DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 127, 27 October 1874, Page 4

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Monday, October 26. The President took the chair at 4 p.m. EXPLANATION.

The Rev Canon Cotterill said—Before the Synod proceeds to the business of the day, I desire to add something to the answer given by me to the question of the Rev E. A. Lingard on the subject of the inspection of parsonages, which I should wish to have recorded on the minutes. I find that I was mistaken as to the number of reports on parsonages sent in to the Standing Committee. In addition to the two already named by me, there were reports from St. Michael’s, Christchurch, Prebbleton, Avonside, and Leithfield, In the cases of Hokitika, Burnham, and Governor’s Bay, it was stated that no repairs were necessary. No report can be laid before the Synod this year, but I have no doubt that the Standing Committee will be able to give a complete report of the state of the parsonage houses at the annual session of 1875. reports of committees. The Very Rev the Dean brought up the report of the Select Committee on the suppression of intemperance, which was read as follows: —“To the Venerable the Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch.—The Select Committee appointed by the Synod to consider the best means to be adopted in this diocese to check intemperance, and to promote habits of temperance among the members of the church and in the community at large, beg to recommend the following resolutions for adoption by the Synod : “1. That it is desirable tint a Diocesan Temperance Society be formed on the basis of the Church of England Temperance Society, with the Bishop as President, and that his Lordship be requested to take the necessary steps, after such consultation with others as he may think advisable, for the constitution of such a meeting. “2, That it is desirable that, in connection with the Diocesan Society, Parochial Societies should be formed wherever practicable, under the direction of the clergyman of the parish. “3, That in order to give an impulse to the formation of such societies, both diocesan and parochial, the Bishop be respectfully requested to address a pastoral letter to the members of the church in the diocese on the subject of temperance, to be read in all the churches of the diocese on some Sunday to be fixed by his Lordship. “Henry Jacobs, “ Mover.” The Dean gave notice of his intention at next sitting to move the adoption of the resolutions. “THE NEW ZEALAND CHURCH NEWS.” Rev H. C. M. Watson asked whether the Church News was regarded as the official organ of the diocese? The President pointed out that by the Standing Orders, the question and answer should be given and made in writing. CHURCH PROPERTY TRUSTEES. Rev G. J. Cholmondeley, moved : That the Very Rev the Dean of Christchurch, Rev W, W, Willock, and Mr T. M, Hassal be elected to fill the vacancies in the Church Property Trustees. The motion was agreed to. revision of list of clergymen. Rev E. A, Lingard, moved : That the Synod proceed to revise the list of clergymen entitled to vote at the election of clerical representatives to the General Synod. The motion was agreed to. The list was then read over, and the names of the Revs Harris, Moore, and Raven, who have left the province, expunged ; the names of the Revs H. B. Cocks, and H. J. Gould being added. APPOINTMENT OF PASTORS, The Ven Archdeacon Harper moved— That the Standing Committee be requested to collect evidence in reference to the method of appointment of pastors to vacant parishes, in force in the various provinces or dioceses of the Colonial Church, with the view of enabling this Synod at a future session to come to a conclusion on the subject recommended for consideration by the General Synod at its last session:— Resolution —General Synod—Minutes,page 34 - “That the bishops respectively be requested to bring under the consideration of their respective Diocesan Synods the desirableness of enquiring as to the practical working of Statute No 5. on the appointment of pastors to parishes, and the expediency of revising such statute; and that the Diocesan Synods be respectively invited to express their opinions on such questions, and that the result of such enquiries, with the opinion of the Diocesan Synods thereon, be transmitted to the Primate, in order that the same may be laid before the nexo session of the General Synod.” His Honor the Judge seconded the motion, which was agreed to on the voices. RETURN OF CHURCH MEMBERS. IV. Mr Walker moved—1, That returns of Church members in accordance with regulation adopted 1868, p. 58, be laid on the table. 2. That from the Census Return of New Zealand, 1874, there be extracted and laid on the table the distribution of the population of the provinces of Canterbury and Westland, according to religious persuasion. Rev Canon COTTERILL said that no such returns had been sent in since 1868. Mr Walker in this case, would say nothing further about the matter. Mr Gordon seconded the motion. After some discussion, the first part of the motion was withdrawn. The second portion of Mr Walker’s motion was then, upon the motion of Rev Canon Cotterill referred to the Standing Committee, the information to be printed in the Synod Report if possible. ALTERATION OF TITLE. The Very Rev the Dean did not move the following resolution : That it be an instruction to the Standing Committee, in reprinting the statutes and resolutions in force in this diocese, to substitute for the title previously used to designate the Church of this ecclesiastical province the title recently adopted by the General Synod to designate the said Church. DIOCESAN STATUTE NO 3. On the motion of the Hon J, B. A. Acland, the Bill to alter and amend the Diocesan Statute, No 3, was read a third time and passed. INSTRUCTIONS TO MINISTERS, &C., IX. Rev E. A. Lingard moved— That the following Bill to amend the “ Instructions for the guidance and information of Ministers, Churchwardens,” &c, be read a second time and considered in committee : 1. In clause 20 (a) after the word “ parish” in the third line, to insert the words “ in

seeing that as far as can be the parishioners are accommodated in the church.” 2. In clause 31, to omit all the words within brackets. 3. In clause 35, to omit the words “or in their absence one of the vestrymen.” The motion was agreed to, and the Synod went into committee, Mr C. R. Blakiston in the chair. In committee the first clause was moved and agreed to. Clause 2 was then passed after a slight discussion. Clause 3 was also put and agreed to. The Bill was then reported, to the Synod without amendment and the third reading fixed for next sitting day. STATUTE NO 8. The Very Rev the Dean moved— That leave be given to bring in a Bill for amending Statute No 8, 1866, for Regulation of Trusts, as follows — 1. At the beginning and at the end of clause 1, to substitute for the words “The United Church of England and Ireland,” the words, “The Church of England.” 2. At the beginning of the declaration in clause 2. to substitute for the words, “Branch of the United Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand,” the words, “ Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England ” 3. In the last line but three of the declaration, to strike out the words, “ under the authority of the Diocesan Synod of Christchurch,” and to substitute the words, “ under the statute of the General Synod for establishing Diocesan Courts and Courts of Appeal.” 4. At the end of clause 3, to strike out the words “ by the persons duly authorised by the Synod in that behalf," and to substitute the words “ under the provisions of the Statute of the General Synod for establishing Diocesan Courts and Courts of Appeal.” 5. To strike out clause 4, and to substitute the following clause If any trustee or trustees appointed by the Synod shall die, or desire to be discharged, or refuse, or become incapable to act, then and so often the Synod, if it be in session, or if it be not in session, the Standing Committee of the Synod, may appoint a new trustee or new trustees in the place of the trustee or trustees so dying, or desiring to be discharged, or refusing, or becoming incapable to act, in the manner prescribed by the Religious, Charitable, and Educational Trusts Act, 1856.” 6. To introduce the following new clause—- “ The Diocesan Board of Trustees appointed under 1 The Bishops in New Zealand Trusts Act, 1871,’ shall consist of eight members besides the Bishop of the diocese, who shall be ex officio chairman.” Rev J. W, Stack seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Leave was given, the Bill read a first time, and the second reading and committal fixed for next sitting day. synodical reports. The Very Rev the Dean moved— That it is desirable that the Synod itself should, at the close of each session, revise the resolutions standing on the Report of the previous year, and determine which of them should be printed in the Report for the current year; and that this duty should not be left to the Standing Committee. Rev Canon Cotterill seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Notices of motion having been given, the Synod adjourned.