THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 8 July 1909, Page 3

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

WEEWNGTON SYNOD.

Wewngton, July 6. The Wellington Diocesan Synod opened its sittings to-day. Bishop Wallis referred in his opening address, to the Lambeth Conference and Pan Anglican Congress, which he attended last year, and to the coming mission of clergymen to New Zealand. There had been a decline in the number of candidates for the Ministry, but in New Zealand there were hopeful signs. In view of the increased cost of living the stipends of most of the were insufficient, and they ought to remedy this state of affairs as soon as possible. MR WOODWARD’S SCHEME. The Rev. G. Woodward, vicar of Foxton, proposed a scheme for the organisation of a religious brotherhood for the purpose of coping with three of the greatest needs of the day : (1) Religious education of the young ; (2) street missions ; (3) religious work among bodies of labouring men. The mover said that since the .failure of the Bible-in-schools movement, the need had become apparent for some organisation to carry out a work that at present was being left undone. The clergy were not to blame for the position, for frequently they had more work already than they I could attend to, but the fact was v staring them in the face that in many places in New Zealand the souls of the people were absolutely uncared for. What he really pro- ■ posed was that the Synod should display its faith and sanction the foundation of a brotherhood for the express purpose of training yopng men to do a work that had for so long been neglected. The brotherhood would be called after the name of St. Francis, and its members should be called upon to live the religious life. It was plain to him that some organisation was absolutely needed to instruct men in dealing with social problems and in evangelistic work among the masses. They should imitate as far as possible the early Franciscans, and insist upon strict adherence to the principle of renuciation. No payment for services rendered should be permitted. It would be absolutely necessary to obtain from England a tried and faithful man from one of the great brotherhoods there, a man who would be the religious guide, or brother superior of the order, under, of course, the bishop and the diocese. Some might urge that thei brotherhood would not attract men, and that a life of voluntary service would not prove to have a power of attractiveness but he was firmly of opinion that many men would be found to offer themselves as members. The examples of the , Lichfield Brotherhood, the society , of the Church Army, and other organisations were encouraging. A layman in the diocese had, been so pleased with the scheme that he had sent a contribution of £2 zs., and promised an annual contribution of at least the same amount if the scheme was sanctioned by the Synod.. He thought that the masses would support the scheme once it was put in operation, and there would be no difficulty about funds. With regard to the yrork of the brotherhood, the education of the young came first. If his scheme was adopted, it would do away with the humiliation of Anglican children attending Roman Catholic schools, and give the children a proper understanding of the doctrines of the Church. Another function of the brothers would be to conduct street missions. If the peoph would not come to the church they must take the church to the people. There was nothing in the scheme which meant reviving the system of. the Middle Ages, there was nothing in it to offend “low” or' “ high ” Churchmen ; it was a simple scheme for service. (Applause.) The Rev. J. Walker (Newtown) seconded the motion. No one had any doubts as to the reality of the needs with which Mr Woodward hoped to deal. The Synod fully realised that something should be done to give the children clear definite religious instruction. They recognised also that they must do something soon unless they, were to incur the reproach of caring nothing for that great mass of i people who were at present unaffected by the Church’s activity. The scheme proposed' might produce very real results. He bei lieved that the time was not far distant when they would recognise that Church schools were not i only advisable, but , absolutely necessary to them, and the existence of the proposed * brotherhood would be of great assistance when the time cdme for establishing Church'schools. The Roman , Catholic Church was able to carry on. its denominational schools largely through the existence of those devoted orders who gave themselves without reward to its service. But even without Church schools the brotherhood would be most valuable in regard; to the religious. education of the' young. The facilities now given to ministem in connection with the State schools, though inadequate, were often useful, and they would be more useful if the Chinch had more workers to give religious instruction in the schools. He [ would like to see the scheme extended to include a sisterhood as well as a brotherhood. These i would not be organisations on medieval lines; they must adapt the machinery of past times to meet the present age. But the spirit of St. Francis was the spirit which would have to animate their brotherhood if it were to be successful. They had to consider fur-

ther if the scheme was practicable. The position of the Church in its relation to the masses might appear to be hopeless, but that would be the best augury for its success. He believed that men would be forthcoming for the work, if the opportunity were given. Archdeacon ToWgood (Martou) said that he would not oppose the motion. The organisation' of St. Francis, and later organisations of. the Church of England and other bodies, had taken' rise from the inspiration of the individual, and not of authorities and synods. They could not create by auy vote of. Synod the men whom Mr Woodward wanted, though it was possible a vote of Synod might touch the hearts of men who would be inclined towards the work. He did not think that the scheme was impossible, but the word masses, must not be used as implying any sort of inferiority. The so-called labouring men had no more need of the services of the Church than other classes ; possibly in many cases they might more fully realise the benefits of the Gosgel than those who were in a different position of life. The Bishop said that unless the Synod were all of one mind in adopting the motion a very serious responsibility would be taken since the motion would commit them to the scheme for good, without further discussion or consideration. He was in very warm sympathy with much that had been said, but if they passed the motion they would commit themselves to a very great work, and their action must not be taken lightly. After further discussion the following amendment was carried, ‘ ‘ that this Synod considers the question worthy of earnest consideration to establish a brotherhood devoted to voluntary service for this diocese, and appoints the Revs. C. C. Harper, J. H. Sykes, G. Y. Woodward, andj. Walker, with power to add to their number, to consider the matter, and if the scheme be found practicable to draw up a report to be presented to the next meeting of Synod. This will mean the hanging up of the scheme for two years.