ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 554, 8 July 1909, Page 6

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

SECOND OAY'B PROCEEDINGS. THE BROTHERHOOD SCHEME. Tie most important matters dealt v/ilh by the Synod yesterday woro tho broUicrJwxxl sohemd proposed by tho Rov.. 0. Y. Wrxxlward (Foxton) to bring tho Church into closer touch with tho musses, and a motion of the Rev. T. H. Sprott (St, l'nul'B) nffirining that tho unn)torablo naturo of tho funds-, mental clauses in tho Qiurch's Constitution is injurious to tho best interests of tho Church, and proposing an appeal to Parliament for comploto self-govornmont, An amendment to" Mr. Woodward's motion was adopted, stating that' tho Synod considers tho qnestion of tho brotherhood worthy of earnest coneidoratioii, and appointing a comniittoe to consider tho matter. further and roport next year. Tho; discussion on tho oonstitutionol question raised by Mr. Sprott was adjourned before any finality could bo reached, add will be resumed this evening, Tho discussion is reported in another column. Tho Bov. C. C. Harper's motion to roduoo tho fee for marriages solemnised after license was thrown out. A resolution wae adopted in favour of establishing a general committee for the management of the Chinese Mission, in- order that tho • work may be oxtendod through the diocese. .. ■ MARRIAGE FEES. The Rev. CO. Harper (Palmorston North) moved: "That Resohition No. 2be altered to read: 'marriage solemnised after license 10s.'" (instead of £1). Ho pointed out that tho KHjaUed surplus fees for marriagee did not go into tho pockets of the clergy, but were merely collected by them for the. Pensions Fund. He did not see why marriage, with a lioonse should cost more than marriage after bans. The Pension Fnnd would lose only £50 a year if tho motion were "adopted. :; ■ ■ ■' ■ ■'.■■'•■• : ' The Rev. GLW.-.Dent (Eltham) seconded the motion. '■'•'■,", '■ ■ '■. !■' ■ • , The Rev. T.. EL. Sprott opposed,the motion, approving of the object of the present differentiation in fees, which was. to encourage marriage after bans. The Church desired, that marriages should be performed with the utmost publicity, and this purpose was'better sorved by the bans, system than by. tho issue of a license. The Pensions Fund: could not afford .the loss of even £60, and in needy cases the clergy had power to remit the fee altogether.- ....... : •-. ',- '■ •• '-.'■.',■ The Rev. C.' H. Isaacson (Pahiatoa) supported the motion. Mirny people were op-* posed to bansi as being, in their opinion, a system of getting married "on the cheap." They felt that it; was "infra/dig" to be married after bana, and pay the smaller fee. Hβ was, therefore,; in favour of removing the distinction. '_ •••;■■ ; ; '; :'; ;• - ._■ . ' , "Marriage by license is entirely a dispensation j it is not the proper system of the Church, and if people want to avoid publicity they should be,made to jjay for :it," was the view of; the Rev. E. T. Wynn. Bond (Wanganui). " ~ v * ■•■:'■ ■ •':'■' The motion iwas negatived by both olergy and-laity. : ; . ; . ,'/■';■ ■ /.: \ LADIES' HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE. On'the motion of the Rev. 0. C. Harper, Mrs. Wallis and.the wives of the vicars _an( churchwardens of'city and suburban parishes were appointed a committee to arrange for providing hospitality for members of the General; Synod next January.' The 'resolution , was amended from its original form to make the committee one,of ladies only. EVENING SETTING. v. Leave was given to the Rev. A. W.:H. Coinpton, to introduce 'an. amending', Bill' to. provide for,, bringing; ; four., clergymen,'',■',in. scholastic' positions' under the provisions,oo r the Pensions Fund.. , .'/ ,'"'-.. '.■'„'■':"'-.,'. t / Slight alterations.in the method of electing, delegates to the General Synoo! were made.on the motion of' tie Rev. C., C. .Harper ~ (Pakmerston North),,:' ■■.-,-■.: v-:"; ■_,:'..,.■,•■-' .MAORI MISSION WORK! The Rev. A. M,_ Johnson ;(St. ; moved:7-"Th'at this' Synod.agrees to con-, tribute for the year ending March 31, 1910, the sum of £105 to the Maori .Mission- Board, having in. view the . reconstruction of the board by General Synod and the obligations of tho Church of the' province to- work, now being done in the benefioiary dioceses of. Auckland and Waiapa." : : ' The Rev. T. H. Sprott (St. Paul's) seconded the motion. ' . .... ,;;■'■ The debate was adjourned to.allow.of the debate being resumed, on the • Rev., G. Y. ■Woodward's brotherhood scheme, in'accordance, with the orders of the day. THE BROTHERHOOD SCHEME; Mr. W. J. Birch (Marton) moved as an amendments— f ; : . ' .' . .■.;.:' "That this Synod approves of ttie pro- , posal to, establish a brotherhood devotedto voluntary service for this diocese, and appoints the BorsV C. C. Harper, J. H. Sykos, G.--Y: Woodward, and J. Walker, ,- with power to add to their number, to consider the-matter, and if the. scheme ; bo. found practicable to draw ■up a re-; '■-. port, to be presented to the next meeting of Synod."' ■%.'.' \v' '.-.. ■■ ■.. :' ■ ■ Archdeacon Towgood (Marton) seconded the amendment, which was accepted by the Rev. G. Y. Woodward, mover, and the Rev. J. Walker, seconder, of the original motion; * Tho Rev; T. H. Sprott (St., Paul's) proposed an amendment to Mr. Birch's motion,, substituting for the phrase "approves of the proposal' , the words "considers the; question worthy of earnest consideration." Mr.Sprott 1 did ■ not think that street missions were . a pressing need,' or the best way of dealing'with , difficulties which they all recognised.' There was strong evidence to show ,that street preaching promoted irreverence ;' it made the people "Gospel-hardened." He did. not like, also, the reference to labouring classes.'.How-ove-r'much they might approve of the sug-. gestion of a Krothernood, it would be better this year to- devote any 'spare funds 'they might have to the forthcoming Mission 'of Help; . .' ■ .-".-. '■:?: ■■:-■■' :> ■ . Tne amendment was seconded by the Rev. W. Ballachey (Wellington). .■'■'■ The Rev. G.;.W. Dent (Eltham) opposed the amendment, which would'mean shelving the proposal for two yearo. He drew a broad distinction between street preaohing and.street missions. '< Mr. T. Bland (Newtown) suggested that the clergy should attend.the sports or , the young people. t arid show'an interest in their doings. He did not "'think that a brotherhood would be of any service to the children. The Rev. J. Walker (Newtown) that the amendment was somewhat unaeaeori- ; able, since the scheme had' been published' beforehand/and there had been unusual 'opportunity for 'its consideration. The Synod should be able to say whether it approved of the general principle or not. They were too much' disiricliried to commit themselves- to any definite course. ". - . ' ■ ..'."' ■ Mr. F..R. Russell (St. Mark's) thought that.the Synod would stultify itself if it committed itself to the scheme without considering ways and means. : Mr. Sprott's amendment was carried on' a division, the voting being as ayes 24, noes 20; laity, ayes 19, noes 15. BISHOP'S RESIDENCE. The Yen. Archdeacon Fancourt moved:— "That this Synod confirms the request of tho Diocesan Board of Trustees to the General Synod to be allowed to sell or lease the property in Mulgrave Street on which tho Bishop's residence and Diocesan Library stand." Ho reforred at length to the disadvantages of the residence. Tho'Rev. T. H. Sprott (St; Paul's) seconded tho motion.., He thought that the presont property should bo leased for preference. ■ . . . ■■ After further discussion the motion was carried , . .'■■■'.. The Synod adjourned at 10 p.m. Until thie morning.