ANGLIGAN SYNOD

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 6

ANGLIGAN SYNOD

VARiHTY OF TOPICS DISCUSSED The twenty-fourth Synod of the diocese of Dunedin was continued yesterday in St. Paul’s Schoolroom. Bishop Fitchett presided. SCHOOL DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. The discussion on the report of the Social Questions Committee was resumed, Dean Cruickshank seconding the motion proposed by the Rev. A. B. Pywell (convener) —“ That the Synod expresses appreciation of the privilege granted by the Otago Education Board for the opening of school daily with devotional exercises, and recommends clergy to take advantage of this wherever possible.” The idea was different from the Bible-in-Schools League, and originated in Wanganui, said the dean, and it was now open to anyone to apply to the school committee for five minutes’ devotional exercises in the schools. He had a great regard for the teachers, but many of them, especially those who had just left university, might have objections to the proposal. They were quite prepared to observe these objections. They now had within their reach certain privileges for which their grandfathers would have given anything to obtain. It was not necessary for the clergymen to be at the school every day, as the exercises could be conducted by the head master or class teachers. The speaker thought it was a wonderful advance and that the Synod should express its gratitude to the Otago Education Board. The privilege was now within their reach, and it rested with themselves whether they used it or not. They should remember that whatever rights they had as vicars in their own parishes they went into the schools through permission of the Otago Education Board. He then urged those conducting the exercises to make the most of the time at their disposal. They would get nowhere, he said, if they arrived late or if their work were not prepared. It was wonderful to know that the whole thing for which they had been fighting for years had fallen into their hands within a month or two, and now 21 schools in Otago were taking advantage of the opportunity to conduct devotional exercises. The voluntary nature of the exercises was stressed by the dean, who said that no child would be compelled to attend and no teacher would be compelled to conduct the exercises. They could be made most effective, however. The ideal was for the bead master, as father of the school, to conduct daily prayers for the whole school, assisted by the teachers. In conclusion, both clergy and laity were urged to use their best endeavours to see the privileges were used to the full. The Rev. J. A. Kempthorne supported the motion, which was carried. STANDING COMMITTEE ELECTION. The Rev. W. A. Curzon-Siggers moved—“ That this Synod considers that it is desirable that the Standing Committee of each diocese should be elected at the first session of each Diocesan Synod for a period of three years instead of being elected annually, and accordingly instructs its representatives to General Synod to prepare a Bill for introduction at the next meeting of General Synod or to support any Bill for the purpose introduced there, to effect the necessary amendment to title B, canon 11.. clause 13. of the canons.” The mover stated that he had been asked by the Standing Committee to bring the matter forward, and explained that the second portion of the motion was merely the machinery clause to give effect to the motion if it wore carried. The main argument in favour of the motion was that there were triennial elections for most of the other executive bodies in the diocese and a committee elected for a period of three years would provide greater continuity of policy and also avoid loss of time at each Synod by the elections. The motion was seconded pro forma by Dean Cruickshank, who said that the matter should be fully considered before a decision was made.

Bishop Fitchett said he would like to avoid going from ballot to ballot at each Synod, but there were _ a good many things to be said against the proposal. If the committee were elected for three years it was conceivable that it might defy the Synod, which would be powerless for that time. The Standing Committee functioned while the Synod was not in session. He recommended tho Synod

to give the matter very serious consideration before making a decision. Opposition to the motion was raised by tho Revs. I. L. Richards and J. A. Kempthorne. . , Mr L. Deans Ritchie explained that the committee had brought the matter forward on behalf of the Nelson diocese to obtain an expression of feeliim, so that its representatives should have some load when attending the General Synod. Tho motion was lost.

POWER OF SALE CONFERRED. The Rev. W. A. Curzon-Siggers moved—“ That this Synod considers that it is desirable that each diocesan synod should have power to delegate to its Standing Committee the power of sale, exchange, or mortgage of lands held in trust for the Synod at present vested in the Synod, as has been already permitted in tho ease of < granted hereditaments ’ by Title F. Canon IV. of General Synod, and accordingly requests its representatives to GenerarSynod to bring before General Synod at‘its next meeting a proposal to procure the amendment of the Church of England Trust Act. 1913, to permit of such delegation, or to support any proposal introduced to Genera] Svnod 'for that purpose.” ‘Tho leval position under the Church of England Trusts Act, 1913, was explained by the Rev. Curzon-Siggers, who said that if the Standing Committee had such powers it would be able to take advantage of any offers during the year, which was most desirable. , , Dean Cruickshank • seconded the motion, stating that the Standing Committee was a more suitable body to deal with land transactions than the Synod. . . The opinion was advanced by the Rev. A. N. Thompson that the Synod was delegating all its growers to the Standing Committee. The Revs. W. A. Hamblett and Pywell supported the motion. The second part of the motion was withdrawn and tho remainder carried. SELWYN COLLEGE BOARD. Archdeacon Button presented the report of the Selwyn College Board in the absence of Archdeacon Whitehead. The report stated :—• There are GO students in residence, four of them are theological, 49 medical, six dental, and one law student. There are two extra mural theological students. One theological student qualified by passing in grade 111. for ordination at the end of 1935. Owing to there being no vacancy in this diocese, lie was permitted to go to Christchurch for ordination Two students qualified last March in the new preliminary examination for the Board of Theological Studies. One theological student obtained his B.A. in 1935. Of the four resident theological students one is studying for grades 1. and 11., two for sections of the 8.A., and one for tho M.A. As far as can be ascertained the new Government legislation does not appear to affect the college directly, but it does so indirectly and to so considerable an extent that unless some further financial support is forthcoming the chances of the college remaining open as a hostel next year will be jeopardised. Full details of these difficulties will be laid before tho board at its next meeting. The students, under the leadership of the president, have done excellent work this year in improving the grounds of the college. The general improvement in the quadrangle calls for rejuvenation of the lawn tennis court, which for lack of funds has been allowed to deteriorate very seriously. Tho new arrangement by which All Saints’ Church and Selwyn are under control has worked very well. Moving the adoption of the report, Archdeacon Button said that, owing to Government legislation, the position of the college was serious. He hoped that sufficient support would be forthcoming next year to enable the college to carry on, otherwise it might possibly be crippled in its usefulness as a hostel and a training ground. Canon Small • seconded the motion. The Rev. W. A. Hamblett asked for further details of tho effect of the Government’s legislation, but, on the motion of the Dean, the debate on the report was postponed till tho evening session, to be taken in committee. The report was received. TASK APPROVED. The Rev. J, N. Thompson moved—- “ That this Synod confirms the policy of the Boundaries Commission in endeavouring to enlarge the boundaries of the parishes and parochial districts.” On the suggestion of the Bishop the word “confirms” was deleted and the words “notes with satisfaction” substituted.

Several speakers expressed satisfaction with the work of the Boundaries

Commission, and the motion was carried. APPRECIATION. Mr Edward Laley moved—“ That ■tliis Synod place on record its appreciation of the many services rendered to the church by the late Mr Robert Ainsworth Ward during the years ho served on the vestry at Port Chalmers as vicar’s warden, and this Synod extends its sympathy to Mrs Ward and family in their great Joss.” The motion was seconded by the Rev. A. B. PywcU and carried. The Rev. James Simpson moved—- “ That the Synod expresses its sympathy with Mr Joseph Stewart Brooks, of Lawrence, in his recent illness and consequent absence from Synod, and expresses its appreciation of his long years of faithful service as Synodmau for 'i'uapeka Parish.”—Carried. INCORPORATION OF COLLEGE BOARD. Moving the second reading of a Bill to amend the Selwyn College Statute, 1927, Mr J. T. Dawson said the statute constituted the hoard of governors of the college. It might become desirable that the board should be incorporated, thus becoming a separate entity in the eyes of the law when dealing with outside people. The Bill would give power to the board to be incorporated at any time such action was felt expedient. Archdeacon Whitehead pointed out that the Knox College Board was an incorporated body. Selwyn College was faced with certain financial difficulties, and it felt that it could possibly deal with those better if it were ui incorporated body. The Bill was read a second time and massed through the committee stages. GENERAL SYNOD. The following were elected to General Synod ;—Archdeacons Lush and Ahi tell end, Rev. W. A. Curzon-Sig-e;ers, Messrs Dawson, Cheyne, Priest, and Strong. STANDING COMMITTEE. The Standing Committee was elected ns follows Archdeacons Button, hush, Russell Whitehead, Dean Cruickaliauk, Rev. W. A. Curzou-Siggers, Messrs A. H. Allen, J. T. Dawson, vV. E. Ea.rnshaw. G. R. Rifchie, L. D. Ritchie, and P. J. Priest. • PENSION BOARD. The following Pension Board was ppointed :—Archdeacon L. G. Whitccacl, Rev. W. A. Curzon-Siggers, lev. W. A. Hainblett, Messrs J. T. Jawson, W. E. Earnshaw, P. J. ’ricst, and L. D, Ritchie. SALE OF WINTOX PROPERTY. On the motion of the Rev. W. A. birzon-Siggers permission was given to be Win ton Church Committee to sell bo vicarage and site, provided that bo Trust Board and Standing Coniaittee were satisfied as to the price md conditions of sale.