report of the Select Committee on the Church's Mission, entitled "Churqli Services," and containing the words "Morning Prayer might begin at the Lord's rlayer, and euii witu cue Benedictus and the two fixed collects," was adopted by the Synod't The Bishop said, with tho leave of Synod, he would ask to be allowed to, defer the answer to the question. • Leave was given. . FAMILY PRAYER. Canon H. Purchas moved: "That this Synod, recognising the vital importance of home religion, respectfully bogs the Right Reverend the Bishop to issue a simple form or family prayers for use by the church people of tho diocese." . Dean Carrington said he wished to move bv way of amendment or addition to the motion: "That this Synod commends to the church-people of the diocese the ideal of home religion implied in the Book of Common Prayer, especially with regard to the training of children and young people." The movers of the motion and amendment emphasised the vital necessity of an effort being made to establish a better personal and home religion, such as was implied in the Boob of Common Prayer. There was a tendency for parents to consider that they could hand their children body, soul, and

spirit to the State, this being a bad side issue of the system of secular State education. Precept was not enough for parents, they .must give an example of prayer and right living to their children, for children did not do always what they were told; they did what they saw their adult examples do. After some discussion the motions were carried, the Bishop remarking that lie would be pleased to carry out the wishes of the movers. BROADENING CHURCH WORK. The adjourned debate was continued on the following motion by the Rev. H. "Williams: "That inasmuch as in the opinion of Synod it is desirable that tho messengers' meetings bo continued, this -Synod recoiLiucnus that each parish, where such a meeting has been held, should be invited to appoint a committee of men and women to consider the report oil this subject, presented to Synod * last year, particularly Sections 1, 2, and 4, with special reference to the needs ot that parish, in order to devise means of broadening and intensifying tho work of the church in (the parish, and to susrsrest lines on which future messengers meetings could most usefully be conducted there. Mr H. D. Andrews, who was in possession, deplored the apparent tendency to revert to practices in vogue in pre-reformation days, which gave a large proportion of the laity the impression that there was a distinct drift towards Roman Catholicism. It seemed to him that, the great truths of religion were in danger of becoming obscured by non-essentials. The speaker moved the following amendment: "That the Synod further commends to the thoughtful and prayerful consideration of church men and church women throughout the diocese the reports on' the Church's Mission presented to the Synod at its last session." Canon Wilford said it was not intended to sot up formal committees in the different parishes with - regard to the messengers' meetings. Archdeacon Ensor said there was a danger of shaking their old and loyal lay supporters too roughly out of their groove, a groove in which they had grown up and in which they believed. He would like to see the matter left • alono for a time, so that tho progress already made should have time to consolidate, Mr Ferriman said the list speaker's idea seemed to be to pacify the adults and educate the children. The laymen appeared to have awoke too late and the clergy had gained possession. Mr G. Mclntyre said he believed the matter of the services should be threshed out. The laity wanted to kr.ow what it all meant. So far from the laity drifting apart from the clergy I he thought it was the clergy who were I drifting apart from the laity. I The Rev. W. F. Knowles congratulated Mr Andrews on his amendment*

and said that there was no doubt thai , ' there was a strong; feeling among the - »v-' laity that some attempt was being' - . • made to belittle the Reformation. „ Mr T. Howe and the Rev. Mr Holloway spoke, and tho six o clock, adjournment followed.

„ EVENING SESSION. ££ j On resuming at 7.30 p.m., Arch- [ den con Gosset moved: —"That tJio B'u > , to amend tho rul'is and regulations tho management uf Church of England cemotcries be road a second time, a®® J. considered in com:.nittee." -? ■, After discussion the motion was lost, 1 and it was decided to refer the matter Vf . . back to the Standing Committee fot' further consideration. Archdeacon Entor moved that tilß Bill to amend the financial regulations ' be read a second time, and considered "in - . committee. The amendments were in - , the direction of fixing special Sundays , for the taking up of offertories for special objccts. _ ,; The motion was carried, and # the Synod went into committee to consider - the Bill.

At the Bishop's request. Mr R. WSimpson gave an account _of uS» . methods he had used in. raising an amount of nearly £10,000 for forward- . ing tho Church's work among tho aol- - - diers. Tho amounts raised were as follows: —Auckland diocese £2741; Can-.. terburv, £2120; Wellington, £1812 J' Waiar/i. £1607; Nelson, £672; and Duneclin, £500. Tho total expflM®. were £270. • r: Synod adjourned until 7.30 on Monday evening.