ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 6

ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

A TBUST BILL. CBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) Nelson, January 23. ' At the Anglican General Synod to-day the committee set up to consider the petition /from the Amuri and Hanmer. parishes for .inclusion" in the Christchurch diooese . reported that it had no recommendation to ma'lce. . ■ The Home and Foreign Missionary Committee, in''their- report,'urged all members of the ■:church to continue support of thq Melanesian and Maori. Missions and .to'extend the. knowledge of - the church's work throughout the world, and expressing appreciation o* Bishop Wilsons dev.oted_ labour in Melar. nesia. and , sympathy, with him :in his illness. •

Bishop Crossley said a guarantee fund had; been established in , connection. with ■the Marsden centenary' celebrations, tho 'following - amounts'having been guaranteed:— Clergy, ; laity,-' .£136. Motions of condolence and appreciation wero adopted .in connection with the death of- Messrs. W.' H. Quick (Wellington), and J. M.;Hitchie and Dr.' Hocken (Dunedin).- . - - - -

Some discussion took place on a motion by Archdeacon Harper regarding tho supply of census information, , but no decisionwas reached. :

It was decided £0 ask the Bev. A. H. Purchase, of Christchurch, to write his story of the. Church in New Zealand.:

■; The Synod went .into committee to consider- amendments proposed ; by a speciil committee on the Church of England Trust Bill to come before Parliament. The amendments: were all agreed' to;. and a commission was set up consisting of the Bishop of .Wellington, Canon Macmurray,. Messrs. H. D. Andrews, arid T. F. Martin to consent to, amendments, -in .the Bill during consideration by . Parliament. '. On .the motion- of the Bishop of Melanesia, 1 a bill .passed .its second .reading, providing that tho, members of the /mission - inr priest's 'orders, .should elect 'the Bishop of the Missionary Diocese.-

; 1 - . , Nelson, January 24; At the' Anglican General Synod's morning sitting the committee reporting on the legal status of chiirch officers sL' ted that the position, was: unsatisfactory. Officers'were personally liable under a contract, but were unable to hold'property on behalf of .parishioners. - The committee submitted' the. following recommendation:: That the Minister for Internal Affairs

lie approached with a view of securing the insertion in ■ the' Religious, Educational, Charitable, and Trust Bodies Act, 1003, an enabling clause under which vestries or managing committees of any religious body?may be incorporated for the purpose of entering into.contracts and. holding church property., , ~ Archdeacon- Grace, on behalf of the committee inquiringhinto, the. doings of l Mormons, reported that in view of the grave 'spread of Mormon tenets and practices into the moral and social life of

the community—both pakeha and Maori —the committee, is of opinion that it-be-hove ,tlie .'church- to take measures to combat :and. expose the same.. It was recommended 1 . that a commission be set '.up to take such steps as may be deemed necessary. . • V 1 i Tho Bishop'' of Christchurch movpd: That the Synod ' urges members of tlio church, while, continuing their efforts in support '.of the . Melanesian and Maorimissions, to endeavour by prayer and study to extend' the knowledge and sympathy of the people with the missionary work of tho -chmch throughout the world. Bishop, prossle.v (Auckland) urged that the'first duty of New Zealand was to the Maori. He moved an amendment that the .words "Melanesia and Maori" be transposed. Bishop Williams said the CliuToh Missionary Association was ontitled to hearty thanks. Canon Mac Murray said it was a great mistake to think the Maori'mission work was comploted. The Bishop of Waiapu said, the church had not yet done its duty to the Maori. Tho Bisli'on of 'Nclfon spoke of the ereat responsibilities of tho church in missions. Its first duty was to the Maori. Ho seconded tho -amendment, whioh was carried. The Primate, speaking to' the amended motion:, srn'd he Jooked to see great interest stirred up in the Maori missions. The Rev. W. Beattv , asked whether .the church was justified in snending large sums on things not primarily necessary foT the advancement of th'" Kingdom. Tho motion' was carried. ' At tho Svnod this afternoon, the following, vesolutiono attached to tho report of the Board of Theological Studies w»re adopted:—(l) .That, in order to meet the expenditure of the board, tho dioceses be assessed for the next threo years at J!100 ner annum.- (2) That for onch of the next thTeo venrs the sum of .-PSO be set osido bv the General Church Trustees fo provide exhibitions, if required, for candidates for Holy Orders who shall pns» Grade 111, subject to regulations drafted by the board. (3) That the fot!*»v-inp be nominated as members of the board:— Archdeacons Richards and H. W. Williams, the Bevs. H. T. Ptirchas. J. R. Wilford, A. M. Johnson, and F. G. Harv!A. The Wangiintii Church authorities were emnowered to sell the present site, end with the proceeds to purchaso another in the Avenue. On the recommen'lution of the Committee of Trusts, the Oiperai Svnod author-

ised tho Dunedin Trust Board to exchange , with tho City Council eertain lands on which to erect a cathedral