DIOCESAN SYNOD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 238, 2 July 1919, Page 8

DIOCESAN SYNOD

ADDRESS BY BISHOP SPROTT

SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF

CLERGY

NEED FOR STIPENDS TO BE

AUGMENTED

The session of the Wellington Diocesan Svnod opened yesterday, the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. T. 11. Sprott) presiding. In his presidential address Bishop Sprott referred to the deaths during the year of the Rev. T. Fancourt, Archdeacon of Wellington, the Eevs. T. Gardner, viear of Pongaroa, Tnmati Maniiora Kateno. and Te Aomarere Metera. The deaths of the two latter clergymen, coupled with the long illness of Patihnna Kokiri, assistant missionary in the Wairarapa, had been a serious blow to the Maori Mission. His Lordship also expressed his souse of loss tho Church had sustained in the death of two of its lav members—Mr. .Edward Anderson and Mr. J. G. Castle, father of the vicar of Island Bay. Other vacancies on the staff of clergy had been caused by the resignation of the Key. A. D. Stratford find the Rev. W. Robinson, and by the appointment of two of the parochial clergy, the Eevs. R. Franklin and R. H. Hobday to other spheres of work within the diocese. "The result is that we have now several vacant parishes," said Ilis Lordship. "Indeed, throughout the whole province there is a serious shortage of clergy. To remedy this we must, at least for the next year or two, look to England. Now that our New Zealand young men are returning from the war wo do indeed, I am thankful to say, find some of tlipm offering themselves as candidates for Holy Orders. But thfcse, of course, will require to undergo a period of preparation and training, so that we cannot from this source supply our immediate needs. We must, then, look to Sliigland >' and I would most earnestly impress upon the lay members of the Synod, and upon our people generally, that if we are to ask men to corns to us from England, especially married men. we must, with Ihe greatly increased cost of living, materially augment our stipends. The lay members of the.General Synod at its recent session had this whole question of stipends under serious consideration, taking evidence from the archdeacons and other well-informed members of the Synod. As a result the General Synod issued an appeal which it has directed to be circulated ill all parishes throughout the province, urging that a strong effort lie at once made to raise all stipends to a minimum of ,£3OO. .1 believe this matter has only to be properly brought before our people to meet with an immediate response. It will be remembered that at last year's session of this Svnod wo authorised the Standins Committee to appoint, if found advisable. a financial organiser for this diocese. The Rev. R. Franklin has been appointed, with what was felt to be the more fitting title of diocesan organising secretary. It should, in my judgment, be Mr. Franklin's first duty, immediately after this session, to tako in hand this question of stipends, and for 6ome time to devote himself to it almost' exclusively. He should make a systematic visitation of every parish and district in the diocese, and I trust that tho lay members of the Svnod will give him, as their own appointed officer, all possible help. In mv judgment no now diocesan enterprise, requiring large expenditure, should he . undertaken until the stipends of the clergy have been rcudered somewhat less inadequate. Work already in hand must, of course, go on, but no fresh work of an expensive naturo should be inaugurated."

Diocesan Schools Board. The most; important work done by the Diocesan Schools Board during the year was the acquisition of the toys' school known as Croydon House, Day's Bay. Tli is school lias a well-established reputation throughout New Zealand, and the opportunity of acquiring lit was one which it would have been' criminal folly to neglect. By the prompt generosity ol' Messrs. Birch, Mnbin, ShirtclilTe, and Shulholme. they were enabled. lo make nil the necessary financial arrangements, and the school was now secured to the diocese. The Board of Management had appointed the I!ev. R. 11. Hobday as headmaster. Mr. Hobday's university Ciiieei- was one of great distinction, and His Lordship expected continued and increased success for the school under his control. "I must again j'ost earnestly commend Ihe work of the Schools Board io the liberality of our people," said Bishop Sprotl.

Bishop Sprott then went on- to review al length (lie work done at the recent session ot General Synod, at which some important -matters were discussed and settled. He said that the Synod of anv diocese was now at liberty to create Kuelia cathedral district ns it desired; to make such provision as it thought, fit for the appointment of the clergy of such district, and for conduct of Divine service and other religions 'ind charitable and educational work therein, and for the constitution of any body or bodies to control the fabric of the Cathedral, and to administer the funds and temporal affairs of the district, it being understood that every such provision shall be made wi*h duo record to the interests of the residents in the district; and to make such arrangements en behalf of the diocese as it thought proper, with the vestry of any parish or parochial district affected by the proposal to create a cathedral district, any such arrangement to receive (Tie consent or ratification of the parishioners at a meeting specially convened for the purpose. . The parishioners of the cathedral district were to have due representation on the governing liody of the cathedral district, to have tlio right to hold annual and special meetings, and !o liavo due representation in the Diocesan Synod.

.Women's Franchise. The ecclesiastical franchise was at last grouted to women., who were now entitled to vote at' parish meetings equally with men. "I suppose the long delay in adopting this reform was, in pari; at lea.st, tho result of a fear lest women should exercise an undue infliiienee in the, life of the Church, - ' said His Lordship. "There are, indeed, those who think that women have already done so, and that this influence has led, everywhere throughout the Christian Church, to a one-sided presentation of Christianity—to an over-emphasis of that fiile of it which appeal.; most to women, and _ that to this is largely due the'alienr.tion of men from the Church. This is a large question, which we cannot, now fully discuss. Thai woman has lwd fuller recognition anil therefore larger influence, indirect if not direct, in Christianity and (he Christian Church than in anv other religion, is. 1 think, historically true, lii the lowest types of relifiou woman would not seem to be regarded as a subject of religion at a!! It is probably true to say that tho development of religion into higher forms has been marked by the ever fuller .recognition of <rciuan as. being or,willy vith man {ho subject of religion. Until at Inst -in Christianity—the nbsoiuio religion, the religion, I hat is, which meets the cesenliul reifgiom; need of man as man—not of the man only, nor of the woman only, but of our total humanity —we reach the great affirmation of complete ispiritual equality: 'In Christ Jesus there can bo neither male nor female.'" Dishop Sprott added that be could not think that the giving to womon a small direct voice in tho government of tho Church would greatly augment the indirect influence she had always exerted; anil those male members who feared this hail the remedy.in their own hands, by exercising more fully I heir own governmental rights.

A Fixed Primacy. After slating lluil: lie could see; no reason why they should not. adopt, jicrliajis willi sonu: li!i : !o modification in detail, the General Synod's scheme for a 'provincial pension fund, Bish:;p Sprolt proceeded lo refer (o i he (|iiostioii of I lie Primacy. With one <1 i;;sentit'ii t, (lie Helen. Committee of tho General .Synod lenorled in fnvour of I he Primacy boiiis lixed in Wellington. "I. do nor think "lis. Synod ran have any objection lo the nriiiciiilo cf a lixed Primacy," remarked I he Bis lion. "A movable Primacy, such as we have nt present, has little io commend it, lie? dn I "link such a Primacy cxisl.s in any province of our Church

beyond New Zealand, save Scotland. Nor do i think this Synod can have any Objection to being made tho Provincial Seo, 'I'iiis Syuod might, however, feel anxious regarding tho method of electing its Primate-Bishop. Should, indeed, the recommendation of the Select Committee be finally adopted, iliere would be 110 ground for anxiety. The committee proposes to leave tlie present method of electing a bishop unchanged, only urging that ail tho bodies concerned in tho election—tho Diocesan Synod, the General •Synod, or, as acting in its behalf, the several standing committers—shall have especial regard to the limess of the person chosen for the office of Primate. To this proviso tins Synod could havo 110 reasonable objection. I think, however, it is likely that the province may wish to have a moro potent voice in tho election of its Primate, and that this Synod may be required to fovjjo something of its present electoral rights. In all other provinces of our Church, outside England, the Primatial Sees have been willing to accept some limitation of electoral rights. The system varies in different provinces, and it ought not to bo impossible for us to deviso some plan which would he acceptable to both diocese and province. lam suro this Synod would be willing to accept somo limitation, if it were found that it was for tho general good of the Church it should do so. It woivl, however, I think, 'lie well that this Synod should require that it be explicitly enacted that the person elected Primate should not necessarily and always be'one who is already a bishop. Were it necessary that he should lie such, it would mean that this diocese would have a succession cf elderly bishops. While not disputing tho assertion of the Book of Job that r with years .there is wisdom/ I do not think it would be well for this or any .other colonial diocese never to have a /young bishop. There is abundant precedent for selecting n Primate or Archbishop immediately from the ranks of the priesthood. I mentioned this matter to the Select Committee, and its reasonableness was at once admitted." . Bishop Sprott concluded his address by making some references to the question of Church union, which are reported under another heading. Air. James W. Henderson was elected chairman-of committees for the session. Select committees having been 6et up to deal with. various' matters to come before tho sessions, the Synod adjourned until to-day.'