An Ecclesiastical Snub.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 249, 24 April 1895, Page 2

An Ecclesiastical Snub.

__♦ (Communicated) . The Church of England in this colony, or to speak more correctly, " The Church of the Province of New Zealand," is an organisation of professing Christians, holding the doctrines, and practising the ritual of the Church of England at Home ; bnt possessing a complete constitution for Church Government, and a representative system in which both clergy and laity are included. The general affairs of each Diocese are managed by Church Councils called Synods, while local matters are attended to by vestries in each parish ; all in subordination to the Synods aforesaid, who in their turn own allegiance to a sort of grand committee of the whole, called " the General Synod," which meets once every three years to make laws and regulations for the whole province of New Zealand. This Church is in no sense " established," but rests entirely upon the basis of voluntary compact, and is thus, as far as status is concerned, "in no better and no worse position" than the Wesleyans, Presbyterians, and other voluntary associations, such as the Oddfellows for instance. Its constitution is the outcome of many years of careful consideration and strenuous effort on the part of such men as the first Bishop Selwyn and Sir George Grey, in communication with and aided by, such, men as Chancellor Lord Selbourne, Judge Patteson, Mr Gladstone, and many other eminent lawyers and divines in the Old Country. This constitution was elaborated to meet the needs of the Church in a new country, when it was found by the]experience of such episodes as the Colenso dispute with Bishop Gray, of Capetown, that matters ecclesiastical in the colonies did not stand on the same footing as they did at Home, and that if those who belonged to the Church of England out here wanted ChurcbT Government they must govern themselves. One of the tri-ennial sessions of the General Synod was held a few weeks ago at Nelson. One of the most important measures introduced was a proposal by Sir John Hall, that women should be allowed to vote at parish meetings. To the majority of those who know how greatly the Church is indebted to the exertions of women, what a large proportion of every congregation is composed of women, and how the very existence of some parishes, and the prosperity of all, depends mainly upon their exertions, the proposal seemed eminently fair and sensible. This was shown by the fact that a majority of more than two thirds of the Lay members (13 to 6) voted in its favor, but one of the provisions of the Church Constitution requires that there should be a majority of all three orders in favor of a measure before it can be carried. Now when it came to the vote a majority of both Bishops Jind Clergy voted against the resolution which was, therefore, lost. The arguments of those in favor of the measure seem to us very fair and convincing, while the reasons urged against giving the franchise to women were, in many cases, so silly, narrow-minded, and ungenerous, that even one of the objectors (Mr Brittain) is reported as having characterised them as "quite unworthy." A Bishop said it would "take woman off her pedestal." An Archdeacon said it would be "an innovation." A clergyman said that "it might hinder union with Rome." One gentlemanly creature said that "No modest woman wanted a vote," while Mr Hunter Brown interjected, "How about Holy Orders ?" Perhaps he never heard of Deaconesses. A few of the clergy, to their honor be it said, supported the proposal. The Primate (Bishop Cowie) aud the Bishop of Christchurch (Bishop Julias) voted with the ayes. The Dean of Waiapa expressed the opinion that if women had a share in parish management more would be thought of right and less of expediency. The venerable Dean of Christchhrch thought that in Church matters the benefit of women'B votes would soon be appreciated. Canon Webb and Archdeacon Grace also spoke and voted in favor of the measure. However, five Bishops and thirteen clergymen were able to disappoint the wishes of the great majority of the Laity and showed themselves, as they have so often done in previous Synods (teste the late Eeverend Primate Bishop Harper), steadily opposed to measures for giving increased life and efficiency to the Church. It remains to be seen whether the Laity will tamely submit year after year to be thus thwarted by a handful of ecclesiastics. If the House of Lords were steadily to resist the expressed wish of a twothjrds majority of the nation as declared in Parliament it needs no prophet to forsee the result. As ojd. George Stevenson remarked "It would be verra awkward for the coo." Medical men highly recommend Daw. son's Perfection Whisky in all cases ol influenza, on account of its possessing stimulating hygienis-giving properties. Purchase by the bottle and so secure the genuine article.— -Advt,