ANGLICAN SYNOD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3128, 5 July 1917, Page 9

ANGLICAN SYNOD

YESTERDAY'S SESSION SITE OP THE CATHEDRAL • Tho Wellington Diocesan Synod resumed.its sessions in. the Masonic Hall, I Boulcott Street, yesterday. His Lordship j Bishop Snrolt presided. The, -Military Affairs Committee reported that the extension and ramifications of tho work during the year had exceeded anything previously attempted. Tho. institutions in the two maim camps were now in excellent order. Billiard tables, bagatelle and' games, , writing desks and-extra lighting had been installed for the convenience and pleasure of tho troops. Two institutes wero now under construction at Tauhercnibvu to plans laid down by "tho Defenco Department. .Tho Church had thirty-four chap, lains serving with the Expeditionary Forces,' on tho hospital ships, and in the local camps. Every assistance had been given to chaplains for their work on tho troopships. During the year 12,500 Prayerbooks had been put on board tho troopships. ' Tho financial sido of the committeo's work was on a sound business basis.' Tho Tauherenikau institute would cost .£600.' Tho annual expenditure in New Zealand was so great now 'that at least ifiIO.OOO must l>o Taieed if tho Church was to continue tho excellent work that was being done. —Tlie report was adopted. The Diocesan- Church Schools Board reported that .£5536 ss. 3d. had boon subscribed towards the capital fund, and .£157 Bs. had been promised in annual subscriptions. ' Thirty-one parishes had people's' pence boxes, ami 550 household boxes had boon distributed. Tho board's intention was now to proceed with, tho work of promoting Church schools as opportunity offered. A , Bill would bo brought beforo the Synod defining tho constitution, and functions of the board, which would; afford an opportunity for the discussion of the whole scheme. Tho board appealed to tho Synod and tho diocese to givo the movement their most .generous support.—Tho report was adopted. ' On tho'motion of Mr. W. J. Birch, a Dill to provide for tho _establishment, maintenance, and] regulation of Church echools was read a first timo.

A satisfactory report was presented by tho JVlaori Missions Committee, and was adopted. Tho Rev. 0. M. Stent moved: "That tho Synod would welcomo the publication of sermons for tho use of lay readers i'or those Sundays for-which a special offering is authorised by tho Offertories Act, and for such occasions as might bo approved by tho Bishop, and would request .His Lordship to appoint a' committee to prepare, publish, and circulato appropriate'. sermons for such occasions." The motion was carried.

A motion •by the Von. Archdeacon Innes Jones: "That tho Synod appoint its own Press reporters," was lost on tho voices. Most of tho ■ laymen who spoko on- tho matter contended that it was highly desirable that members of tho Press should bo present during tho sessions.' x The Synod, on tho motion of tho Vcn. Archdeacon Fancourt, decided to commend to the General Synod an application on the part of tho Diocesan Board of Trustees for permission to sell Section •17, Featherston Town District, being tho site on which the old church stood: Tho Synod wont into committee to considor tho following , proposed resolutions attached to tho renort of tho Cathedral Site Comnjitteo:—That the Taranaici Street property.is not suitable for ii cathedral sjto; (a) that tho land in "ara'nalii Street, or its realised . valuo, bo treated as an endowment for tho cathedral; (b) that the committee report to the Synod at its session in 1919 as to tho retention or sale of the 'laranaki Slreot property; that Synod approves tho present site of St. Mark's Church ivud buildings as tho sito for tho'cathedral, and 'resolvos that the committee Investigate and report to next Synod upon' arrangements that it may be necessary to mako as between tho parish of St.' Mark'and tho diocese; that the generous oft'or of St. Mark's parish, conveyed in tho vestry's resolution of April 17, 1917, bo gratefully accepted; that Synod accepts tho preliminary plans prepared by Mr. Erank Peck on tho understanding that in-the event .of Mr. Peck not being eventually employed as architect, ho will receive a fee of 250 guineas for tho plans; that.Mr. Frank Peck bo appointed architect for tho proposed cathedriil, eubjtet to his plans and specifications being approved by Sir Aston Webb, Mr. Gilbert Scott, or such 6ther recognised l expert or experts in ecclesiastical architecture as tho 'committee may select—such alterations, : as such oxper" or experts may recommend, and tho committee approve, to bo carried out by Mr. Peck;, that the following be the committeo to carry out the ■ foregoing resolutions, viz.: His Lordship the Bishop, ;tho Revs. W. Fancourt, A. M.'Johnson, C. F. Askew, H. Watson, and Messrs. "\V. J. Birch, E. Balcombe Brown, E. Wilberfoss, E. F. Hadßeld, IJ. W. Henderson, G. E. Tolhurst, W. J. Gaudin, J. Besaut,- and the mover, with power to add to its number; that the thanks of. Synod be conveyed to Messrs' William Ferguson and W. H. Morton for their valuable report oh sites; that the funds to, be collected bo vested in tho Cathedral Fund Trustees in ternis of their present trnst deed. No decision was given for publication.

Officers and committees wore appointed during tho day. , .