THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1660, 29 January 1913, Page 8

THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

MARSDEN MEMORIAL. GIFT OF £1000 TO THE FUND. APFOINTMENT OF PASTORS. i'Ry Telegraph-Press Association.) Nelson, January £3. At tho morning session of the Anglican General Synod, .it was announced that Miss Marsden, of Nelson, had promised a donation of .CIOOO for the Marsdon Memorial, conditionally on five others giving a like sum.

The Bishop of Auckland moved: "That cordial thauKs be accorded Miss Marsden I'jr her munificent donation to the Marsden Centenary Fund, and tho Synod hopes that her example of generosity will bo followed speedily by many in New Zealand.'"' Tho motion was seconded by the Bishop of Christchurch, and carried. • The Select Committee on accounts and other financial matters submitted tho following recommendations: (1) That U'so be printing and publishing an occasional service book for the use of the clergy be advanced, those responsible drawing up and issuing- tho same; (2) that, owing to tho state of the funds, and that iC9O has al--Tcady been voted towards the building of the Dunedin Cathedral, the committed has no recommendation to mako with reference [ to a suggested additional grant to the Cathedral; (3) that, under the General Church Trust, no provision bo made by which payments for actuarial 'investigation into various diocesan pension funds could be made.

The" Bishop of Auckland moved, and it was carried: "That members of the Select Committee set up to report on the selection and training of candidates for Holy Orders, together with tho heads of the theological colleges, bo appointed a commission to x consider further recommendations and report, to.the,next General Synod."

The "third reading of tho Bishop of Christchurch's Bill regarding the appointment oi pastors was carried,; and tuo Bill passed. The Select Committee recommended to the commissioners, non-sessional committees,' trust boards, and other bodies reporting to the Synod, tliat reports . bopresented in print. ; The Standing Coinmittee was elected as follows:—Tho Primate (Bishop Nevill), Bishop Julius, Archdeacon Richards (Dunedin), Messrs. H. V. Andrews (Chris.church),. and T. F. Martin (Wellington). . The canon appointing a Maori MissioD Board was lepealed.VThe Primate and the Bishop of Auckland expressed the' hope that work amongst tho Maoris,- especially in the Auckland diocese, 'would be supported in tho meantime, and resolutions in theso terms /W.ero adopted. ..■ The . Synod has how concluded.; , ■ , In moving the second reading of tho Bill dealing with the . appointment of pastors the Bishop of Christchurch said the question was olio of great importance. Of all the systems of appointing pastors he had experienced—and he had experienced many—he considered the . present .system :was'the". worst. The whole work of parishes -was. seriously injured where Bishops had, no voice in the appointments of pastors/and the clergy were dealtjwith very, unfairly under, the system now in force. He knew it was a big thing to ajtempt to sweep away a canon so ancient; but he asked members to reconsider the matter , without -prejudice, and; with the desire to do :tho best for the Church of God in this Province..

'Deahi Pitchctt (Dunedin) seconded the motion.' He contended that under tho nominative system of appointments, Bishops had the'least, influence. This wa.s not. in, tlie interest of the Church, and it-was quite time an alteration was made. The provisions of ■ the Bill were absolutely ,equitable, and parishioners w;ould receive every right they were entitled to.,'. Ho-objected-'lp the sWgestion that the Bill Ixj sent, down to the Diocesan 'Synods, where.it would probably be hung up. He urged tho Synod to deal with'tho matter at issue.:'"- :'- ■■• .. ■■■

Mr. W. '.T.ißirch .(Wellington); quito realised that.the present system- w ; as not a good, oiie.' '

Tho Bishop of Wellimrton could not 'atrreo; with all the remarks made bv the Bishop of Christchurch in regard to the oyils attributed to the pvstem at present in vogue, but theoretically a very strong case had .been made out His own 'experi-.pnen-was that it had not "noted disastrously, in. his diocese. The wholo sysiem of the appointment to parishes seemed to him to be imperfect,.and he hardly knew, what remidy.to suggest under the Constitution of their. Church. Ha would not. vote a»ninst the Bill, which was worthy of their: earnest consideration. ' ■;

Mr. ,A\ilb*rforce, (Wellington) Imped the Synod _ would fee its way 'to -give . the parishioners pome direct, representation on th« Board of Nomination. , Noild (Dunedin) thought the Bill.would thoroughly meet the needs r>f,the present time. He had no doubt they nil abominated the present system, and would bo fjlad to see it abolished..Hn hoped the Bill would bo passed, and passed this session. /':'■■.■ ~ ' The.Key. W. Beatt'y (Auckland) thought those responsible for drafting the Bill deserved. very hearty thanks, for ■', their labours. Ho did not think tho-old svsteni had worked perfectly,, but at the same time it had not been so bad as made out. .He admitted that the proposed teui' would tend to overcome many present difficulties." , . '.'''-