THREE BISHOPS TO BE ELECTED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 6

THREE BISHOPS TO BE ELECTED.

—--* WELLINGTON, AUCKLAND, AND MELANESIA. THE PRELIMINARY STEPS. Now that the other Anglican bishops of tho Ecclesiastical Provinco of Now Zealand have signified their assent to tho resignation of tho Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Wallis), tho Primate, as announced in a telegram from Dunedin published in yesterday's Dominion', will tako immediate steps in connection \rith tho election of a new bishop. Tho Commissary of tho Dioceso (Archdeacon Fancourt) will probably receive, in the courso of tho next few days, a communication from tho Primate authorising him to call tho Synod of tho Wellington Dioceso together, for although tho Bishop's resignation has not yet taken effect, tho law of the Church provides that tho Commissary shall summon tho Synod and preside over it. In the courso of the next few days the Commissary will probably issuo a writ in something like tho following form, summoning a special meeting of tho Synod: Whereas tho Most Reverend the Primate, having under date of , instructed the Venerable Thomas Fancourt, tho Bishop's Commissary, to convene and preside over tho Diocesan Synod as provided by Title B, Canon 11, Par. IV, Clause 16, and whereas the Most Reverend tho Primate 'by instrument under his hand and 'Seal on the —— day of has directed tho said Thomas Fancourt, Archdeacon of Wellington, by the authority of ' the said Most Reverend - tho Primate in exercise of tho powers conferred on him by Title A, Canon I, Clause 14, to conveno the Synod of tho Dioceso of Wellington, to ' preside at such Synod and to tako tho necessary steps for the election of a successor to the Right Reverend Frederic Wallis, who has resigned that See. - Theroforo I, Thomas Fancourt, Commissary, summon you to attend r meeting of tho Synod to be held at — on , for the election ot Bishop. Dated this day of February, 1911. THOMAS FANCOURT, ■ •.. Commissary. When the Synod meets, one of tho first questions that will probably bo raised will be whether the new bishop shall be elected directly by tho Synod itself, or whether the Synod shall delegate its powersto some well-known person or persons in England. Tho probabilities aro that, the former i method will be adopted, inasmuch as the latter procedure Would practically confine the area of selection to Great Britain, thus excluding from consideration all bishops or clergymen! however suitable, in New Zealand, Australia, or any other branch of the Anglican Communion. If tho Synod decides to exercise its powers of direct- election, •an adjournment for a month or so'may bo decided upon to enable inquiries to. bo made regarding any persons who may bo mentioned as . suitablo for the position; but,as no one can tell exactly what' courso may •bo followed, a full attendance of Synods-men-is very desirable.- The procedure of election is as follows: — . A bishop in Now Zealand is nominated by tho syncd of tho diocese, such nomination requiring however the sanction of the General Synod, or, if that body is not in session, then the sanction of a majority of tho Standing Committees of\-:tho several dioceses.,,) /The procedure is as follows: — 1. Tho diocesan synod nominates a bishop for its diocese. , 2. Tho meeting at which the nomination is made is convened and presided over by the'commissary of tho bishop "specially authorised to do so in the absence, by death.or resignation, of the bishop," or, in case no such special authority has been given, then by a commissary appointed by the Primate. Tho assent of tho commissary is not however necessary to the nomination, but ho votes as'a member of his Order. . • . 3. Each nomination at the meeting is proposed by one of the clergy and seconded by one ,of the lay representatives. ■■'■." . 4. Tho voting is by Orders, a majority of the votes of each Order being necessary. Tho votes aro taken by ballot. 5. Tho Primate obtains from the bishop-elect a declaration in.writing of his assent to tho Constitution. 6. Tho Primate submits the nomination and tho said declaration (or . a copy of it) to tlio .'General Synod or, if that body is not in "session, then to the Standing Committeo of tho several, dioceses,' for its or • their; sanction ; of tho nomination. ' .' '.- 7. Whero tho submission lS'mado to tho Standing Committees' tho- members of each of such' committees ; vote by Orders, and the vote of the-bishop of the dioceso must bo given unless ho js absent from New Zealand or physically incapacitated. If the Standing Committeo is presided over,by a commissary ho has no vote, unless ho is otherwise a member of the committee. 8. Tho nomination - beings sanctioned by the General Synod or by a majority of the Standing' Committees, tho Primate takes the necessary steps for the consecration, within tho Provinco of New Zealand, of the bishop-elect. Tho Synod of tho Dioceso of. Auckland will meet on February, 21.t0 elect a successor to Bishop Noligan. The general opinion .seems to bo that the choice will fall' upon. an English .or Australian Churchman, though "tho. name of an Auckland clergyman has also been mentioned. When the synod met in. December last tho position was offered to the Rev: .T: P. Maud, of Bristol, but he refused for family reasons. . A bishop has also, to bo elected for tho Dioceso.of Melanesia, which forms part of tho Church of the Province of New Zealand. Bishop Wilson stated that tho time'bad arrived whon tho headquarters of. the. Mission should ho removed, from Norfolk Island to a more central and less civilised locality, Slid that the bishop should not have any family ties. Being, himself a married man With a family, ho feels tliat ho ought to retire. He states that if a successor can bo found by July next ho will retire then, but if an appointment has not been made by that time ho hopes to go on to the ond of the year. '