GENERAL SYNOD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1927, 28 April 1880, Page 3

GENERAL SYNOD.

Tuesday, April 27. The Synod resumed at 4 o’clock. The Bishop of Nelson said he desired to obtain an expression of opinion from the chair, before proceeding to the ordinary business, as to the mode of taking votes in the house. He (the Bishop of Nelson) had been induced to think that a more satisfactory method of taking divisions on matters of importance might be introduced, and he kaew that other members of the Synod entertained similar views. He would suggest, for instance, that the votes of the clergy and the laity should be first taken and made known before the Bishops voted. Of course the views of any number of the members of the Synod should weigh with the Bishops in considering any matter, and the only way in which a knowledge of the views of members generally could be obtained was by putting a question to the vote. The debate in reference to St. John’s College afforded an example of this, as very few of the laymen spoke to the question, and yet nearly aU of them voted in one direction, and had the result of that division been placed before the Bishops, before the latter had registered their votes, the final result might have been different. He did not say that it would have caused him to take a different line of action .on the [subject, but in some cases he should be very much guided by the views of the clergy and laity, made known in that practical manner. He should be glad to hear what the Primate’s view of the matter was. The President replied that it was quite competent for the Synod to proceed in the_ way suggested, namely, that the clergy and laity should retire to the right or left in the ordinary manner, the Bishops remaining in their seats and voting on the question afterwards. The Bishop of Wellington said he had not heard of any intention to move in this direction, and questioned whether it was a matter on which the President ought to rule upon off-hand. He did not particularly object to such a method of voting, but thought it was a subject to which it might be well to devote some little thought before making a standing order in the direction suggested. At least, if such a rule were adopted, the Bishops ought to have the privilege of retiring by themselves for consideration when divisions were taken. The Bishop of Dunedin also said he should like to have time to consider this suggestion before it was made equivalent to a standing order. . A suggestion fell from Mr Maude to the effect that the question should be postponed and notice given of it, with a view of taking a debate on the matter, but to this members generally evinced opposition. The matter was then allowed to drop, it being understood that the President hud finally ruled in the direction suggested by the Bishop of Nelson. .... The Synod then proceeded to the consiueration of business on the order paper. The Eight Eev. the Bishop of Auckland moved —“That the Synod do adopt the recommendations of the committee appointed by the Synod to consider and report upon the memorial received from the Native Church Board of the diocese of Auckland, viz : —‘ That the Synod receives with much pleasure the memorial of the Native Church Board of the diocese of Auckland for the appointment of a Suffragan Bishop of the Maori portion of the Church in the diocese, regarding it as a proof of the vitality of that portion of the Church but the Synod regrets that for want of funds it is unable to comply with their request. The Synod, therefore, urges them to exertion in the direction of raising an Endowment Fund for the support of a Suffragan Bishop. The Synod is encouraged by the liberality of the Maoris in providing Endowment Funds for their Native clergy, to hope that this object may be speedily ohtained.’ ” The Bishop of Nelson proposed an amendment as follows:—“That the Synod, looking at the oneness that exists between the English and the Maori portions of the Church throughout New Zealand, and hoping that they will be still closer brought together in worship and church organisation, considers that the present proposal for the appointment of a Suffragan Bishop would not be desirable, and is unable to comply with their request.” Seconded by the Hon. H. B. Gresson. After discussion the question was put, the original resolution being negatived on the voices, and the amendment of the Bishop of Nelson carried.

Mr Quick moved —“ That the minutes of the present session of the General Synod be printed, so as to convey a full account of its proceedings, and that the printing committee ba instructed to obtain the sanction of the President to the summary prepared by them, and to have 800 copies thereof printed.” Archdeacon Mannsell asked the Bishop of Wellington—l. What was the amount of money transferred by the Standing Committee of Auckland to the Standing Committee of Wellington, in accordance with the resolution of the General Synod, 1874, page 68? 2. How that money has been invested, and at what rate of interest ? 3. What is the present amount of the principal, with accrued interest ?

The Bishop of Wellington, in reply to the first question, stated that the papers containing the information asked for were in Wellington, and longer notice should have been given of an intention to call for such. _ Archdeacon Mcnnsell said he had given three days* notice, and had spoken to Archdeacon Stock on the matter.

Archdeacon Stock—True, hut my veu. brother omitted to present one with the pecuniary < onsideration necessary to cover the expense of a telegram to Wellington. [Laughter.] The Bishop of Wellington said ho could not say what amount was sent to Wellington, but knew that Included in that sum was an amount charged to Napier, and it was necessary that they should be separated. With regard to the remaining questions, he might say they were instructed not to invest the money, but deposit it in the bank, which was done ; and before he left he obtained from the accountant of the bank a statement giving the information required. There were three separate deposits, as follows — £776 12s 6d at Gl’per cent., £164 8s 4d at 61 per cent., and £33 5a at 5 per cent., the actual amount being £1874 5s 10 d. On the motion of Archdeacon Maunsell, it was resolved—“ That the answers given by the

Bishop of Wellington bo printed,” and the lastnamed gentleman promised to furnish the information in writing on the following day. Mr Acland moved —“That t-'tanding Order No. 38 be altered and read as follows: —When any Bill shall be introduced the object of which shall be to amend any existing statute, then the whole of such statute shall be considered in committee of the whole Synod ; but no clause shall be amended or new clause be introduced unless notice shall have been given on a previous day of the intention to amend such clause or introduce such new clause; and no alteration shall be made in any statute exceps in a committee of the whole Synod; but it may bo re committed for such purpose after it shall have been already reported to the Synod.” The motion was carried.

On tbe motion of the Ven. Archdeacon Harper, the Statute for adopting a new Table of Lessons was road a third time.

The Right Rev. the Bishop of Nelson moved the third reading of the Bill to amend the Nominators’ Statute.

The Rev. Canon Cotterill proposed as an amendment—" That the Statute be recommitted for the purpose of adding the following clause : —The first appointment of Parish Nominators for a parish newly constituted shall rest with the Diocesan Synod, and shall be made during the session at which the parish is constituted.” A discussion which ensued was interrupted by the hour of adjournment. On resuming at 7.30, the Synod proceeded to orders of the day. Debate postponed on motion proposed by Archdeacon Edwards:—“That in the opinion of this Synod steps should be taken towards the amalgamation of all Church of England theological colleges in Now Zealand, and the formation of one central college, which might well be called ‘ The Selwyn College.’ ” To the above an amendment had been proposed by the Bishop of Wellington—“ That in the opinion of this Synod steps should be taken towards the formation of, a Theological College for the Ecclesiastical Province of New Zealand”

After discussion the question was put, and the original resolution negatived on the voices, and the amendment was also rejected. The Bishop of Nelson then moved a resolution of which ho had given notice on the day previous. This resolution was very much amended by the Synod, and passed in the following form—- “ 1. That in the opinion of the Synod the interest of theological education would heat be promoted under present circumstances by the establishment of exhibitions, which would enable intending candidates for holy orders to take a degree at the University of New Zealand, and afterwards to continue their theological studies, together with the acquisition of practical knowledge of parochial and missionary work, either at Theological Colleges or with experienced clergy. Such Theological Colleges to ho tenable on such conditions as may be prescribed by the Board of Theological Studies. 2. That the authorities of all provincial and diocesan institutions for the encouragement of theological studies, be requested to make the_ standard of their examinations as much as possible equal to that of the mother Church.”

The Synod then went into committee on the Nominators Statute, and Canon Cotterill s motion for the insertion of an additional clause (which he moved during the afternoon sitting) was fully discussed. The question being eventually carried to a division, Canon CotterilTs amendment was carried. The numbers of the division were —Bishops ayes, 4 : noes, 3 ; clergy— ayes, 14 : noes, 4; laity—ayes, 12 : noes, 6. The Dean of Christchurch moved—“ That the Bill to amend statute 7 for establishing a standing commission be read a third time.” The motion being agreed to the Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Acland moved—“ That it is desirable that the cases submitted to the standing commission during the last six years, together with the decisions given in such cases, should be printed in the Appendix to the Proceedings of _ the General Synod, and that the printing committee be requested to carry the resolution into effect.” Seconded by the Dean and carried. The Bishop of Auckland moved—“ That inasmuch ns the issuing of marriage licenses has been the law and practice of the Church of England, at least since the 14th century, and is in no way disallowed by the law of this Colony, the Synod is of opinion that the system can be legally maintained.” Archdeacon Maunsell moved the following addition to the resolution —“ That it shall be left to each diocesan synod to determine what amount shall be charged for marriage licenses, and for what object the money derived from that source shall be employed.” ' The President reded that the proposal of the Archdeacon should have been brought forward as a separate motion, and must be given notice of in the ordinary course. At the suggestion of Archdeacon Harper, the mover of the original resolution consented to the omission of the words “ and is in no way disallowed by the law of this colony.” A debate ensued, during which the advisability of shelving the question was suggested by more than one member, considering that the legal aspect of the question involved confusion, and the previous question was moved, but negatived, and the discussion then proceeded. The motion, as amended by Archdeacon Harper, was eventually put and carried on the voices.

The Bishop of Melanesia moved—“ Kesolution of Committee on Disputed Eetnrn from the diocese of YVaiapu, that Mr Whitefoord to be declared a member of this Synod.” The motion was carried. On the motion of the Bishop of Waiapu, it was resolved that the next triennial session of the General Synod be held at Napier, in the diocese of Waiapu, and on the motion of the Rev. Mr Beaumont, the time of meeting was fixed for the first week in April, 1833. Archdeacon Harper moved —“ For leave to introduce a Bill, intituled a Statute for Establishing Diocesan Boards for tie purpose of considering the general fitness for the ministry of candidates for Deacons’ orders.” The Eev. Canon Cotterill seconded the motion, and claimed the privilege provided for by the standing orders, that the clergy should be permitted to retire to a separate chamber to consider the subject matter of the Bill. Mr Maude asked for aj similar concession on behalf of the laity. The Bill was then introduced, read a first time, ordered to be printed, and the second reading made an order of the day for Wednesday at 7 30. It was agreed that the conferences of the clergy and laity respectively should be taken on the second readings of the Bill, when each could retire into private chambers. r j he Synod then (at 11.45) adjourned till three o’clock next day.