DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 734, 26 October 1876, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Wednesday, October 25. The Synod reassembled at 4 p.m. The Primate in the chair. DIOCESAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The Very Kev the Dean of Christchurch laid on the table replies received in reply to circulars issued by this committee. CHURCH PROPERTY TRUST ACCOUNTS. Yen Archdeacon Willock laid on the table the accounts of the various estates under the supervision of the Church Property Trustees. PAPERS. The Kev Canon Cotterill laid several papers on the table. DIOCESAN CLERICAL PENSION FUND, Kev Canon Cotterill brought up the report of the sub-committee appointed by the standing committee on the Diocesan Clerical Pension Fund, which was read. The committee recommended that the fund should be wound up and that a new fund should be created, on a basis-laid down in the report. CHURCH WORK EXTENSION COMMITTEE, the report of the committee for the year was brought up by the Very Rev the Dean of Christchurch, and read. DIOCESAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE. On the motion of the Very Kev the Dean, the report of this committee was read,

EXPLANATION. Mr W, O. Walker called attention to the fact that in the report of the standing committee the amount contributed by the parish of Ashburton to the Parochial Guarantee Fund was so stated as to lead to the impression that the amount was for twelve months, The tact was the contribution was for nine months only, and he therefore felt it his duty to call the attention of the Synod to the fact. He should like to see this altered in the Synod reports. BOUNDARIES OP PARISHES, ETC. Rev R. S,j Jackson moved—“ That a select committee be appointed to take into consideration the report of the standing committee on the boundaries of parishes and parochial districts, and to recommend such readjustment of the same as may be deemed advisable.” He had been desired by the standing committee to take charge of this motion, and he now begged to move it, Rev Canon Cotterill seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Rev R. S. Jackson then rose to move the names of the committee, Mr Mclntyre called attention to the fact that this was out of order. The standing order provided that the names of the committee should be given notice of. A lengthy discussion ensued on a point of order, and ultimately Mr W. C. Walker moved—“ That the standing orders be suspended, with a view to the committee being elected at once.” The Very Rev the Dean pointed out that it was impossible, under the standing orders, to suspend them. It was provided that the consent of half of each order of the members of the Synod was necessary. There was not, he believed, half the laity present, so it was impossible to put the motion. Rev B. A. Lingard reported that there was a sufficient number of laity present. Rev W. H. Cooper seconded Mr Walker’s motion. The motion was negatived on the voices. Rev Mr Jackson intimated his intention of giving notice for the next sitting of the names of the committee. GENERAL STIPEND FUND. Rev R. S. Jackson moved—l. “That a select committee be appointed to consider the desirableness of reorganising the financial system of the diocese ontthe basis of a general stipend fund, and to report to this Synod.” 2. “ The committee to consist of the Most Rev the President, the Yen Archdeacon Harper, the Rev B. A. Lingard, Messrs Malet, Mclntyre, W. C. Walker, and the mover.” The Rev H. Carlyon seconded the motion. Dr Donald and the Very Rev the Dean strongly opposed the motion. The Dean intimated that he should move the previous question unless Mr Jackson withdrew his motion, so as to bring it forward in another shape, making the Synod the place where the question of principle should be decided. After some discussion on a point of order, Rev Mr Jackson intimated his intention of withdrawing the resolution, on the understanding that he should be allowed to bring it forward in another shape. The motion was then withdrawn. DIOCESAN STATUTE, NO 4. The Very Rev the Dean of Christchurch moved—“ For leave to introduce a Bill to amend Diocesan Statute for regulating the formation of parishes and the appointment of parish officers, No 4, 1866, Amended !875.’ Dr Donald seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Bill was read the first time ; Ordered to be printed, and the second reading fixed for next sitting day. QUALIFICATION OF ELECTORS. Rev G. J. Cholmondeley moved—" 1. That this Synod is of opinion that no person should be entitled to vote at any parish meeting unless he shall have subscribed a declaration of church membership at least one month previously.” “2. That it is desirable that such alteration be made in Statute IV. of the General Synod as will give effect to the above resolution.” Mr H, B. Gresson seconded the motion. After some discussion, Mr Mclntyre moved as an addition to the first resolution the following words; —“And that it shall be the duty of the chairman of such meeting to see that all such persona voting have so subscribed to such declaration,” On being put, the amendment was lost, and the resolutions as a whole declared to be carried. On the motion of the Very Rev the Dean, it was resolved—“ That the president be requested to communicate the foregoing resolution at the next meeting of the General Synod,” REPORTS. The Rev Canon Cotterill laid on the table the report of the committee on the Church Property Trust Fund, and also the report of the sub-committee on the same. ORDERS OP THE DAY. On the motion of the Dean, seconded by the Rev B, A. Lingard, it was resolved to take the orders of the day at half-past seven on each evening as the first business. DIOCESAN CLERICAL PENSION FUND. Archdeacon Willock moved—“ I. That the report of the standing committee upon the Diocesan Clerical Pension Fund be referred to a select committee.” “2. That the committee consist of the following—Revs G. J. Cholmondeley and Oatway, Messrs R. J. S. Harman, W, C. Walker, H.W. Packer, H. R. Webb, and the mover,” and submitted an elaborate statement as to how the difficulties might be met relating to certain shares. The Dean seconded the motion, and as one who had an interest in the fund, desired to thank the mover for the trouble he had taken in the matter. After several members had addressed themselves to the motion, it was put and carried.

Mr Webb moved—" That the report of the standing committee be printed.”

Mr H. B. Gresson seconded the motion, which was carried. CHURCH PROPERTY TRUST ESTATES,

Mr Malet moved—“ That the Synod go into committee to consider the following resolutions :—l. That the thanks of the Synod be given to the commissioners appointed to examine and report upon the Church Property Trust Estates for their exhaustive report.” 2, “ That in the opinion of the Synod t he appointment of a paid Board for the management of the church property, as suggested by the Commission, would be conducive to the interests of the various estates.” 3," That the Synod regrets that without legislative authority it is unable to adopt the recommendations of the Commissioners ; but with a view of availing itself as far as possible of their suggestions, the Synod sanctions the appropriation of £ annually, to

be distributed amongst the Trustees for their trouble, and in recognition of the responsibility incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.” 4. “That it be a recommendation to the Church Property Trustees to lay before Synod annually a detailed report showing their dealings during the preceding twelve months with the several estates under their control.” The Sev Mr Fendall seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. In committee Mr Malet moved the first resolution, and was sure members would agree with him that the thanks of the Synod were due to the commissioners. Sir Thomas Tailored expressed his disappointment at the report of the commissioners, and thought it far from exhaustive. The Rev Mr Lingard thought the commissioners had been sufficiently thanked by the fee received during their various sittings while engaged in the work. On an amendment moved by the Hon J. B. Acland, the word “ exhaustive” was eliminated from the resolution. Mr Mellish moved—“ That the word ‘ valuable ’ be inserted in the resolution before the word ‘ report,’ On the amendment being put, it was declared to be lost, and a division being called for, resulted as follows: AYES Clergy ... 4 Laity ... 9 NOES. Clergy ... 14 Laity ... 10 Mr Malet moved the second resolution, and pointed out instances of various bodies whose trustees were paid, and whose success showed the efficacy of payment. Dr Donald objected to paying trustees, and did not consider that such a system would induce more earnest attendance to the duties than if the services were given gratuitously. Rev Canon Dudley supported the principle of payments, and considered that services performed gratuitously were seldom well performed. Mr Malet asked leave to amend the resolution by striking out the words “ appointment of a paid Board,” and inserting the words “ adoption of the principle of payment” in lieu thereof. After a slight discussion a division was taken on the amendment with the following result AYES, Clergy ... 6 Laity ... 10 NOES Clergy ... 11 Laity ... 8 The amendment was therefore lost. Mr Malet said that as it was evident from the division|that the laity, who were expected as business men to be better versed in such matters than the clergy, had voted in favor of the principle of payment, he would move that the chairman report progress and ask leave to sit again on Tuesday next. On the question being put it was declared to be carried. Progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again on Tuesday next. QUESTION. Mr Malet asked, by permission, the manager of the committee of management of the Church News, why no meetings of the committee had been convened since May last, and also as to the circumstances which led to the resignation of the Rev H. E. Oarlyon as a member of that committee, The Rev Mr Lingard, manager, replied as as follows:—!. “There have not been any meetings of the committee of management of the New Zealand Church News since May last, owing to a resolution of the committee passed in March last, that the monthly meetings should not be convened unless notice of business be forwarded by any member of committee to the secretary, requiring that a meeting be so convened; no such notice of business has been received since May last. 2. The Rev H. B. Oarlyon, in sending in his resignation to the chairman of the committee assigned the two following reasons for doing so:—1. That since the paper is distinctly the ‘organ of the diocese,’he considered it had departed from its purpose by taking up a line diametrically opposed to that taken up by the head of the diocese. 2. Because be wished to protest against the editorship of the official organ of the diocese continuing to remain in the hands of one whose theological views were unsound, and at variance with the expressed views of his diocesan.”

Mr Malet obtained leave to introduce a Bill to amend Statut • No 111. The Bill was read a first time, and the second reading made an order for next day’s Bitting. Notices of motion having been given, the Synod adjourned until 4 p.m. to-day.