ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 726, 27 January 1910, Page 6

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

;|Mi>^^'' : Tp'"'TO^TEi^LE" S 'BE ; ; proceedings , ; of.-, the-/Anglican Gen-, :fe;-;to Tprevions; days,; by, a; considerable num-; 5/(1; fcfcer;. of; churchy -A5 : -H^ l *^tes. I ?yA^pttrtcto^^.?mterestirig'..fea- , ■■session';was the/explanation §*f^itte^:forerunners :'of,.jHie :-jtJ;j their}' ;wj)rK ; ;.i,The;. imporiant ; .questi6nl of. (provisions ilof ithe; £was .;■'■<; further.idis--' Fggiussei >-,':•!; ■'.fe V','-;\.}' : :fS^';'^{: '< ■;'-V.-5 f

f ffp; THE;;QENERALf 'd

::■"':<>£>:■■, The forerunners' of 'the General Mission -Pollock, 1 , and: the■Eev;;H<A/Ken- ; were :to; : the ■ Synod .by -Clu-isfcchiiroh.;: ' !: --< : X :-;•'• b;'; ?I , ;S-;iV^?'? ; '"W^te«^j»''W?omiriß':tlieini'.'and ! - vSHSnviting;them;.tb: address ,the Synod, and ,;-■;■ focoupy. seats ':, during/ , its',?/deliberations, Si that v ,they: jc&meVas 'invited' guests r ;;^■ W?.the;;'(jnnrch',pf;:the'.proyirice.'vltt' the' j;.v,;. Synods he ■tendered them- a : >"tf : . very.^cordial'.'welcome,;' and ..expressed- the ;<£■■. hope.,tnat.Vchurchinen.would; endeavour' VjV to :.assist':tliem ii • the-objects of their )■'& .;•:■■■■ -?j.Sr,A : ■';-:-■:'-; , ':

;.:;.«■ returned thanks' for : 'the welcome; and i. said -the !;ob]ect:that /had "■i;: brqught.-themVhete-was'God's ; purpose. 'P'A: f h^y ■'.■were;;to::prepare':the' : way'for that ■:A< special: manifestation; of the''Divine power *•# w /"oli f iwas 'cabled'a^mission. , ■Theys'wefe K'SilJ 1 ? 0 here ; in response to a kind invitation v.i.-.j'irom. the-Church, in' New ' Zealand/;and ;;:;;. «hey^bad;.been!-most,i helpfully received,'' '(S ri ""v-tJ'ey/Tfelt "theyVcould.: :gb^,:con- ; ■p- ; ; ffjdently..forwardrin'7tne;rassurahce ; that > ,; trod.;,had -.caUedvthp'm, :and;'the-ibishops ??>.'- andjclergy ; were:-withthem.bTheir;wbrk ; .zeal of the .church, ii^pn'^^^ey^ad^the .'expressed- good ftr:j;/wiahes .andpromised: prayefsiof'bishops, ;v : : stg«gyn>enj >and. Home.": %The 'i.. .; ; :.fWshop'.-:of '.London:- had:-, told': the'speaker ~. ;./that;;he.;wpuldSpray.:every the 1 ,;. : ■:-•:■.mission^ylt.was a.:great workj and if they v; : .-,;*ould:reap,.they.;;must sow., Not-much' '". '<':■ c ? ul 4l ?° m e,,pf the: sort'of■ spasmodic' : -Vγ!*?""vthat;was:• sometimes called a'• misay. tewn.^i^Preparation;;in':the.'parishes %as i ; -:.::; : .jnecessary, : , for :the .missionaries>;came to § '..rather than : ,to sow..' He 'asked for' stance in:getting:into v touch..with the' gy : everywhere.;.The forerunners'caine ..,..„ as.a link.between New.Zealand v arid : ;■;.?; fthe missioned who were tof ollow ; ' in 'July ffii;-';*;jgreat;work.i l lay: before;, those in. the ;;::'.-• jplaces'.where'.a; missibn,'i>as"to:-.be held, : ;i.t ■ 'My,,shoul£ > prayj earnestly..'that"the ■; : v;fcmostisuitable,missioners might be: chosen Ij'v'igssist .to settle.,.thesc and -other.;questions ■■■! W a , ?-. ; m eans;: of.. personal- visit's?-to" ; the , ' par- **; &hes, :; rad. would:: then" meet >the'. mission-/ d :j'A.---fenwV:lTO'--;miMi6new'v-'Tpuli-':haTe-to'-ao;; "Sβ /hoped: the\ localiclergy '■ would, make the, forerunners dur'■ii:f- gng;; their istay:-; in -Wellington. - 'At - the *S'ge t *P m s.of. ;.every/- man's'/ heart was ! ',the ; v v;. W.age'of,&bd,; ana.it/wa3'for clergyrand j^aait^tor-pray:;that;God ; :the;Hdly .Ghost :a^':TOoeH.;waX!l.'.amt-'.iißMe.-;.-The. ! .!'old,'.''old-' Jesus "and tHis:, love".: was'! "as' o_ powerful-"; tordajr /as ,;.ever;;it^was.',:/(ApK. ennedyV i^y-.^iy-^ : v: ' : ',K' ; ' x • it'; ;said 'nei' 'es-' v';.)»Eemed ; it-a-.great;privilege;"t6\be..invited ; address;.the; synod of;.a'ifree and■ selfiS"Kgo'enung /branch' of -the: Church, : for • with ; ■■>& ;Wl;• the 'adyantages'ythey. /'enjoyed; in \ Ene- :^?*'; si?h'e' , '^-^W'.-?ealandiiC' ftS|™arily»-;iot'•:from;the"missibners," ■ urged he -insisted; ">■ de- ; ?gS?.^/opon':the; laity,:for they, shared/in r ./;V':^β" generajipriesthobd:of ; .the',Church; and: ?S-:pftyS sll of"ff Spray-'/fdrv blessings •' on' , the s : psJpiiESM. r ;(Aj>plauseiy ! ::vii::;.':;-;.;,-. ,;' ; ! ,;;,;:'y- : ; ■••

i - . PROPERTY.

iySm TheiCommittee on Truists,submitted , therof'i ;s'i ;>';, Hrustee3'■ is; iatthorised '> to' sell Town'■ Sec-'. goh ffl; ; Blackhead, : .the proceeds to Wpiit IS)^7^^the;:;'WaiingtonvDi(K:esan: ; , Section ■ |»/B,:iA¥harekaka.i(now;\Section : {3B; J r-Wai- i !fer;;pengjy, : ..tie-proceeds to ; :be-devoted tb'-the !?.-•!> lands.'sui table " : for-a' ; %£•*'. lEiebeiconyonient ■ to: Martrnb6rough"" ; and : ig-ff»Dproved;hby : ;.the : trustees." ;■!; fi : -: : ;..1:_:x:,..-? ?frvi<^*J;\j^e,'x^qrtis.'..tobe '/ considered '■■ to-day.:'•

THE ♦' FUNDAMENTALS." '

!^%^f^oW^:';BEUF-GOVER : NiNG'^' ; :' Ik^tf^^'S^tFOWEßSiQv.v;:^ , ?;^;^;^;.: f, proposals" relating ±gj:■ jhy ihe "furidamontal" 'clauses :pf;the Con--4; i<: P™ was : : ; v resumed.H; :< ; The 1 Motion; •tr-'ffi 1 e' l '';'™*''' ;by -the .Bishop ;i s vi; M^Christohurch,> r .'.-"affirmed : '""that''. : the .g jj irfCfairchof, the; Province .possesses 'the'- iullest powers.; of': self-government;- that in Jil'-'V: oraer to exercise Vthoserfpowers it would m-i :fei'rescind -Clause '.6-;bf : the S* '■••■Jpoosnroten"■; (declaring Voertain;. proraons #;'jtoibe ? unalterable); ; :;S;;y:VMM'-tte:prbp«cty;--'rights':df-' , tlxe'Clißichi.' =^ ; ; in), the::Cohstitutdon; ■ "-?'■: ■ f*'y*iil i Bhould ?,be. promoted in,'■ the l New S.;::; ; ;:;■:,- .7mtm;shall, beonode in; , ,the':book; of ■Com-;;;5J:-:ponVPrayer,;in:the,form:and "manner-'of" $-'&. piiaking," ordaining," .and: ■'consecrating ". of ;;"i:-.ftjbjshdps,';pti«stsi and ldeacons,. ; or'in. the ff-r ; ghirty-nine;. Articles': of. Eeligionj- except %m: fe l ™ ; ..alteration; i :•-Wopted -.■ in : . : one ' ;.:? :':; paen^l'Synodi'then,referred to the Dio--bynpds, ; approved;-by ft'.'majority of ■•.•■■>- : ' ftnem,:'ana' finally/cohfinnedtin'the next: ;V: -'lftsssapg GeineialvSynod." v;-V; ; A v ';";j :.-''• 'Authofi^. , ;;-- W^J : : ., : ; : :' ; : ■;=•'■ >■;. ' :the ;,-::>;.; mrst.clanse of .the motion" seemed to imply ■:':??■ *hat>7the:: General power* to-;-:>S:;.;iaIter ,-the % Constituiipn.:';Slr.:-Martin' had v.. : :v ■ argued- similarly.;that- tbie'General.-Syriod «;•-;; made_.the .Constitution, varidWcould alter "::.;;'■; at. He ,(Mr. ■ Tuhks) ;submittedi however, te ; ,-;: thai. the.General Synod;was:basedbnlthe :;.,:>.K!oiishtuiion; ;.bnt^he -;would" admit' that ;iJS■•:;• phe:, '.Chnroh -/-itself—not..' the -.General .Synod—had the'power'to alter the "funda- >;;.:' ;;< jy -thiat.-. those-, provisions were unalterable. but ;,1 ;;'' L -,.that-np .Synod-could.alter'-them/ He also :;;;.-, ::.thonght".it:would.'be:a'breach-of ; faithon ;•?, -f ■; the-part-of;'.th6:.General Synod to' do"SO,' ; ; : ; .:.- ;-,becanse : :'thjiy-'had.'.been , 'elected ion' the' S,S;;JVanderstanding;/that.: they had;. not that '{Qx!;-. ipoWer/:: .So'.-far.-as'.'he knew: 'anything ■of ■;Vf;;,.;;(the.-.:mind\of ; the ; Church,;; he , : felt ■ sure rtir'.ihatvthemost strenupusopposition' would V;.?. : : : ;':>be'"offered toa. Bill: witK the object indi-if\S:/!i<»W.:-\-.;-'WitJiout-;.-euoh';(a i ' , epiis«isi's''"'6'f' th,at;;frora/which-the'ConstihK fi/.;/'v*onfca.ine, ;it'oould;not rightly be'altered. ;been' urged in ';/* S'.jiavour.of ithV proposed changes' was that .£ : ;S,;;.ianiendnients'.were needed'in the Book of, ;..;;,//;;',K3pmmon' P,rayer;= : -!'(Voices:. "No, -no!") iC'r'^'ffhat./at iany. rate, was what .was' to; be .-'? ■:;/] igathered:'-froml the : speech: 'of ; the mover,' W}:^S^d'-;fiSiim : rith'e;-.TesplTiti6n'''itself; ; ;' 05ear, ; the; Prayer^Book.;iii ; . its pretf: not whbliy. acceptable, he: beKeveditthat/no. ;future_ of , it •:?^S% > ' , W'-'' e /any;;m<ireJ ; satisfactory; *;Ohce 5"-;;*/:''; thej>ow«i;°pf altering it /was token!'there SfiK'iw>"l3■ .Iw/no','rest': from-. altera tions, ; am •/^■/'■.yeprinting-'would be 'necessary' after every ;S';/:-■ (General ;Synod.'- They Iwould-have discus-, '^/'■ ,'J6ipns':pn!'.pr6posed : alterations in;the Diov/:;r':»cesan:'Syno<lß/and.elections: of 'members S; 'it.itot /the':' general > : Synod,iwould -.- be deterir'aHfrnined by the; views they held as to 'such ■;;/'/itomendments,": It.would become impossible. .f/'v/i.(to get a.General:Synod that really repre- : ;'/??:. : ;'p6ented .the mind, of the, Church. .][t had. •?;;"; Hieen:pointed out that; the, fundamentals ■}./ iv- (lad ■already been: altered /by: the General '//'-/ fSynpd'.in/Title }G 3 ' but-'he'eonsidered that. ; ... ■■', / ■/- |^y'^;:,Avoid.fPanic/Legislation;'; ■;'///'/> /;vfe-v-;:Mi'. v;^f ; t p6rte(l. : -the..motion.":;■ He held.- that" tfie ift; Synod /was/really better' consti-; f>;:ri '' tuted."and more :authoritative, than/ the sK ; /■.''(informal conference of :many years ago, -:;'..%:J-»-hich- 'framed the /Constitution. He /.;/:>'.-"/thought/there .-. ground for' the fi/.."/'.jearsvof-* improper : alterations, in/, the :S.V-!:/f/rprayer'. Book expressed by. Dean Ktchett, ofl3ie, ; provided that no .alterations

should be made'except under proper-safe-guards. He argued;ihat it was : of little avail., to say that, the -.General Synod had: .uo.' power to ; alter tho Constitution, : see-. ing,-that'-.it -had actually done, so, 18 years ago;:-The speaker- mentioned that one of- those .who , assisted 'to • draft the /motion- was Archdeacon Henry Harper, the. father of this growing movement in :tho Church. ■ Tho '(proper -.course to follow, was to 'provide an : orderly way in which- alterations could be raado when thoproper, time .came,, and this was the object ;of the -motion. He regarded- tho : proposed Act of Parliament -as.a-neces-sary/.safeguard for.the property of the /Church.', ■-. Such: an event: as tho tablishmont of the .Church at Home, if occurred,-would make: it necos:sary to take such steps as wero now pro•posed,; and they should be forearmed, so astaavoid panic legislation. .; ■:'.■'■' • : ;"At the. Mercy.ofVpolitital, Events," ,\:The :: Rev.:i:T/.H.:.Sprott' (Wellington) said-that in his opinion,. -Mr. Martin's legal arguments: had •■not yet been disposed of. .'. The. fact -that ;tho preamble ; and first '. clause'of' the ' Constitution Te;ferred'to;the Church , as a "branch of the Church of Siigland" would-' make an amendment- necessary 'apart from, anything 'else;. ;•; Against.-.Mr. TunkV view. as .to the powers. of .synods. and the Church, he contended'that .the .'syno'ds were: the Church's, proper mouthpieces ['otherwise ; it was "merely; a' collection-of. atoms—in.dividualism' '■■ in . r ' eccelsis.' -"A - Catholic Chureh.-.was a ;free federation of free-self-governing' churches.'■ ■ That '. was the An■glican' - .and.-, the' Eastern■"'■' view,; though not; the;. .Eom'an-view.:: The .Anglican Church .in, New' Zealand so strongly' asserted independence ■as'' an' L element of .Catholicity that it forbade the consecra.tioh of■ its bishops' anywhere but in Nett ■Zealand. Unfortunately they had.placed themselves.: by the Constitution at'..the mercy: of "political .events ' such- as' the separation of .New Zealand from England.

A Question of: Honesty; .';• : '- , •- j : The/.motion', did... not'...contemplate. the: revision' of the Prayer Book .being: actu'ally .made -by. 1 the..Genefal 'Synod, but by ;somb;duly constituted/body, ;the' result to 'be authorised ;by:the. Synod!"-.A , revision ;of ;,tKe Prayer Book".was now going on in ;England, and the question' of' adopting it might, cpm^, before the;; next'.>;■ General |Synod- in -Nelson.' 'If .the present motion' ■wa3 ': passed,-'.,he :could propose . its adoption; and-it 'could be carried before lafternoon tea.;,(H€ar, : hear.),:; But if the motion ■ carried, the..; new ' version ■ooiild.'not'be-adopted' here in less ;than ;three; v ..years. -The'^English^'reyision■'.' was being made without any consideration for ,thefneeds .of .New Zealand, and yet" it. might :be.thrust upon., the Church here in-that "way.-V'That.is what- you con;servative Aucklanders.are"forcing.'us to," :exclaimed /.the: speaker.:- As 'an ■■'. indica-' tion 'of;, the!:need. for some-.,relief, Mr." Sprott.went oirto say, that he'did not know,; that there was anything-a'.normal; young more sensitive about/than. hpnesty—(hear,! hear)—and' such ,an. one did.not like'.to: make .'.declarations of a' .most .stringent character, on; the assuri officially;; sanctioned; ! by' v the Church—that'they;nieant,nothing at a 11 . ,. ,This Vwas a,..causei that kept' many from. .■fatog.;. ; ■holy:.';b^deire.'■::.T^ , ;■■■Mnatiyβ...■con-' 'science }. of.-,a iyb'nhg, man, ,-yet, unstained and. : unspotted irom^th'e , world, revolted from such ,an : .'action'. .'•: Older; men, might, perhaps, . know -how ,to make reserya:tions.';;:-;''";:-'-.':'; .:/.'-A; ,:■ -. •■.-' -.;..:■;■: ■:;;

■''Subtle.and Dangerous." * , '." ■•.'■'::■.-:'■,'■ :-) Canon .Maollurray■•■ (Auokland) opposed' the '■'■ motion.-/ He', said .the. proposal had. beenbrought up, in one form or another, at everyone ';'<& the. : six 'General , 'Synods ]■ which/'he; had attended,' but never ,in. a .nioro, subtle and: dangerous 'form than, the: present. ; The Bishpp s of 'Chiistchurch proposed ,to ;'condemn :the■ -'constitution,. :and 'hand it over to .th'e;:civil arm:'for execution.. j ; All- those' , present.;, had a>\i'emnly: put; their'names, to f.the constitu-' : tion; : .deolaring- their 'acceptance, of.'.:;it,, 'including the; "unalterable , , , .-;clauses. -If they now ; made a'contrary declaration, who;'could; put: any 'confidence in..their I declarations ? ; Mr. Martin, had : ably; ; expounded his 'view-ofF'the case, ~; b ut "had' also supplied the'; best reply .'.to, his own when. ■: he: said,- "Don't:, take f the. : ; : opinion : .o£ ; ':'any[ lawyer ..■about .it' - - (Laughter.) ::.■;■'■, ;■•;;'•);■ ■": ■■ ■■'■■■■'V -', v --iv-: ;''.ilr.;iMartitti>l said,ii''Qoi'tojl!aTlianient 'to "'putfright .what' ; ybu've■raade , ' wrong." ■ .■.Canoh'MacMurray: replied;that if the clause .making the fundamentals /unalter;able was, as Mr: Martin'had argued, null ■and' void,;it should;not 1 be necessary to go • tb r :-Parliament,'.-and this, he understood;- '.was' ,-the''..prim"ate's Vyiewv•■.'■:■ The' 'church'asva.-whole'did,not'want, the^proposed alterations," and if-the:motion were passed-and ;a Bill -brought"before :Par;liament,'the Church -would'be. torn' with dissension. : The General Svnod had no -power'to.take.the:- steps under, considera-tion,-though-the ■iOhurch.as' a Vwhole had 'such- power. .;:.Personally, ■' he :•. wquld'.-'be glad;■•to•: Bee •' many-Valterations 'in the /Prayer-Bppk, ! !which' : ,would,'afford : telief to;.his.".own.':' conscience,-but'-he knew :.of, •!no authority-in New Zealand,' to, whom >he Iwould. entrust the. task of revision. ; He would as soon trust a chronometer to-be .repaired -by..a- travelling tinker as the Book to be '■■ revised by ,ahyV body of men ;in this country; ..The motion' was ;dangerous.-in.;-itseifi*andVcertain; if carjried, v : 'to, ; provoke : 'strife, , and. schism in .they-church;/'^; , ■:"••:."• .V ; ; :';.\ '■■:''■ ',;;

Prayer Bobk-'in: Imminent'panßero'- .'/.-> ■. "Archdeaeoon;Ruddock suggested, that a case"should ,be;lstated for "legal decision, so .that they would- know, just what",the legal' position was.,•■.,. ■■.■■:.■■'.. '. : -.-\ ■ / '■■ , Archdeacon Gossett saidhe.w6uid ,; sup-port-.the- motion,;;.simply , .; because: he shared/the v-hoirbr. -of •■ at thoadea of the Prayer'Bopk\be*mg lightly, pampered.-with;"':DirectlyVth'e Church- of England'; was..disestablished,' ■ the •■' ■ ■ safeguards-, of v-fte ~cpnsHtatiqn ..would : be at an end,';andiany change might:be made at thei .next/ Synod:- They - ought not to leave .the-Prayer. SBopk in, the imminent clanger it was now. in, if certain political persons ■ decided to disestablish' the Church ;in England/,-;.;.:, /v ','. /: :■■■■-. /";.."; :^h-i ' weaker, /was,, interrupted by "the adjournment /of the' Bynod-at.5;80: p.in; '■.■'.

NUMBER OF VESTRYMEfI./ '^■::■} At the evening sitting/:11r.' ,: C.H. ; ,btatham.;raoved. ; reading 'of a 8U1.,-to , ,'.delete.the .wordsi;of Title B, Canon y, ■ which.;■ limit■ '•' the number of members of a : vestry: to ten. He.said he ;had been ..asked to .bring it forward by :the Dunedin' Diocesan Synod.- . ; .. .Theißill. was .thrown'out on the' : voicas.

IV f EUCTION ;OF,;SYNODSIWEN; -J •■".,iir^C:: 3: TunkstAuckland)'niov-ed'fl'e ■secoud.reading.'Of ajßill having tcr its object .an alteration;of-'-:the methods cf electing lay,- members 'of : . the'■ Geai-ral Synod. Prior to, the ■ last Go'nor il >-ymd; 'each, diocese .was" diyided into districts, .and'the '.church., people in' each district chosr their rep'resentatiyes to the' General bynod.by' direct •.election.v'i. change was made at ; tlae last General.Synod: by a Bill introduced i .by ; ■ the : Bishop of. 'Christ-' . church,, and;.the' present method is that ;the; ; representatives l are elected by the jDiocesan. Synods.; Mr; '.Tunks's Bill proposed, a- reversion; to the former method .of election.- " '■■;•■.-'•; '~.,'

.; Speakers; in. support of .the Bill argued, that, direct election, facilitated the return of ■ members from, the country 'districts ...The/Bishop of . Christchurch said the new; system had led to more interest being ..taken...in- the elections. : H the Auckland. diocese' could ; not, under it, elect .country representatives, -that must be/because .the Diocesan Synod-did not represent the country districts.' The old system was.cumbrous, and did not secure true : -representation^; 'The new method :had.' beeD /beneficial to- the Church. ■ ~ ■■ /Mr. : C. H. Statham- (Dpedin) said that his- experience .as a'• diocesan secretary, hadehown him that the old method was ;a ■ farce./-./' : :' ' . -..''.v, /::■'/. ■ , ; :',:. ,; :/The Bill'was lost , on the voices.:. /•:

THE STANDING COMMISSION.

; .Mr.- T. -1 , . Martin, moved the second reading of, a ■ Bill to amend Title C: Canon IV,. dealing -with "the constitution of the Standing Commission. He. , explained that ithad been/the .practice for many iyears to appoint .the five 'members from the diocese-where the Primate had his. See.: It was thought that-looking to tho impprtan'ce of-the body, and the fact -that it .was'the Church's • highest court of- appeal, the synod should have ■'the'.whole-range of the - province from Iwhich- to select the. members. ..The Bill further/provided - : that, members not/residing in/ the- Primate's diocese: could give their opinions on cases and appeals by -way,/ of correspondence.- It would doubtless .be/found convenient: to have I some /.of; .the members ■', resident via' the

Primate's diocese so that meetings could be held. The Bill also defined the qualifications of commissioners, limiting them to bishops, clergymen, or communicants, whereas it would be within .the , wording of the canon if Turksvor infidels' were appointed. Provisions were also made regarding vacancies in the membership of the commission,'and the practice to" bo followed in. the case of a commissioner being interested;in a.matter before the comniissipn. Another clause directed that no question or appeal should bo submitted to the Standing Commission whilo the General Synod was in session.' Dean Fitchett (Dunedin) and other" speainrs adversely- criticised the provision for consultation among the commissioners by correspondence. ■ : . This clause was subseuentlv struck out in committee on the Bill. Minor amendments were also made,' and the Bill was reported/, '-. ' • ■.-.: . , .......

CLERGY AND VESTRY MEETINGS.

; .Resuming a debate which was .interrupted on the previous evening, Archdeacon Gossett opposed the second reading of Mr. T. P. Martin's BiU to provide that a.clergyman acting as locum tenens. snail not convene or preside at a "vestry meeting. . ■ '■■:• ;,. ,- .■-■ .-. .-.- ■ . -.. The 'Bill was; thrown out... .-■' • .'.'-, . The synod resumes at 2.30 p.m.'to-day.