ARCHBISHOP AND PRIMATE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 4

ARCHBISHOP AND PRIMATE.

In last Saturday's issue appeared an interesting, article dealing with a proposal that the Primacy of the Anglican Church of New Zealand be permanently attached to the see of Wellington, and that the Bishop of this diocese should take the title' of Archbishop of Wellington and Primate of New Zealand. This proposal will come up for consideration by the General Synod, which will meet in this city in tho early part of next year. It_ is understood that a commission appointed by the last General Synod to consider matters relating to the Primacy will recommend that the Primate shall assume the title of Archbishop, and it is probable that when this report comes up for discussion a proposal will be made that Wellington shall bo mado the permanent primatial see. At present the senior bishop is generally, but not necessarily, elected Primate, and so the office is removed from timo to time to different parts of tho Dominion. The inconvenience of this system is generally admitted, but it is not an easy matter to get the representatives of the different dioceses to agree to a permanent location of tho most honoured position tho Church has to offer. Tho claims of. Auckland and •Wellington, however, ap'pear to stand out abovo. those 'of any other diocese. Historic sentiment points strongly to Auckland, the scene of the labours of the first mlesionarica and tho headquarters of

Bishop Selwto; but considerations of practical efficiency point to Wellington, the political and geographical centre of the Dominion. It isstatcd that a majority of the Auckland representatives, recognising the urgent need for more efficient organisation, are prepared to support a motion in favour of the establishment of a permanent Primacy in Wellington, and if that is the case it may'be a difficult matter for any other diocese to bring forward convincing arguments against the proposal. It should be stated that, tho movement is not in any way inspired by the glamour of high-sounding titles, but is tho outcome of tha recognition of tho need for more efficient organisation, and the natural desire to fall in line with other branches of tho Anglican Communion,, thus giving effect to the recommendations of the Lambeth Conference. The publication of the artido which appeared in our columns on Saturday will call attention to this important matter, and enable the whole question to be carefully thought out and discussed in its various -aspects boforo definito action is taken. _ No change of course can bo made until tho next vacancy in .the Primacy, but it is felt that the coming Gen- I eral Synod would be acting in the best interests of the Church by settling beforehand the courso to bo adopted when that time arrives.