ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 727, 28 January 1910, Page 8

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

I >; /, ♦ ' SELF-GOVERNMENT. FURTHER ANIMATED DEBATE. „' x % ■''/ THE PRAYER BOOK 1 siti:ing of tho Anglican ,General, Synod yesterday was wholly'occuadjourned -debate ■on the ".Bishop -of ChristclniTch's motion to affirm possession' of the - fullest' powers-of tho Church of the und -. thedesirability : 'of rescind--6 of%tiie' ConsH^tion, -ajiid: * Actfof Parliament to safegiiard the • property of the Church: Gossett,- in-resuming ' the ;-;;:;-;^;P e b themotion (which v• j -'•'. was of an essentially, con- ' "' servative character. ■'■;■ J. W. Henderson (Wellington) gave » general support to tho motion.. -■ 1 lAn Amendment. i The .Bishop of. Nelson, vrhilb approving V®f>the';motion, purged: that - members had a right, to bo directly, as.to the rescission of Clause 6 PjSlof:the'Constitution. He moved-an oinehd- \ inent — . : in order to. lessen: possible . thequestionof rescinding ;6>be so referred. to tho church ; -of: thia province that, prior, :,to;tho ' -next :■ triennial'eleetion- ofshall -;'■ r be; publicly- and;duly - informed thati question will-be.'submitfced. at. the ; ''Vr- i a«t session of the General Synod for •• ;» ' -. their approval." :"This' was seconded by. Mr. J. B. Fielder ;;:- : .V-;;:- * i Bishop Wallis's Views. of/Weliirigtbn'jap"proved 'of; motion.- .--.lncidentally,"he disclaimed *yus' by; bishops.- ' He 'did not see that .the' .;•: prcsont. constitution acted /as a;bar -":to '•/•'"itiiV. other . churches. .. The L^Hr asfmuch power ::|a>'«o-aay.'.to: alter its .constitution;'as .-it' for.hadrto'., frame 'it.' 'English,' Church •f";; . ilawyers agreed ' with • New; .: Zealand £;.\i-':Church'._law;yers on this point.' Thefact matter. \was .- to.- come ,: before -K-%the-General Synod'.ivas-known when:the K^= : ;-X)ioceaa'ri .: Synods elected theirrepreV Clause - '6- ;'(declaring ;the :.•-•->■ fundamental" provisions to Be "unalter-e)-.;meaiit r >that "- whatever freish': aspects of_; tinth/ the . Holy Spirit might show .to .Church would.-mako no difference. ,':That was a very Prions' position ; to', take, -he thought -their to:: the ,\ -Supreme Head 'and Ruler of -the CJburch to "remove such ra fi.-;as soon,-as possible. ■". -- ~ Bishops or People? ,The Rev. -J. IJobba (Hastings) referring to' the section, of the ■ motion; which'-pro- ; iV.'.. posed to: vest the power of altering the ; - Prayer Book ;m -the: General, and- Diocesan n-: v j-;- Syn odss aid it see me dto be- a question whether the bishops or the people' should- , govern the. Church.' . Ho preferred- the SVc.V oish6pa, and would be sorry to see delif eato . and;: difficult : questions '. of .'ritual, ,;rV:,'proper.vestments, and-tho ;■: like voted' upon in . the. synods. -.. V v \V ;• j y! ■ rArchdeacon-: Willis '(Cambridge)-- said ; y .; _ .tliat the action of tho Anckland Diocesan Synod i boimd; himto oppose the motiony v->Jv'.but; in any. case, he'would have difficulty tl»; : rescissibn'-'of Clause 6. -.; : ; he : -had -. strong ■ sympathy.'f.o';,wth .the vi3w that ah Act .of Parlia-' 'v;:';. : .rinont to safeguard tho Church's property J I was desirable. ~ I "■ . v i The Basis of the Constitafion. -- ■ Mr.. Hi: D: "Andrews ■ (Christchurch) "said the 'amendment #as ynot ' neoessart y .-'jbecause' the; motion,' '■ if ' passed, would. not actually delete •. ..Clause .6. It would vi o®m o -up -' again ;f later; He considered ■ General Synod 'wascompetent . •' r .iW'reswd.any.'cliiJise of the constitution.; : did :not ; :;.Boe • 'why. Archdeacon fWillis :. should consider .himself bound resolution of his Diocesan' SyriocL';; Those presant -were -not' delegates Diocesan.; Synods; -,;but representatives : Chnrcli. (Healr," hear.) '-The •i: vßill'. in' Parliament tshonld bo (promoted so as: to safeguard the Church's iii the .event "of changes; being a-j j/iriade;'in'-the -future. '.-While- reverencing. the : Prayer Book, ho:, did not; .think it; '■V>' impossible ■, to improve' it.; They, should ' . effected in . England, : and he ; of'.doing; so: provided :: ---V^ : .'in ' the motion would work sutisiactorily, '.-, The. fact .that.. tho.. ■ General . Synod atV^j'Napierfew. years "ago • nearly m ade: the - ..use ,of the . Athanasian-. creed - optional ; ; showed tho ". need.'for such safeguards as gte&tiose :provided : ;byStlie ;inotion..fjTlie conin' its. present' form rested on .:/ I= . £ .:.-.7 'tlie'rautliority. ■ of- the. General ; Synod ,";bf: :;- ; - .:The -speaker' quoted from Dean •Jacob's history of the Church in New ." . "Zealand:—"The • existing .:. constitution aims ajo :be^ by competent authority; the original, by its own ac;..',:;::c6unt:_':'of' 'itseH, ;--professed 'to'-'-be- only v-j;.'.tentative j and provisional."..'. The power Sr;ss!to> -therefore,;'-re^' 0;:;::/eided :-:in : the Gon oral "Synod,, and; the General-Synod of '18S5 could not. tako away that power from ; succeeding. General Syxiods^ui: : : :-:vvV/' ' 1 ' -V'" v - ■■ "No Legislative Force." Archdeacon H.VW. Williams, pointed Sj:2jtout'■■■ that,.'-.-a .';resolution;; of: : the.' tienerar . j'.' -..' Synod had. no legislative force. If the 5 ' . ;.. main object of the . motion .was, as some had - .'said, ! .-to -.safeguard the Prayer. Book against hasty changes, this gshould .have.'"been, done' by moans of a •.:;/V v ;:.BilL He quoted' Six Henry Dibdin to ';:.C 'tho .effect that the power to alter the '.provisions:did : 'not Preside ;in the' General Synod,:but:-.inithe':Church, v' v .itself, under 0 certain: conditions. ; posal to' obtain an Act of : - Parliament ;i. .- seemed to the speaker like' saying that sd# they, might • do wrong with a . light heart tooki'care tto^^.vgiiafd'-.themselves w:w..;Oga_inst.'tho consequences/' . " -Mr.'/J:. Batger (Auckland) said tho ?: : :: v :-S^ ea t' 'majority., of layinen considered Clause 6 .as a safegriaril". against '• and hurried-' legislation; :.and' he-.believed jit did no'harm, - ■■: iA,Plea for More Spirituality. ' • . • ''. .The Bishop of .Waiapu suppoHed 'the heicame'out'to.-New'Zea-" . : ; la,nd,, he -thought - he 1 was.'- coming -to - a frte'.yaad- Churchi' :'biitr: he had ' found that' they were really depen- -' dent on-;tho ; i _Britisn . I ) arliamenfc. ' Ho vV. fwished to avoid that, and to have the ;:: ,j :: Churth" depend ; more on' God's Holy g po-) Spirit. The present: position was a false ;.. . .or.o, because they .were not able to el mm vi-Tfully ~the 'guidance 'of the. Holy; Spirit, as an;-:,.independent .-.'Chnrct ,The; ; , motion' ;• .. -prima -was not for tho revision of ' ■; ; the/Prayer. Book, .but to assert'/the tru6 -1:; -.4position-:of. : .the-' Church::of.:■ the: Province • .of'.New Zealand as a branch of tho Holy '.-..-'- Catholic - Church.;-';lf the v Synod: relied on : ; the. guidance; of the Holy Spirit, it would i.;-. itot be permitted :to .: make; - improper. ' '.'changes -in: the Prayer -Book. ..' .. • .Dean Fitchett: We, on this side, beTTK./ilieye.'.inSthe.'Holy Spirit-as .much as you do. . -.Tho-Bishop of Waiapu: It might not be thought '.so • from somo of the : speeches i'J-. .that have ..been-, made.' rHe.'thought .it' -, : was most necessary that they should apply to:-Parliament for a Bill as proposea. , The.motion had:to"do : with a -matter of. i principle, and they should . accept it iKK;?without: amendment.-^:- V ' - Did He Say "Subterfuge.?" ■' - Mr. -,T. - Wells. (Cambridge): ■ said he •pi'Ht would, .{have': no '' confidence -, whatever • in i; » -the Synod revising the - Prayer Book. I - Only the: previous night the Synod had taken away the right of churchmen to . elect synodsmenj' and merely; on the score -of convenience—not a: dissentient voico »:iV;v being -raised from the Episcopal: bench.' .;'-:-<SS.The original'framersVof.; the Constitution . .might have- been ; gifted with prophetic .. . . .vision to see .such a Synod as the. present one ready to tear up the_ Constitution ' and 'throw it into the" melting-pot - • . (Voices: "No, no!") : Every possible sub- .. : : terfnge had been ■ used to excuse the tear- ' . N ing up of the Constitution. . :i, . Voices: Oh, oil! • ; • . The Bishop of Christchurch: Did the ." speaker say "subterfuge"? ~-: ■A ; . Mr. Wells: Yes, 1 (lid, and I meant it • .' The Bishop of Christchurch: I only . . - wanted to know. v:.:. ;"Mr: W- o..Brittan:ls tliat a proper word. - . D. Andrews: I ask that the be withdrawn.;

". :Slr. Wells ::'if it. will bo of any valuoto '■ the: consciences'of: tlie last "two:speakors, I will gladly withdraw the word. _I am sorry.' I cannot find any word that will better; define' what,is in -my mind.";' Mr. Wells added that he would support a proposal to obtain an A.ct of Parliament for tho protection of tho property of the. Church. " The Primate i Makes appoint. ' Tho -Primate said. wished to contend against, the idea,.that those .particu- - lar individuals . who. constituted the little assembly which first drew up the. Constitution'were a sort of. heaven-born . persons, who'.were divinely gifted in some way': not shared by any who had come after. As. a matter of'-fact tho basis of , : their ;authorily;;was' -that;:thoy represented, tiie : Church./ 1 .The General Synod now had-the same/basis of authority, : and possessed jit; oven more strongly.; : Archdeacon York. (Greymouth): said he' was in favour of "most of the motion. Prayers for-the Dead. ; Archdeacon' Richards said he' considered.' that.the., Church of ;tho Province had full powers' fof; - self-government,, but. he;, did' not . think it Was. advisable to pass .'the . motion,'" the' object of-. which : was to get. at the. Prayer .Book: .Would . not .many of;,;them-/ like to ■ ;have numerous • alterations jin ade -in 'the Prayer - Book ? /Would ■ they, not welcome the -restoration- of -the" Prayer '.Book':bf -,-Edward .VI with its fuller statement.of prayers for the dead? .Wonld -they' not' like, to: have tho burial ; service enriched ■ by,. definite prayers for the departed ? Thero ;,were many alterations- .which a large '-number: would. bo glod to-' see, but :if- such were' proposed before .the'Synod'there would. 'be:a deep' and terrible division.' ''The .motion,; if : .passed;..would not.really be a,safeguard. It -could be rescinded; at', a ■ later Sync-d. The real 1 safeguard would be to keep the ,Constitution;;'as it.was. • 'He did 'not.think the: General' Syiibd was so: fully represenative;' of: tho Church -as Was th'e. : , conference . that' met in Auckland .for ; tho special .purpose^of, drawing up a' constitution: - The. Archdeacon also went into -the legal aspects of the. question, .'and concluded, by stating"that-while he;favoured tho first-part of-the motion' (affirming .'inhefeht .powers of.; self-govern-ment), ho rest of .it, because, it jas jio.t; expedient,' .not; necessary, ;ffom tho • legal point'of: view, .and likely : to'..inflict; grave' injury, on . the Church;;;!"''-! : :- 1 ! 1 A'; Vj:';?' i.'Archdeacon: C.; C. 'Harper (Palmerston North) "said, he;'had ;beeil'. sorry to .hear a statement by one: speaker - that •' the clergy .did- not .use.'.theiPrayer.'Book in the -baek-blocks: . . v'He,- - always'. used- it there, and foundlit.sufficient,for its purposes." ■ The: motion was distinctly a. saife•giiarding: and conservative one, and; much of.-.what -.had,'been' said 'about -tampering with the- Prayer: Book was . apparently designed oto frighten; people.. " " ;. - The , debate was; again .interrupted "by the -: adjournment, of-"the Synod at 5.30 p.m. '.':-:.'VTHE PRIMACY. ■ TITLE OF "ARCHBISHOP" REJECTED. : Questions . relating: to the Primacy were discussed -.attii'eevening ,'sitting.; ;•: f V ; (Arclideacon Williams; moved' the! second, reading of-.a; Bill -. to-, give . effect,; to: the' reebmmendations :of : a commission ap'pointed at' tho'last General Synod to :con-.' siderjmatters connected with tho Primacy. Underthe present .. system tho. election of ,-a Primate' from .'a'mong tho bishops "is-.conducted'.by;ballot ,of-the three orders (bishops,'-;clergy > ~and; laity),rai' the -General. Synod;- and if a majority of the .three orders is not; obtained, a•; second, '■ and, -if 'ballot" must be held, if, even • tiien,. tho requisite majorities' are not registered, the senior .bishop bo- : comes Primate.-. Archdeacon Williams's' Bill : 'prpposed that only /one. ballot .should .ba taken.' ahd,' failing-,a majority of: the ' three' : orders i ! ;forany, -one l , v.bishop,'. the senior bishop would - then' ; become : Prifnate.' ,"/.The; Bill'.'further; piovided that the Primate should be'styled'"Archbishop and " Primate of Now Zealand." A Bishop Against Titles.' ;. fill .the course of discussion en the qr.e^ ■faon -'of the title, the .Bishop .'of .Christ-' church said that they required less rather -'than-more 'of titles to-day.:: He' would: feel that-he. would;have 'more, chance; of' help-,. ,ing_ his ~brethren-:of : the in -the. .plainer and humbler form .that if he were 'styled:,;'fyour„.Grace;."' Besides jtitles were comparatively cheap , (o-day! ; They: :had several .- Archbishops in Australia. - • "Primate", "was'-a distinguished land honour'able.ititle, and: he jfor: one ,would'be-sorry' ;to see it changed.. In 'regard- to.'.'the ques-' tion of eleotionj he- Baid there were' three proper courses. They; could ; leave the bishops to. elect; the Primate;' ' or; they could elect .Synod .voting as one order; have - tho : threeballots as: at .present,.:but: dif--ference .that -they.-should 'have results of each'; one • declared. ""' Eithor ' off these schembs. would: be!, betfe thaa-: that,- pro^. posed -ill tho Bill. . ' . .'Archdeacon.Williams,''.in-iis,reply,.said, that; the title of Archbishop, not carry any;:powers. that: did: not' attach to the primacy. ■' . . " v;'-,V? •The' Bill:rwas,-then'[committed. l ,: - - ,' Against a Perambulating, Primacy. • The, Bishop -' of,;; Auckland VurgW that the ' real question , was notthe' title of 'Aichbishop/ but . the' qnertibh of. a : or perambulating, primacy.'. The . Church' of ;the Proving, would never-be -what - it ought to; be' its a ' religious:-force,- a moral force, a, force makingv'for righteousness, until they had a • metrojiolitan see. It was.'the .weakness, 'of ,tte' Church in: New Zealand that;'it biad no centre to. revolve around.. There .was, not, a single ' church: with -a perambulating primacy that was doing.: one-third: pf * the work it ought to do: The ;bishop' also said"the. metropoli:tan ,see ' should naturally .' be . loca ted at; 'the seat of the civil government. .' : Dean Fitchett (Dune'din) maintained that, it was much ;better ; to: - have the primacy/ like the, General, Synod,-located in;'.-:dillerent.: places ' at"- different - times. There' was_ no -reason -why the political capital should! be selected', ds the;-seat 'of /; the', metropolitan '-vSee,.:. and fit ; :.would be'..difficult to settlo the claims" of-, the different centres.: "i?;:. . . Clause 1 (adding tho title of "nrchbishop" to'; that' : o£- - "primate") . was; struck : out, 'on •al division. ' For the clause: bishops::: 1, clergy ; 12, , laity :9 j - against- - the' clause:'.. bishops 'i, xlergy T, laity 9. • ,';v v Method of Voting. On the' second' clause of tho Bill (to dispense' with''- the' second oiidi third bal".lots in' the:election of,-'a priinate), - - Archdeacon ; Gossett : moved ■' an amendment to retain' the existing provision, for second -and third ballots, - and-.to, cause the results :oI: each ■. ballot,: if inconclusiye,to,: be,'immediately declared' to the Synod. In support of , the'amendment,: it was. urged:,that ,the 'disclosure; of 'the -num- . bers i.would probably lead ■ to the .'election of .one-.or__other.of the bishops by ballot. :On. the; otner :side; rt;:was asserted that such disclosure would be a step towards destroying -the- secrecy of ' the ballot. , Dean Eitch'ett; said the disclosure of the numbers of, votes was tried at Dunedin :twenty-one,: years r ago, and ; the results' were -very regrettable.. ;An electioneering element; was. -introduced, men , ohanged their votes,; and the ;mind of, the Church was. not finally expressed. ,- . ... .; ■ - Archdeacon Gossett pointed, out that : a motion to disclose the - voting : could: be moved -at the election, -and might-, be carried. He submitted that it was better to lay it down as a rule. , -; Mr. J; H. Upton said he was present at Dunedin-on the' occasion referred to by Dean Fitchett. The facts were, that the Synod was against disclosing the voting, but yielded to the. winning personality of the late Bishop John; Selwyn, who, when it was seen that two lay votes could alter the result, pleaded tliat two laymen should change their votes. It was done, and that was the whole story of what ho (Mi. Upton) regarded as a tragedy. -f;'. The amendment , was carried, the voting being as,follows:—Bishops 8, Vclero-' 11, laity ill; noes: bishops 2, clergy 8, laity 7. : Progress vfas reported, and, the Synod adjourned until. 2.30, p.m. .to-day. '■The last'two weeks of Messrs.'Carter,and. Oo.'s sale have-begun, and ."desperate bargains" are promised. They open, ox .Baapehu, on Fob'ruary 8, their new season's goods, for which room must.be made. Their .advertisement appears-on-page -1. . ■ - - Applications for registration . under the Kew Zealand Society 'of Accountants Act must bo sent to Mr. Ernest W. Hunt, secretary," 158 Featherston Street"; The places where the requisite forms- can lio .. ob*. -talued are-named in an advertisement.