RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

NELSON ANGLICAN SYNOD, THE BISHOP'S OPENING ADDHESS. In commencing his address al the opening of tho Anglican Synod of the Diuccso of Nelson on Thursday, the Biihop of Nelson (tho Itight Rev. W. C. Sadlier) said;—lt is only a few months since I responded to your unanimous invitation and was consecrated Bishop of this Diocese. The system of synodical government in New Zealand is for the most part new lo me, and the time at my disposal has been too short to permit of my grasping all th e details cf diocesan organisation. I have, however, attempted, by a hurried visitation, to make your personal acquaintance, and to come into contact witli some of the problems with which we are confronted. l'rom the warm-hearted public reception and the kindly personal welcome which have been extended to me throughout tho diocese I am encouraged to hope that you will exercise l'orliearance and consideration iu the transaction of the business for which wo have met, and that as tho years pass by I may gain the affection and confidence of every member of the Church. A Bill is tu bo brought before the General Synod with a view to obtaining some amendments in the law of trusts relating to Church property. In effect, the Bill desires to claim that all land given for Church purposes is held on behalf of General Synod. _ This is not the case in the diocese of Nelson. Some laud is held 011 behalf of this Synod, and you have made tile needful provision for its management and cjaitn the right to have the same powers with respect to this property that General Synod possesses with respect to property held on its behalf. I confess that 1 view tho proposed Bill with apprehension. It tends more and more to narrow the already narrow borders of our limited diocesan autonomy. It is .to be hoped that our representatives in General Synod will fully inform themselves as to the possible issues of this proposal. For, my own part, I shall strenuously oppose it in the interests of the diocese.

Dealing with the question of the training of candidates for Holy Orders, the Bishop said;—l am contemplating the reopening of Bishopdalo College. My ultimate ideal is to send young men to one of the colleges affiliated to the University to pursue the arts' course, and when finished to receive them at Bishopdalo for their theological training. All this will cost money, a great deal of money, but if we take first things first tho difficulties will gradually disappear. The Bishop concluded has address as follows;—I have not touched 011 any of the great intellectual or social problems of the day. There is -so much to bo done within the household that needs the immediate doing that I must leave them for some other occasion. I have dealt with domestic matters only, because I have faith in the people of this diocese, and believe that they will honour that faith by an enthusiastic response. Our object must be to bring to every home in this land a complete Gospel and 1111inutilabed Sacraments. For its attainment, let us be in constant prayer anil readiness to do the will of God. Let us have the courage to go forward.