DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 130, 30 October 1874, Page 4

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Thursday, October 29. The President took the chair at 4 p.m., and opened the proceedings with prayer. SUSPENSION OP STANDING ORDERS.] The Rev Mr Lingard asked leave to postpone moving the following motion, standing in his name, until later in the sitting— That Standing Orders, Nos. 14, 32, 33, 36, be suspended with a view to facilitate business. SUPPLY OF CLERGY FROM MOTHER COUNTRY. Mr Alington asked the President— Whether any action has been taken with a view to the further supply of clergy for this Diocese from the Mother Country ? The President replied that instructions had been sent to the Bishop's Commissary in England for five clergymen. Three of them would be assisted in their passage to this diocese by the Church Work Extension Fund. For the fourth the passage money had been paid,by the parish of St Michael, in which he would serve as assistant curat*, with a guaranteed stipend of £2OO per annum for two years. The fifth was intended for the Chatham Islands, and application had been made to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts to appropriate their grant of £IOO for 1874 in aid of his passage to those Islands. These clergymen would be ■elected by the Bishop's Commissary in accordance with his specific instructions. One of them might be expected to arrive in the Diocese before Christmas. The rest (with the exception of the clergyman from the Chatham Islands) about Easter next. The Bishop had also been informed that the parish of St John the Baptist in Christchurch was prepared to advance the passagemoney for an assistant curate from England and to guarantee a suitable provision for his maintenance. On the motion of Mr AnNGTON the question and answer were recorded on the minutes. ESTABLISHMENT OF BRANCH DEPOTS OF CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY. The Rev J. Harris Wills moved — 1. That this Synod has received with great pleasure the Report of the Diocesan Branch of the Christian Knowledge Society, and trusts that increased endeavors will be made to extend its operations ; And dwelt on the pleasure he had experienced in reading the report, and the necessity of establishing a branch depot of the Christian Knowledge Society in the diocese. The Rev Canon Dudley seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Rev Mr Wills moved the second portion of his motion: — 2. That in the opinion of this Synod it is desirable to establish branch depots of the Christian Knowledge Society in this Diocese. The Very Rev the Dean seconded the motion; and spoke of the good that resulted from book-hawking, and would like to see the system established in the country districts here. The motion was put and agreed to. VOTE TO COMMITTEE FOR PROMOTION OF CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. Mr Gordon moved—- " That in the opinion of this Synod, it is desirable that the sum of £3OO should be handed overby the Church Property Trustees, to the Managing Committee of the S.P.C.K. in this Diocese, in order to assist them in carrying On so useful an institution." He trusted the Church Property Trustees, with their usual liberality— [laughter] would see their way to vote £3OO towards the establishing of branch depots of this society, the usefulness of which was so generally acknowledged. The Rev Mr Cholmondeley seconded the motion -pro forma. The Rev the Dean said that Mr Gordon reminded him of the blooming milkmaid approaching the Church cow, desiring her to come and be milked. [Loud laughter.J He thought the Church Property Trustees had been milked quite enough without finding the money asked for. The Rev W. W. Willock, as treasurer to the trustees, did not know where he could find snch a sum as £3OO for the purpose. ■'■' "lfe.also desired to say that instead of £6OOO, as; stated by him the previous sitting, as expended in parsonages, £8657 had been spent in that work. Mr W. C. Walker moved as an amendment —" That in the opinion of this Synod, it is desirable that a grant-in-aid should be given to the funds of this society." The Rev E. A. Lingard would be happy to second the amendment, as he felt sure the motion would not be carried. He should have preferred that Mr Gordon had left the pounds blank for the Synod to fill in. If the .resolution were not carried he would move another amendment as follows :—'• That it be a recommendation to the C.W.E. Committee to inalude among the objects for which grants may be made from the funds at its disposal during the current year, the Diocesan Depository of the S.P.C.K." Mr Walker said he felt desirous to adopt the Rev Mr Lingard's amendment. Mr Lingard said with the permission of Mr Walker he would not move his amendment if Mr Gordon would leave the amount of money blank. The Very Rev the Dean said he would then move Mr Lingard's amendment. The question that all the words of the original motion be omitted after the word " that" in order to introduce other words, was put, and declared to be lost on the voices. A division was demanded, and resulted as follows: CLERGY. Ayes ... 5 Noes 15 LAITY. Ayes 7 Noes 12 The amendment was therefore lost. The motion was then put with the amount omitted, and declared to be lost. A division was asked for, with the following result:— Clergy, Ayes 13 Noes 7 Laity. Ayes 10 Noes 8 The resolution was, therefore, carried. The Rev Mr Lingard moved that the blank be filled up with the sum of £2OO. Mr Gordon seconded the motion, which was negatived. Mr Blakiston moved that the blank be filled up with £l5O. Archdeacon Harper seconded the motion. This motion was also negatived. The Rev. Mr Lingard moved that the blank be filled up witlj £.OO,

A division was taken, as follows: — Clergy, Ayes H Noes 8 LAITY. Ayes 8 Noes 11 The motion was lost. Another motion that the blank be filled up with £75 was negatived. The Synod again divided on the motion that £SO be inserted in the blank. CLERGY. Ayes 11 Noes 8 LAITY. Ayes 8 Noes 11 Motion lost. Mr Mclntyre moved that the blank be filled up with one shilling. On the motion of the Rev Mr Wills, the Synod proceeded to the next order of the day. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON JACKSON TRUST ESTATE. V. The DEAN moved— That the resolutions attached to the Report of the Select Committee on the Jackson Trust Estate be adopted by the Synod. 1. That it be a direction to the Diocesan Board of Trustees that the net proceeds of 75 acres, part of section 156, with their proportion of town land, shall be accounted for to the Church Property Trustees from time to time, to be held by them as rents derived from property belonging to the General Trust Estate. Mr Hanmer seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Dean moved—2. That it be a direction to the Diocesan Board of Trustees that at present, and until further directions, two equal fifth parts of the net proceeds of 125 acres, part of section 156, and of their proportion of town land, be paid to the Bishop of Christchurch, or as he may direct, and that the remaining three equal fifth parts be paid to the Bishop of Dunedin, or as he may direct. Mr Hanmer seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The De 4.N moved — 3. That it be a recommendation to the Diocesan Board of Trustees to apply the net proceeds of the town land attached to section 141 as a Fabric Fund for the maintenance of the residence of the Bishop of Christchurch. The motion was seconded by Mr Hanmer and agreed to. The Rev Mr Lingard obtained leave move the following motion : " That standing orders Nos 14, 32, 33, 36, be suspended, with a view to facilitate business." The motion was seconded and agreed to. amendment of financial regulation. The Rev. W. H. Cooper, moved— For leave to bring in a bill to amend B'inancial Regulation 11. 5, by substituting the sums " £3OO " for " £260," and " £260 " for " £210" respectively. Leave was granted, and the Bill read a first and second time. The Synod then went into committee on the Bill. In committee the amendment was agreed to. The chairman reported progress. On resuming, the Bill was read a third time and passed. amendment of statute 8. The Dean, moved—1. That the Bill to amend Statute No 8, 1866, for " Regulation of Trusts" be re-com-mitted for the purpose of substituting at the beginning and at the end of clause 1, for the words" The Church of England," the words " The Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England." The motion was seconded and agreed to. The Synod went into committe when the amendment was agreed to. On resuming, the amendment was reported and confirmed. The Dean moved—2. That the Bill to amend Statute No. 8, 1866, for " Regulation of Trusts" be adopted as reported by Committee, read a third time, and passed. PASTORAL LETTER TO CHURCH MEMBERS. The Dean moved— That the Bishop be respectfully requested to address a Pastoral Letter to the members of the Church in the diocese, to be read in all churches throughout the diocese on some Sunday to be appointed by the Bishop, on the subject of the observance of the LORD'S Day. The mover referred to the action of the Provincial Council in carrying a resolution to have the Museum opened on Sundays. This resolution had been accepted as a command by the College Governors, and the result was that the Museum was opened. A subsequent attempt was made at a meeting of College Governors to open the Museum on Good Fridays, and his Lordship the Bishop had then with others an opportunity of opposing this attempt, and their opposition was successful. His Lordship having only taken the latter action, had left a wrong impression on the minds of many both in and outside the province, and a pastoral letter to Church members would not only remove this wrong impression, but would direct greater attention to the subject of the observance of the Lord's Day. The motion was seconded by Mr Justice Gresson and agreed to. INSURANCE OF CHURCH PROPERTY. Mr Brittan moved — ; ' That in the opinion of this Synod the churches in all parishes and districts should be insured by the Church Property Trustees on the same terms as parsonages are now insured, and that the Standing Committee be instructed to consider the advisability of establishing a Mutual Insurance Fund. The Rev Canon Dudley seconded the motion. Mr GORDON moved, as an amendment—- " That Mr Brittan's resolution be referred to the Standing Committee for its consideration." Mr Malet seconded the amendment. Mr Blakiston moved as a further amendment—" That all the words after ' insured' be left out, and the following added : ' The system of insurance most applicable to be left to the Standing Committee.' " Mr Blakiston's amendment was put and carried. funerals reform. The Dean moved— That in the opinion of this Synod there is much of undesirable ostentation and unnecessary expense in the ordinary customs connected with funerals, and the wearing of mourning, and the Synod would gladly see efi'orfß made to bring about a reform of the cu&tQus referred to,

He had first thought that perhaps this was a matter which should not be considered by the Synod, but on consideration he felt it was one in which the Church should show its living interest. If it was also seen that the present expensive mourning custom was once carried to excess, then he thought the Church might well interfere, and he was of opinion that there was a great deal of ostentation and unnecessary expense in connection with funerals and mourning. The Dean theu dwelt on the frame of mind which relatives were in at a time of bereavement, unfitting them to make bargains as to amount of expense which undertakers, who are only men, were at times apt to take advantage of, and this expense, under certain circumstances, became a life long burthen. He referred to the pageantry which obtained at funerals, and speaking of the gloom which generally pervaded them, quoted from an Adelaide paper a portion of a speech made by Dean Russel at a meeting held for the purpose of instituting some reform in funerals. But quiet, unostentatious grief, he (the speaker) would agree with, as was natural as such a time. The Dean then spoke of the hardship of a custom which compels delicate females to wear mourning in Bummer time, and _ again quoting from the Adelaide paperß, said that at the meeting held there a gentleman had advocated the Indian custom of simply wearing a band of crape on the arm. If this resolution were agreed to by the Synod, and if it resulted in a Funeral Reform Association being established, it would be the means of reducing the expense attending funerals more than would be generally believed. In two instances lately he had known funerals at which there had not been a comparatively excessive display of ostentation, the one to cost £55, and the other £9O. He hoped the Synod would see its way to adopt the resolution, which he felt certain would be productive of good. The Rev Canon Dudley seconded the motion. Mr Justice Gresson spoke of the expense attending funerals, causing excessive inconvenience in families afterwards for In an official position he had had numerous instances of observing this, but thought the movement should emanate from wealthy families. An institution for diminishing the expense of funerals had been established by a friend of his—a minister in a home parish —with success. He thought that nothing could be more repulsive than a paid exhibition of woe, which was at present often to be seen. Mr BIAKISTON recommended for the consideration of the mover, the establishing of a guild for the carrying out of the object of his motion. The Rev Mr Lingard spoke against the custom which prevailed of presenting a minister with a hatband and gloves at funerals. He had refused to accept these on principle, and was sure the clergymen present would thank him for the hint. The motion was then put and unanimously agreed to. RECOMMENDATION TO DIOCESAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The Rev Mr Lingard moved—- " That it be a recommendation to D. E. C. to pay over to the fund of the Depository of the S. P. C. K. the sum of £25 out of the balance at present to the credit of their account," to be voted to the purchase of new stock suitable for the use of schools. | The Rev Canon Cotterill seconded the motion, which was agreed to. RESOLUTIONS TO BE FORWARDED. The Rev Canon Cotterill moved — 1. " That the Standing Committee be instructed to forward to the Church Property Trustees, without delay, the resolution on the extension of the benefits of the Church Property Trust Estate to that part of the province outside the Canterbury block." Mr Malet seconded the motion, which was carried. 2. " That in case the Church Property Trustees act upon the recommendation made by the Synod in that resolution, the Standing Committee shall add to the classification of parishes and districts agreed to by the Synod in the present session, the parish of Timaru and the parochial districts of Geraldine and Waimate, as entitled to a grant from the Church Property Trust Fund at the rate of £SO per annum." The motion Avas seconded by Mr Malet, and agreed to. REPORT OF RESOLUTIONS. The Rev Mr Lingard moved—That the Synod now proceed to revise the report of the resolutions of previous year. Agreed to. The resolutions were then read seriatim, several of them being struck out and others adopted. ERROR IN NEWSPAPER REPORT. The Rev Mr Watson desired permission to ask the Rev Mr Lingard if he was correctly reported, as stated in that day's Lyttelton Times, in his answer to the Dean, with regard to the permission of the East Christchurch Committee to teach in their schools. Mr Lingard replied that the reports in both papers were not quite correct, what he did say was, that he felt he could not act upon the resolution arrived at by the East Christchurch Committee as it came with a "recommendation" attached to it, that Ministers should act in concert; which in his opinion meant that they should give unsectarian teaching ; and that plan, he could not agree with. In the report the word "condition" was used, which was a very strong one ; and he had forgotten to mention the previous night that the resolution had not been received by his Lordship the Bishop. Mr Watson understood that the chairman had forwarded it to his Lordship. The President said he had not received it, but as he left the province about that time, the letter might possibly have miscarried, Mr Malet moved—- " That the cordial thanks of this Synod be given to the Lay and Clerical Secretaries for their valuable services." Agreed to. Rev Canon Cotterell moved —" That a cordial vote of thanks be given to the reporters for their full and accurate reports of the proceedings of the Synod." Agreed to. Mr Mclntyre moved—" That the thanks of the Synod, be given to the College authorities, for granting the use of the library." Agreed to. The President thanked the members of the Synod for their attendance, and for their legislation extending the benefits of the Church Broperty Estate beyond the limits of the Canterbury Block, which he had been desirous to see for many years past, and believed it would do more than anything else to promote the two great measures they all desired to see carried out, viz.,—the Cathedra] and the Church Extension Fund. The Benediction was then pronounced, and tjje session oi the Synod closed,