CHOICE OF A BISHOP.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18404, 10 June 1925, Page 6

CHOICE OF A BISHOP.

DIOCESAN SYNOD MEETS.

The special Session of the Christchurch Diocesan Synod for. the election of a bishop commenced yesterday in • St. John's Schoolroom, Latimer square. Proceedings opened with n special Communion service in the Cathedral, followed by breakfast; At 10 a.m. members assembled in St. John's Church for a quiet hour, the devotions at which were conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon J. D. Russell, of Oamaru. \ Members then adjourned to the schoolroom, where Synod commenced its dclibcralions at 11.15 a.m., tlie Bishop's Commissary, the Very .Rev. Dean Carrington, presiding over a very largo attendance. The presidential address was delivered by the Dean after the roll-call. , The Dean' 6 Charge.

In tho course of his address,' Dean Carrington saidr "It is customary ut tho opening of the Synod for the president to make somo rcviow of tho past, yoar. ■ That is not needed to-day. This session is called for one task ,only—to find a successor to our beloved friend and Father 'in God, Churchill Julius, first Archbishop of New Zealand. "This diocese has been Bingularly happy in its episcopal traditions. Only onco" before has Synod been called to excrciso its' rights of qhoico. Tho first Bishop, whoso memory is still green among us, was appointed beforo tlio present method of eloction camo into action. Two bishops in 70 years, and each upheld tho traditions of tho Church through tho-- changes that beset CA-ery growing community in an ago of progress and rapid experiment. Each won the loyal ullegianco of his clergy and laity, tho high respect of tho world outside, and the loving affection of hosts of friends. Each stood the tests of true leadership and laid down his 1 olhco honoured, trusted, and beloved.

A Hard Taok. "Of our last. Bishop I need Bay no moro than has lieon said. It is for us to find a successor—tho hardest of tasks, for who among us can know-tho spirit of a man or guugo. his power to carry out so great a responsibility as that which n bishop must undertake? Wb can bring forward testimony from outsido to support our separate opinions testimony of a manfs eloquence, learning, experience, business capacity and so forth; but how find a common denominator to which theso values can bo reduced? After all, no Bhlning;gift or acquirement which wo can estimate will enauro the fitness'of a man for spiritual leadership. It is - personality that wo need and character; the spirit of power and love and of a sound mind—we sock a man ; of God. Wo shall never find whom wo seek'by merely balancing qualifications, one against anotllor, far less by forming groups or parties, each contending for its Nominee. Some deeper power of counsel must como into play.' This, ithen, is our conildonco. Not in our own wisdom alone, but in the spirit of God speaking through what wisdom wo have. But if that- is our faith wo must not come to our task- with minds.'made-.up. We must he ready to listen to all that our -brethren havo to say--to ■' give full weight to what others 1 feel, and believe that through this mutual exchange.of thought tho spirit of God will draw '.us Ut'tlo by little to a common .mind..;, ,

"What, then, do me seek in our now bishop? Primarily that ho be a man of God. That conies first nnd last: Then one who is able to be la true shepherd of soiijs. But .we' have,also to consider, special powers nnd gifts, Forgive mo if I warn against the temptation so common to . all of us^—to set too much value on showy qualities.- .Of ' course, we take it for granted that we should not ask.anyone to acccpt_ such a position unless he. were a sufficiently able speaker to commend his cause* and ]»avo knowledge and experienco to ' handle affair's. That goes without saying; but, granting that, we ought to: consider what the main task really is, whicli a bishop has to carry through. In very brief summary I would men- ,• tion threo spheres of responsibility, . i " ■ ■' / Changing Ideas. "First, as keeper of God's heritage, he must uphold tho word and sacraments as they wero received. And I ask you to dwell upon, this, for these aro impatient days of religious unsettlemont, in which restless, clever people , are in a hurry to scrap the old traditions and adapt, (as they say) the old truths to modern and more enlightened ways of thinking. "Thero-is nothing new or. alarming in this. Such periods recur in history, and God fulfils Himself in many ways. The old order changeth, yielding placo to the. new, but it is ours to see that it really is Cfod who fulfils Himself in our community,, and not the wills of clever men in a! hurry! I believe it is the special function of the Church in such times of change to hold fast and preserve the great fundamentals of faith and-moral'life until the world has righted itself again, and the younger generation will be glad to como back to the great spiritual realities and., see them, perhaps, with new eyes. Forgive this digression. I only want you to feel that while we all hope for one who will have open eyes to tho new needs of tho hour; yet moro still wo want ouc who will uphoftl the Catholic and Apostolic religion as it came from Christ Himself and as our own fathers held it, and see that it loses nothing in transmission. "Then next, among ourselves ;as our chief pastor, it is urgent that our bishop should be gifted with tho power of sympathy, the spiritual touch which will draw together those who differ. ' I need not enlarge upon that. It is the gift without which all others lose their value. Great Responsibility. "The third special responsibility I ask you to bear in miud is this: Tho bishop has a responsibility beyond the diocese. He has a place in tho Apostolic order with the other bishops of the province, and acts with them in Council. So, also, he has his place in the Council with all the bishops of the Anglican I communion, and a voice, in determining problems which may affect the whole Church at large. Therefore, if it be possible, he should be one who has wisdom and learning enough to grasp large issues—and all the more in days like, these when so raauy changes seem to be coming near us. • "A true and loyal faith,- human sympathy and mental'grasp. These are the three qualifications that seem to me to be most needed in one who should be a spiritual leader at this time: and having these I should say tiiat his particular individual accomplishments may be as God pleases. "I pray that our new bishop may be one who can so draw people together bv the force of love, and keep all our activities alive by the law of ; faith and hope." * . At the conclusion of-his address, the Dean was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and it was decided that the address should be printed and copies handed to members of the Synod to. asj (Continued at foot of nest column.) .'" \ '

sist them in their forthcoming deliberations. General Business. A vote of thanks was passed to the Yen. Archdeacon J. D. EusselJ for his address during the .''quiet hour, ana the president; extended "him an invitation to take part in the deliberations of Svnod. The request,was approved by members,' and Archdeacon Russell took his place on the platform. The Yen. Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt •mov,cd: "That the hours, of meeting be for the first day at 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 pni.; and for subsequent days, except Saturday (unless otherwise ordered'on motion without notice), at 10.30 a.m., 2.30-p.m., and 7.30 p.m." In speaking to the motion, he said that they did not know' how long Synod would last, and most of the linsincss would have to be done in conference. He proposed that each day as soon as Synod met it should go into conference to discuss the appointment of a bishop. The motion was seconded by Mr 11. D.Andrews and carried. ■ On the motion of <Mr Andrews, it was decided that the travelling expenses of members be paid by the diocese. In accordance with the-above motion, Synod met at 2.30, and 7.30 p.m., and inw«vediatcly went into conference.