DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 3929, 28 September 1875, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The Synod reassembed yesterday afternoon iu the City Council Chambers.

The matter of the supply of clergy to the diocese was referred to the Standing Committee,

Mr Houghton moved and the Rev. Mr Beaumont seconded “ That no appointment to parochial districts be made unless the minimum stipend amount to L 250, and residence be guaranteed ; and that, in making such appointments where the stipend does not exceed this amount, preference shall be given to young unmarried ministers. That clergymen should, as soon as possible, be withdrawn from those districts or parishes having less stipend than the above.’ —Mr Adams moved aud Mr Gibbs seconded as an amendment “That all the words after the words * guaranteed’ in the first clause be left out.”—After discussion the motion was carried with the substitution after ‘guaranteed” of the words “or an equivalent in money payment of LSO per annum, and that the Bishop and Standing Committee shall be at liberty to accept the services of any clergyman on such terms as they may deem advisable.”

Archdeacon Edwards moved— 1 ' That in the opin'on of the Synod, it is not certainly established that the contingencies provided for in clause 4 of the Constitution, and referred to in the preamble of the Bill, have become fact, so that the practical necessity for legislation on the subject does not yet exist. That in order to avoid uncertainty with regard to property, application should be made to the Coloniai Legislature for an Act declaring that la all Trust Deeds the words ‘ United Church of England and Ireland ’ shall be taken to mean the Church of England as by law established.” He felt greatly the responsibility which rested upon him of bringing forward these resolutions. The Bishop, in his able address at the opening of the Synod, took a different view of the case and his (the Archdeacon’s) position was there, fore a delicate and a painful one. Members were doubtless aware that the decision arrived at by the General Synod was not without opposition. From first to last that action was opposed, and after the decision had been arrived at it caused a great deal of excitement throughout the whole of the Church in New Zealand. The question was whether the contingency contemplated in clause 4 has taken place or has not. The General Synod has decided that it had; but it seemed to him on insufficient grounds. The’clause said “in the event of a separation of the Church from the State in England and Ireland.” These contingencies were to take place in England and Ireland, and he need hardly point out that that had not taken place yet. The Bishop in his address alluded to eminent men in the General Synod who had taken part in drawing up the General Constitution, but he omitted to mention the two very eminent men who had more to dp with the drawing up of the Church Constitution than all the other members put together—Sir Wm. Martin and Bishop Selwyn. Fortunately Sir Wm. Martin left behind him notes for the General Synod, and from these notss it was evident that it never entered his head that these contingencies had arisen. He (the speaker) thought they could only arrive at one conclusion—that they still belonged to the Mother Church, and that the Church of England in New Zealand was a branch of the United Church of England and Ireland. The Church in New South Wales did not drop the title of the English Church, and call itself the Church of the Province of New South Wales but it called. itself the English Church, and the same remarks would apply to other parts of Australia. He was sure he expressed the feelings of nine out of every ten men through out the whole of New Zealand when he said they still wished to be connected with the Mother Church, and would still consider themselves members of the Church of England. With regard to the last clause Mr Prendergast, who was then Attorney-General, and now Chief Justice, was asked his opinion on it, and he advised that they should go to the General Assembly for an Act. It seemed to him (the speaker) that if this contingency had arisen, and they had nothing whatever to do with the Church of England, all their Church property was in jeopardy. He thought the members of this bynod and the General Synod were not competent to deal with such a question as that. They should strengthen their connection with the Mother Church, and make up their minds to do nothing whatever before the Mother Church had made any alteration.— Mr Quick seconded the motion, and . contended that the Colonies were not competent to deal with important changes in the Church Constitution.—Mr Anderson said there was no doubt whatever in his mind that they were legally separated, the Supreme Court in Eug. land having no jurisdiction over them in the Colony.—The Rev. Mr Stanford thought it would be more compatible with their dignity to accept events, whether they liked them or not, confirm the action of the General Synod and affirm what appeared to him a patent fact —that they wore separate.—Mr J. Smith considered the subject of such magnitude that they should postpone their final decision till the next meeting of Synod, which would take place before the general meeting of the General Synod. T hey were one with the Church of England doctrine, and he hoped they would always be indivisible. The question raised by the General Synod was to legislate in such a way as not to mako rash and inconsiderate 1 alterations on fundamental principles hereafter. Ho moved “That the consideration of the resolutions moved by Archdeacon Edwards bo deferred till the next meeting of the Synod.”— 1 Hr LEARY seconded the amendment.—After 1 further discussion tj»e amendment was lost, ’ and an amendment carried on the motion of ’ Mr Adams, “That the debate be adjourned ■ till Tuesday.” The Synod adjourned at 11.15 p.m, 1