GENERAL SYNOD

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1931, Page 6

GENERAL SYNOD

OPENING OX FEBRUARY' 5. TRIENNIAL .MEETING. Representatives of the clergy and laity I roiu the various New Zealand dioceses, including Polynesia and .Melanesia, will meet at Christchurch on February o for the Lriennal meeting ol General Synod. The Primate of New Zealand, Archbishop A. W. Averill, will preside, and the proceedings, which will be held in the Provincial Council Chambers, are expected to last lor at least two weeks. Since returning from the Lambeth Conference the Bishop of Nelson, Rt. Rev. W. C. Sadlier, has boon laid up with leg trouble and as a result it had been expected that lie would not bo able to take bis place on the Bench of Bishops. A. decided improvement, however, lias been shown In the Bishop’s health during the last week or so, and it is now likely .that lie will be able to go to Christcliureh and take part in the discussions at Svnod.

The Bishop of Melanesia, Right Rev F. M. Mo l.vnctix, and the Bishop of Polynesia, Right Rev. L. S. Kemptliorne, have already arrived in the Dominion to attend the gathering. I lie other members of the episcopate, the Bishop of Wellington, Right Rev. T. H. Sprott, the Bishop of Ohristcliureli, Right Rev. Campbell WestWatson, the Bishop of Dunedin. Right Rev. Isaac Richards, the Bishop of Waiapu, Right Rev. Herbert Williams, and the Bishop of Waikato, Right Rev. C. A. Clierrington, will also be present. in addition to the Archbishop and bishop of Auckland. The Bishop of Aotca-roa, the Right Rev. A. F. Bennett, who exercises episcopal supervision. over the Maori people, will also he present. He does not, however, occupy a seat on the episcopal bench, being a suffragan bishop to the Bishop of Waiapu. The clerical representatives of the Diocese of Wellington on General Synod are the Bishop of Wellington, the Archdeacon of Waitotara. Archdeacon R. CVeod-Meredith, the Archdeacon of Wairarapa, Archdeacon A. L. Hansell, and the Rev W. Bullock, of St. Peter’s Church. Wellington. There are four representatives of the laity - Messrs H. E. Evans, C. Shi rt—cliffe, J. W. Henderson, and E. E. Tfadfield. Messrs. Had field and Sliirtrlifle have resigned their-appointments, however, Mr Shirtelifi’e owing to urgent business reasons, but successors

to these two gentlemen are tn he appointed to-morrow. The last General Synod was held in Wellington three years ago. when manv important matters of vital interest to the Anglican Church, including the question of appointing a bishop for the Maori race, were dealt with. More than usual public interest was taken in the proceedings at- that Synod, due to the dissension that was then rampant in the diocese of Waikato, hut the curious were disappointed, for not a word was mentioned of the trouble in that diocese.

.The 1928 Synod, decided to hold, its 1 DPI meeting at .Nelson, but it was then expected that the new cathedral, still in course of construction, would be completed by this (imm The Nelson cathedral is yet uncompleted. and when it was upon rent about twelve months ago that it would not ho finished in time it was decided to change the venue to Christchurch.

The proceedings at Christchurch will open with the Primate's presidential address. 'l'll is will be followed bv Dm election of officers, arrangement. of hours of business, and the presentation of petitions. r l lie way will then bo dear for discussion on several ’notions which arc standing on the order pape.r for the first day.