Wellington Diocesan Synod.

Manawatu Herald, 17 October 1896, Page 3

Wellington Diocesan Synod.

The annual meeting of the Synod was brought to a close on Wednesday last. It began sitting on October 7th. GENERAL CHURCH FUND. The principal interest centred in the General Ohurch Fund, which is established to provide stipends for the clergy, for the building of all requisite churches, parsonages and schools, for the training of candidates for the work of the Ministry, and tor other general church purposes. The Fund consists of donations and subscriptions contributed throughout the diocese, all seat rents, surplus rents in the hands of the Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees, and revenue derived from land or other property given in its behalf. The Synod determines the stipend to be paid to each clergyman, and what proportion of such stipend each parochial district shall be required to contribute to the fund. If any parish fails to contribute to the fund the amount at which it is assessed, the deficiency becomes a first charge upon the offertories and col lections of such parish. All stipends, except the Bishop's, are paid out of the General Church Fund, thera being a special fund to meet the Bishop's stipend. Upon the healthy condition of the General Church Fund, the progress of the diocese mainly depends. The spiritual wants of newly-settled districts cannot be attended to if the General Church Fund languishes. The Bishop was therefore strongly urged that this Fond should receive hearty support throughout the Diocese. ST.. PETEBB* PABISH, WELLINGTON, The Parish of St. Peter's, Wellington, hold that they could not join tbe fund until they had discharged certain liabilities they incurred many years ago in the erection of the church. These liabilities now amount to £1285. I The isolation of this parish has from time to time caused considerable friotion in the meetings of the Synod, as it was thought there was a disposition on the part of the parish i to postpone joining the fund as long as possible. The General Church Fund Act provided that the Act should not interfere with arrangements made by St. Peter's parish with respect to the liabilities referred to unless with the consent of the bondholders. Last year the vestry of St. Peter's expressed willingness to enter into negotiations with the Synod with the view of terminating the isolation, and the Synod passed a resolution last year that the Standing Committee should confer with the vestry and bondholders on the subject. The result of tbe conference was that a Bill was brought in at the recent Bitting of the Bynod to repeal the special provision in the General Church Fund Act with reference to St. Peter's Parish. The Bill was passed with an amendment with the entire concurrence of the representatives of St. Peter's, and under the provisions of this Bill, the repeal is to have effect on January Ist, 1900, or earlier, if provision for the discharge of tbe liabilities

be made before that date. The Synod looked upon the passing of this Bill as the most important work of the session, as it removes a great stumbling block that has for years interfered with the success of the General Church Fund From and after January Ist, 1900, St. Peter's Parish will be in the same position with regard to the General Church Fund as every other part of the diocese. The total receipts of the General Church Fund for the year ending 30th June last amounted to £6447 18s.

(To be coninued.)