DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2086, 30 October 1880, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Tiitjesdat, Octobbb 28. The Primate took his seat at 4 p.m. The Bev. W. O. Harris moved—“ That the Bill to amend tho statute for constituting a ohuroh work society be read a third time and passed.” The motion was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read a third time and passed. Mr Hamilton moved—“ That the Synod go into Committee to consider the following resolution :—‘ That standing order No. 8 (page 95, Synod report, 1879) be altered, as recommended in the report of tho Select Committee handed in on Tuesday, October 26th, viz.: After sub section (c) add the following new sub-section, to be numbered (d)—“ First readings of draft statutes and regulations shall be proceeded with.” After sub-section (d) add the following new sub-section, to be numbered (g) —“At tho evening sitting of the Synod all business promoted by the Standing Committee shall have precedence.” Contingent on the above being passed by the Synod, the sub-sections now numbered (d), (e) (0. re lettered respectively (e), (f), (h).’ ” The resolution was carried, and the Synod went into Committee.

The Synod having resumed, the Chairman reported the amendments passed in Committee.

The Bev. E. A. Lingard moved —“jThat tho Church Property Trustees oe recommended to pay over to the Cemetery Board of Christchurch the sum of £IOO, being the proceeds of sale to the Christchurch Drainage Board of a portion of the Cemetery Beserve at tho south-west corner, required for the continuation of Salisbury street to the Biver Avon.”

The Very Bav. the Dean moved an amendment to the effect that the Church Property Trustees hold in reserve the sum of £IOO already mentioned till the time shall arrive when the existing reserve will be realised on the closing of the cemetery. After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn, and the original motion carried, with the addition of a clause providing that the legal advisers say it can bo done. In answer to a question from the Hon. H. B. Gresson, why the chairs for the cathedral were ordered from England rather than in the colony, and at what price they were supplied, Mr O. B. Blakiston replied—The ehairs for the cathedral are not ordinary domestic chairs. They are specially made at one place in England, and are used for church purposes only. Similar chairs for similar purposes are known throughout all Europe. They are made of a light wood, and seated with rushes, which last required certain preparation. It would not be possible to make these particular chairs in the place. The cost per chair is from 2s 6d to 2s 9d each, A chair manufacturer in Christchurch, who made inquiries from the architect in this matter, was so convinced on the subject that he sent an order to England for similar chairs on bis own account.

On the motion of the Very Bev. the Dean, the Bill for constituting the Chapter and for regulating tho government of the Cathedral was recommitted for amendment.

The Synod having resumed, the Chairman reported the Bill with amendments. The Rev. R. A. Mortimer moved—“ That, with a view of counteracting the sceptical influence of the day and regaining the affection and loyalty of our poorer brethren, it has become, in the opinion of this Synod, absolutely necessary that free and unrestricted access to all the public services of the Church should be offered to all persons alike in a true Christian and Missionary spirit.” He felt sure that the blight of seat rents had alienated 1500 persons from the Church of England in Christchurch alone, and it was time, if the Church wished to do her duty in this respect, that a blow should be dealt at that dyspeptic respectability which upheld the system. The Primate seconded the resolution, expressing the wish that the financial position of the Church would allow it to be done. He would read the testimony of the Rev. D. Osborne, a Wesleyan minister, as to the vast revival in the Oburch of England at homo, and if some means could be devised to develop all the latent machinery in our midst towards that end, then perhaps the desirable object aimed at by this resolution would be attained. This motion provoked a long discussion, the tenor of which affirmed its desirability. On the motion of the Rev, Francis Knowles, the debate was adjourned till after the disposal of the orders of the day. _ At this stage the Synod adjourned till 7.30. eyeningTsittikg. The Synod resumed at 7.30. The Rey. F. Knowles moved the second reading and committal of the Bill to amend Financial Regulation Y., sec. 1, page 80, by the omission of the words 11 parishes and parochial districts” in the first line, and the insertion of the words *• churches and other places where Divine service is regularly hold” in lieu thereof. The motion was agreed to and the Synod went into committee on the Bill. At the same time the following alteration was considered in the Financial Regulations, sec. 111., clause 1, line 2, to substitute the word “the” for the word “financial.” The Synod having resumed, the Chairman reported the Bill as amended. The Rev. Q-. J. Cholmondeley moved the second reading and committal of the Bill to amend regulations for the repairs of parsonages. The motion having been carried, the Synod went into committee to consider its provisions.

On the Synod resuming, the Chairman reported the Bill as amended. The Rev. O. J. Oholmondeloy moved—- “ That the Bill to repeal the Instructions to Trustees appointed by the Synod be further considered in committee.” This was agreed to. Tiie Synod accordingly went into committee.

The Synod having resumed, the Chairman reported the Bill as amended. The Dean moved—“ That the Bill to amend the Regulations respecting Parochial Districts, bo further considered in committee.” This was agreed to, and the Synod went into committee to further consider the Bill. On the Synod resuming, the Bill was reported as amended. The Rev. Canon Ootterill moved—“ That the Bill to amend the Statute for the Registration of persons qualified to vote for Lay Representatives, be further considered in Committee.” This was agreed to, and the Synod was moved into committee to further consider the provisions of the Bill. On the Synod resuming, the Bill as amended was reported. The Rev. Canon Ootterill moved—“ That the Bill to amend the Instructions to Ministers, Churchwardens, &0., be further considered in committee.” The motion being agreed to, the Synod went into committee to consider it in detail. The Synod resumed, and the Chairman of Committees reported the Bill as amended. The Rev. Canon Ootterill moved—“ That the Bill to provide instructions to Church officers appointed by the Bishop to superintend the registration in parochial districts be read a second time, and that it be considered in committee.” This motion was also agreed to and considered by the Synod in committee. The Synod having resumed, the Bill as amended was reported. The Rev. W. O. Harris moved, and it was resolved —“ That the Bill to amend the regulations for the Diocesan Education Committee be read a second time, and that it be considered in committee.” The Bill was reported as repealed. The Rev. J. W. Stack moved, and it was resolved—“ That the Standing Committee be authoris d to pay the sum of £25 out of the O.P. Trust Funds, to the Diocesan Secretary for superintending the printing of the Synod report.” The Rev. Canon Ootterill moved—“ That the annual sum of £IOO be paid to the organising Chaplain of the Bishop from the proceeds of the bishopric fund, for travelling expenses as Bishop’s Chaplain, from July Ist, 1880—and that the payment of £SO to the Bishop’s Chaplain already made by the Church Property Trustees on the recommendation of the Standing Committee be confirmed by the Synod.” This motion was agreed to. The Rev. Canon Ootterill moved, and it was resolved —“That the Church Property Trustees be recommended to pay for the ensuing year a subsidy of £SO, in aid of the publication of the ‘ New Zealand Church News.* ” Several notices of motion for next sitting day were given in, and the Synod adjourned at midnight. Friday, October 29. Tho Primate took his seat at 4 p.m. Mr H. R. Webb moved—“ That the Synod upon its rising at 6.30 do adjourn to 4 p.m. on Monday.” Tho motion was negatived. ( Mr Hamilton moved —■" That the alterations in Standing Order No. 8 (Synod report, page

195), agreed to by the 00-nmitteeaf the Synod, end reported October 28th, be now passed.” The motion was agreed to. The Very Bev. the Dean moved—“ That the Bill to amend the Nominators’ Statute be read a third time and pasted.” The motion was carried. The Very Eev, the Dean moved —“ That, with a view to the probability of the Christohuroh Cemetery being brought under the operation of the Burial Ground doting Act, 1874, or of any other Act which may hereafter be in force on that behalf within two years from the present time, it is expedient that some carefully considered scheme for dealing with that portion of the reserve which will no longer be required for burial purposes, together with recommendations as to the employment of the proceeds, should be laid before the Synod at its next annual ses ion. That the Standing Committee be instructed to prepare such scheme and recommendations, and, if they think fit, to take legal advice on the question whether any portion of the reserve may bo dealt with by sale, lease, or otherwise, at any time previous to the cemetery being brought under the operation of the aforesaid Act or Acts.” The motion wag agreed to. In the absence of the Bov. H. G. Gonld the Venerable Archdeacon Dudley moved—- “ That the Church Property Trustees be recommended, subject to the assent of the Standing Committee, to sell the unoccupied portion (2J acres) of Bural Section No. 201, being a reserve as a site for a ohuroh and school, the proceeds arising from such sale to bo devoted to the maintenance of the remaining portion (2J acres) of the reserve, which is now used as a cemetery.” After some discussion the motion was carried. Mr O. B. Blakiston moved—" That a member of the Synod be appointed, to be called ‘ The Clerk of Committees,’ whose duty it shall be to assist the Chairman of Committees in the progress of business through Committee of the whole.” This was agreed to. The Bev. B. A. Mortimer moved the re-committal of the Bill for amending the financial regulations, in order that the following additional sub-section be added to Financial Begulation 11., section 2:—(c,) “Provided also that no Curs shall receive any grant unless all the seats in its church or churches be free and unappropriated.” After considerable discussion Mr H. E. Webb moved—“ That, the Synod do pass to the order of the day,” which was carried. The Bev. Canon Cotterill moved the suspension of Standing Orders to facilitate business, which was agreed to. The Dean moved, and it was resolved—- “ That the Bill for constituting the Chapter and for regulating the Government of the Cathedral, be read a third time and passed.” The Synod adjourned till 7 30. EVENING SITTING. The Synod resumed at 7.30. The Bev. Canon Cotterill moved, and it was agreed—“ That the Bill to amend Statute No. 3 be read a second time, and that it be considered in Committee.” The Synod went into Committee on the Bill, which was considered and, the Synod having resumed, reported as amended. The Synod then proceeded to elect four lay members of the Chapter, with the following result: —Messrs E. J. 8. Harman, 0. B. Blakiston, H. J. Tanored, and F. de o. Malet. The Bev. F. Knowles moved, and it was agreed—“ That the Bill for amending Financial Begulations, section v., clause 1, be read a third time and passed.” On the motion of the Bev. Q, J. Oholmondeley, the Bill to amend the regulations for the repairs of parsonages was read a third time and passed. The following Bills were read a third time and passed On the motion of the Bev. Q. J. Oholmondeley—“A Bill embodying instructions to Trustees appointed by the Synod.” On the motion of the Dean—“ A Bill for amending the regulations headed ‘ Parochial districts.’ ” On the motion of the Bev. Canon Cotterill—

“A Bill to provide instruction* to Church officers appointed by the Bishop to superintend the Registration in Parochial Districts”; “ A Bill to Amend the Instructions to Ministers ” ; “A Bill for a Statute for the Registration of Fersous Qualified to Yote for Lay Representation.” The Rev. W. O. Harris moved, and it was resolved—“ That the Synod proceed to the election of four clergymen and four laymen as members of the Committee of the Church Work Society,” The election resulted as follows :—Clergy—The Very Rev. the Dean, Rev. W. O, Harris, Rev. Francis Knowles, and the Rev. F, G. Brittain. Laity—Messrs H. R. Webb, J. B. Parker, W. H. Hargreaves, and F. G. Stedman.

The Rot. Canon Ootterill moved—" That in order to assist the governing body ot Christ's College in making a suitable provision for a principal of the upper department of the College duly licensed by the Bishop to the cure of souls, on whom shall rest the main responsibility of training candidates for Holy Orders, the Standing Committee shall grant from the Church Property Trust Stipend Fund and the Clergy Stipend Aid sFund, sums not exceeding £SO from each fund to supplement the amount which can be provided by the governing body of Christ’s College.” The Eey. W. 0. Harris seconded the motion in an eloquent speech, and after considerable discussion, in which it was contended that no portion of the Clergy Stipend Aid Fund should be used to provide funds for the principal of the Training College, Mr F. de o. Malet proposed, and the Rev. F. Knowles seconded—“ That the sum of £SO be voted from the Church Property Trust Stipend Fund only.” The Rev. Canon Ootterill accepted the amendment.

The Rev, E. R. Otway remarked that if each of the one hundred members of Synod subscribed £1 for this object the sum required would be raised. He for one was ready with his portion, and no better way could be devised to show each member’s approval of the desired appointment aud relieve the Church Property Trust Fund of the responsibility. The Rev. J. Chaffers-Welsh moved as an amendment—“ That the Synod recommend that the sum of £IOO per annum be provided for thispurpose by the Church Work society.” After a long discussion the amendment was negatived on division—Ayes, clergy 9, laity 6; noes, clergy 13, laity 13. Canon Ootterill’s resolution, as amended by Mr F. de o. Malet, was lost on division. Ayes, clergy 9, laity 6; noes, clergy 12, laity 6. The Rev. W. O. Harris moved—“ That it be a recommendation to the Church Property Trustees to make a grant not exceeding £IOO for the ensuing year, to be placed at the disposal of the committee of the Church Work society, for the purpose of promoting diocesan education.”

The Rev. F. Knowles moved a a an amendment—“ That the sum be reduced to £50.”

The original motion was carried. The Rev. W. O. Harris moved and it was agreed—“ 1, That the Bill to amend the regulation for the Dioeeaan Education Committee be read a third time and passed. 2. That whilst tho Church will gladly avail herself of every opportunity allowed of imparting religious instruction to her children in Government day schools, she cannotrelinquish the duty of maintaining Church day schools where practicable.” On the motion of Canon Cotterill, the Bill to amend statute 3 was read a third time and passed. The Yery Rev. the Dean moved and it was agreed—“ That a clerk of cammittees be elected from among the members of the Synod, whose duty Jit shall be to assist tho Chairman of Committees in the conduct of business through Committee.” On the motion of Canon Ootterill, it was resolved—" That a payment at the rate of £SO per annum from the Church Property Trust Fund be allotted to each Cure in the Provincial District of Canterbury for the year ending December 31st, 1881. And for the same year a payment at the rate of £SO per annum shall be made to the chaplain of the Christchurch Hospital, Lunatic Asylum, Female Refuge, and other publio institutions. Also, a payment at tho rate of £25 per annum shall be made to the acting chaplain of the Ohrhtohuroh Gaol and Barracks, and the same amount to the acting chaplain of Lyttelton Gaol. The above allowances to be subject to a pro rata deduction in case of insufficient income.”! Votes of thanks were passed to the Governing body of Christ’s College for the use of the Library, the Chairman of Committees, the Secretaries of Synod, and the Press. A sum of £5 6s was voted to the Clerk of the Church Steward’s Ofice for his attendance on the Synod during its session. The twelfth Diocesan Synod of Christchurch was brought to a close by the Primate [ renouncing the benediction.