The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1919. A CHURCH PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 199, 17 May 1919, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1919. A CHURCH PARLIAMENT

The "Anglican General Synod has just concluded an exceptionally interesting "session at which questions of high" importance'to Church and nation were-considered. The aims and policies oE "the largest religious, body in New Zealand must affect, directly or indirectly, the welfare of the Domjiiioh as a whole. HeligI ion Jias permeated the-,life of man in every stage, of his long and eventfur history, and forms a vital element in niodevn civilisation. The churches have not a monopoly of religion, but thev represent religion in its organised form, and the proi cecdings of church. assemblies such as; tho Anglican General Synod i should receive the careful and sym-. pathetic attention of all who recognisß tho necessity of making the fullest.and best use-of the spiritual forces and resources of the nation. Aew; Zealand owes a deep debt of gratitude to Samuel Marsden and ns colleagues, who first preached the Gospel to the Maoris and also laid the foundations of civilisation in this country. The valedictory remarks of the Primate (Bishop iNevili.) carry us.back in thought to those early days and remind us of the enduring work of the pioneers to whose energy and foresight the prosperity .we now enjoy is so largely due. The Primate himself has earned the right to an honoured place among those revered pioneers. His ; long episcopate forms a connecting link with those of Bishop r Semvyn, Sir William Martin, and other distinguished men Who framed the constitution of "the Uiurch of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called tho Church 01 England." The Primate has always been'a strong-upholder.of the independence of the New Zealand •Church. Ho has willingly given due honour to the anfcjcht See of Cantcrbury; with its illustrious traditions, but'has .firmly refused to admit that, any outside ecclesiastical authority, however august, has ■.jurisdiction-over the Church of the Province-of New Zealand. He is °nc of those wlio desire the removal of the barrier raised by the fundamental provisions .of 'the Church Constitution to thcifrce and natural development of the Anglican Church in . this country.

.Though the Primate lias not yet Actually resigned,: Jic made it vcrv clear in-his address to . the Synod'that his resignation must soon take place. He\said he contemplated the resignation of the diocese of Dunediu at the close of the present year, and he would have tendered his resignation, of the Primacy before the session of the Geiidvnl'Svnod which Itas ,uist.concluded "but for certain inconveniences, which appeared to be connected with such a. decision." The straiu of the session proved too. much forlum, and he was compelled to return to Dutadin before the. business was comoleted. Tt is practically certain that the next General Synod, which will he held at Auckland in three years' time, '.will be tailed upon to elect..a new Primate, and also to the advisablcness of locating the Primacy permanently in Wellington. It is significant that the proposed' change, the support of the Bishop' of Ghristchurch (Dp,. Julius), who, on the resignation of .Bishop "Nevill, Mould, in the ordinary course of events,, as senior Bishop, be the liext .Primate.. Dr. Julius ,is ready to relinquish Whatever claims he may have to .this honour becausc-lie be-, neves the establishment of a) fixed Primacy in .Wellington would be in the best interests of the Church. ihc_ General Synod decided', on his motion, that a bill, providing that the Bishop of Wellington be exofhcio Primate, be sent down for the consideration of fcho dioccsan synods. < Wellington, as the-political and geographical centre of the Dominion,, is obviously the most suitable location for the fixed Primacy.' he existing roving 'Primacy, whatever justification it may have-had in the circumstances of. the past,' has now outlived its usefulness, and the time "has conic for the inauguration of a, more convenient and efficient system. The diocese of .Wellington will soon complete its own organisation by tho erection of a great cathedral. It. is already the' meeting-place of the Standing Committee which transacts urgentchurch business between the sessions of the General Synod, and would 1111doubtcdly k be the most suitable organising and administrative centre. Inspiring traditions and sacred associations would in time attach themselves to a'fixed Primacy; which would .become a niuch-' neecled centrc of spiritual" activity in the . unexampled period of reconstruction into which the world has now entered.

Another matter of importance dealt .with by. the TScncral Svnod was the inadequate Stipends of the clergy.- In view of the growing cost, of living,_ the' need for a substantial increase in the average stipend is most, urgent. That the Anglican clergy are at present hard worked nnfl-badly paid cannot be denied, and it is high time that the laity realised their responsibilites in this connection. The fact that the clergy do their work so well, in spite of their utterly insufficient salaries, is a striking proof of their devotion to their • sacred, calling, but it is .disgraceful ; that, the laity in a "wealthy country 'like New Zealand should-be content to pay starvation wages to men from- whom they expect so imirb. ' While the present state of affairs exists it is not surprising that many parents discourage _ their sons from entering the ministry, and the inevitable result is a dearth of candidates for holv orders and a decline in (lie standard of learning among the clergy at a time when it is extremely dc•siruble. thatlhe standard should be raised. It is to be Imped that the appeal of the Synod to clnirchpeonle to nay Lhcir clergy more liberally will meet with a nroinpt and an adeciuate response. The decision of the Svnod in favour of extending the Church franchise to women is a very , reasonable reform. The' Svnod took a. step- further' and affirmed that it is desirable that women should be eligible to serve on vestries and aet as churchwardens. Women have done so much for the Church that.. unless some fundamental orinciple burred (he way. their claims to th'> rights and privileges wb'cli the Synod has now eorferred upon them seem riuite irresistible. The Svnod dealt with'other problems of importance both, to Church and State. .The session of 1910 will probably prove

Ixs one of, the most fruitful of the twenty-one triennial meetings of this Church Parliament which have so far taken place.