DIOCESAN SYNOD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 250, 10 July 1918, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD

CONCLUDING SESSION. | Tho Wellington Dioce3an Synod concluded its sessions yesterday. Tho Bishop of AVcllinqton presided. Mr. G. Shirtcliffe moved: "That the Standing Committee bo asked jto consider and report upon lo next session of Synod tho advisability of appointing a financial adviser for tho diocese." Ho said that his experience had led him to the conclusion that some better organisation was necessary in connection with the finance of (lie Church, if they were io cope satisfactorily with the increasing calls on Church funds. Among these ho mentioned tho Church Schools Board, the Military Affairs Committee, the Maori missions, and social service funds being in noed of aid. Ho said, further, that ho was prepared to move outright that the Standing Committee be authorised not only to'report, but to act -to appoint a financial adviser.

An amendment to this effect was moved, and Mr. Shirtcliffe accepted the amendment, and the motion as so amended was carried.

On the motion.of Mr. E. L. Button it was resolved: That the following be elected the Military Affairs Committeo for the diocese: The Kt. Rev. the Bishop, the Revs. A. M. .Johnson, H. AVatson, R. Hermon, Messrs. G. Shirtcliffe, J. AV.

Henderson, D. M. Yeats, A. M. Anderson, and the mover."—This committee is the samo as that which acted last year. Mr. G. G. Bridges moved the second reading of a Bill to amend the Church Schools Act, 1917. The Bill, as ho explained, waj intended to facilitate the administration of the Act. Speaking to the motion, members referred to tile good work done by the Church Schools Board, and of the excellent progress the movement had made for the establishment of Church schools.

Tlio Bill was put through its remaining stages and passed.

In committee a series of resolutions were agreed to commending to the diocese the work of the Maori Mission, tlio Melnnesian Mission, and the Chinese Mission.

It was resolved also that tho piocesan Maori Mission Committeo be continued

in office for the present year, and that the committee consist of the following:— Tho Eight Eev. tho Bishop, the Ven. Archdeacon I'.ancourt, the superintendent, the assistant superintendent, the Kevs. W. Fancourt, V. H. ICitcat, T. H. Katene, Messrs. W. J. Birch, H. E. Evans, A. .T. Rutherford D. M. Yeats, and H, D. Bates, The Eev, A. M. Johnson moved the two remaining sections of his resolution (the first of which he had withdrawn the previous evening after a long discussion and the carrying of a hostile amendment).

Mr. Johnson moved first the following: —(a) That provision should be made for a .person who habitually worships in a church other than the church of tho parish in which he resides in order that he may have a vote at tho parish meeting of such other parish, tiuch person shall satisfy tho churchwardens that ho has for six months prior to being enrolled worshipped habitually in such other church and shall sign tho declaration sot forth in Title B, Canon 5. Provided that no person bo entitled to voto

or be enrolled in more than one parish or parochial district. There was considerable opposition to the proposal for changing the very old custom of tho Church, which would have

meant, in effect tho abolition of parish boundaries. On the other hand it was pointed there were many peoplo who for their own reasons, very often good reasons, attended churches in parishes in which they do not reside, and that these people were debarred from taking any part in tho government of any church. Tho motion was negatived on tho voices. Jlr. Johnson then moved:—(l>) That the parishioners' roll shall not be confined to men. but that any woman over the age of twenty-one years shall J.ie entitled to vote at parish meetings, provided she has signed the declaration, and that the provisions of Clauso A shall apply to women as well as to men. _ ; This was agreed to unanimously. Tho last business of the Synod was tho passing of a number of complimentary votes of thanks.