DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 750, 14 November 1876, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Monday, November 13. The President took hie seat at 4.15 p.m. The minutes of the previous sitting were read and confirmed. The President said he had received a letter from the Rev J. W. Stack, asking to be excused for the remainder of the session, as his duties compelled him to go south. CLERICAL PENSION FUND. The debate on Archdeacon Willock’s resolution was resumed by the Dean, who moved that the following words be inserted after the word “ that,” in lieu of those negatived in the original resolution and previous amendment —“ It is desirable that the scheme of a Diocesan Clerical Pension Fund, as laid before the Synod in the second report of the Select Committee appointed to consider the subject, be adopted as regards its main provisions; provided that the payments to be contributed both by individual clergymen and by parishes, as well as the offertories, be regarded as entirely voluntary, and that proportionate modifications be introduced in the scale of payments.” He said the clergy had held a meeting that morning to enable them to arrive at some conclusion, and thus facilitate the question when it came before the Synod. The meeting had been Jargely attended, and after much discussion, one resolution was proposed which, if carried, would have had the effect of putting this matter off till nest year; and a second one, which was agreed to, allowing the scheme as proposed by the select committee to pass so long as the contributions were not to be considered compulsory, but voluntary, and based upon a graduated scale of payments. He believed that if the scheme were tried it would, on its own merits alone, received increased support every year until it became the established system of the Diocese. In the meantime, until the scheme was matured, the emergency fund would be continually growing, Hon J. B. A. Acland seconded the amendment. In reply to Mr Harman, the Dean said it had been understood at the meeting held that the offertories and collections of one Sunday in the year would be devoted to the fund whether the clergyman decided to contribute to it or not. After further remarks from members, the Dean, in replying, hoped the scheme proposed would not be cast away without thought, and that the Synod would at least give it a trial for one year. On being put, the amendment was declared to be negatived, and a division being called, resulted as follows: — ayes. Nobs. Clergy 9 | Clergy 9 Laity 5 | Laity 14 The amendment was therefore lost. Mr Biakiston moved the following amendment—“ That the surplus fees be paid into an emergency fund, and that the standing committee be requested to bring forward a Diocesan Clerical Pension fund scheme, to be considered at next meeting of Synod.” Before the amendment was seconded, Rev Canon Cotterill read the following amendment, which was accepted by Mr Blakieton

in place of that moved by him—" That, pending the establishment of a Permanent Clerical Pension fund, an emergency fund, as proposed by the Select Committee, be established, and that, after the 31st December, 1876, all surplus fees shall be paid according to the amount fixed by the diocesan scale, into that fund until the next session of Synod, and that the Pension Board be instructed to deal with the fund according to the arrangements proposed by the Select Committee." Archdeacon Harper seconded the amendment, which was agreed to. Mr W C. Walker moved the addition of the following words—“ And that an annual offertory be enjoined on each parish and parochial district for the benefit of the emergency fund," Mi’ Parsons seconded the resolution. After discussion, the Synod divided as follows: AYES. NOES. Clergy 5 Clergy 13 Laity 13 Laity 9 The resolution was thus lost. A further resolution by Rev Mr Watson was interrupted by the hour for adjournment. Ordbbs of the Day. INSTRUCTIONS TO MINISTERS, &C. On resuming, the Bill to amend instructions for the guidance and information of the ministers, churchwardens, See, was read a second time. The Synod next went into committee, and after a number of amendments had been agreed to the Synod resumed, and the chairman reported progress. On the motion of Rev B. A. Lingard, the amendments agreed to in committee were adopted. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. BOUNDARIES OF PARISHES. On the motion of Rev Mr Jackson the Synod went into committee to «consider the following resolutions :—“ a. That the boundaries of the parishes of Papanui, Merivale, Avonside, St Luke the Evangelist, Christchurch, Governor’s Bay (with parochial district attached thereto) as recommended by the Select Committee, be adopted ” “b. That the boundaries of the parochial district of Banks’ Peninsula, Ashburton, be adopted.” The resolutions were agreed to with amendments, the Synod resumed, progress was reported, and boundaries as amended BILL TO AMEND STATUTE NO 3. On the motion of Canon Cotterill Bill to amend statute No 3 was re-committed. After short discussion on the motion of Canon Cotterill, the chairman reported progress and obtained leave to sit again next day. GUARANTEED LOANS. Archdeacon Harper moved the first clause of the following resolutions : “ That the Church Property Trustees [be authorised to guarantee Loans, which may be raised by Parishes or Parochial Districts, for the erection of Churches, Parsonages, and Sunday Schools, upon the following conditions :— “a. That the capital amount of any such Loan shall not be less than the sum of £IOO or more than the sum of £1000.” “ b. That the interest guaranteed on such loans shall not exceed the rate of seven per centum per annum.” “c. That the term of any such loan shall not be less than one year or more than ten years. ” “d . That any Parish or Parochial District applying for a guarantee for any such loan, shall undertake to make the interest payable on such loan a first charge upon its parochial funds after the due payment of the clergyman’s stipend.” “e. That any parish or district applying for a guarantee for any such loan, shall undertake to establish a sinking fund for the repayment of the capital amount, to the extent of not less than three per centum per annum,”

Hon J. B, A. Acland seconded the resolution. After a long discussion, the Synod divided on the resolution with the following result:— Ayes; Noes. Clergy 9 I Clergy 7 Laity 6 1 Laity 11 The motion was therefore lost. FORMATION OF PARISHES. The Dean moved—“ That the Bill for amending Diocesan Statute for Regulating the Formation of Parishes and the Appointment of Parish Officers be recommitted for the purpose of introducing amendments in clauses 7 and 11,that is to say—1. In clause 7, to add the words, ‘ but no such resignation shall take effect until it shall have been accepted, and a successor appointed.’ 2. In clause 11, to substitute the word ‘ shall’ for the word * to’ in the first line.” Rev Mr Jackson seconded the motion. In committee the amendments were introduced and agreed to, the Synod resumed, and progress was reported. On the motion of the Dean, the amendments were adopted, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. CHURCH WORK EXTENSION COMMITTEE, Rev Canon Cotterill moved — “ That the Synod proceed to elect one layman as a member of the Church Work Extension Committee.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. On the motion of the Rev R. 8. Jackson, Mr F. G. Stedman was elected member of the committee. CHURCH COMMUNICANTS. Rev F. A. Hare moved — “That the following be added to the Articles of Enquiry to be answered by Churchwardens: —A Register of all persons communicating at the Church or Churches in the Parish.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. REGISTERS. Rev F. A, Hare moved—“ That it be a recommendation to the Standing Committee to cause to be prepared with as little delay as possible—l. A Register Book for entering the names of persona who attend the Holy Communion at the church or churches in the different parishes and parochial districts. 2. A Register Book for entering the names of such persons as may from time to time be confirmed in the different churches in the diocese. 3. A Form for transmitting the yearly certified Returns of Baptisms and Burials required by the instructions for the Guidance of Ministers, Churchwardens, &c. Section 26. 4, The printed table of Fees, &c, referred to in Section 24 of Duties of Vestrymen. (Synod Report, page 47.)” Mr G. Mclntyre seconded the motion. Clauses I, 2, and 4 were negatived, and No 3 carried. STATUTE NO 7. The Dean moved—“ That the Bill to amend subsection (/) of clause 6, Statute No 7, be read a third time and passed.” The motion was seconded and agreed to and (he BUI read a third time and pawed.

FORMATION OP PAROCHIAL DISTRICTS. The Dean moved—" That the Draft Regulations for the Formation of Parochial Districts and for the Appointment of the Church Officers thereof be read a third time and passed.” wir Thomas Tancred seconded the motion, which was agreed to.