GENERAL SYNOD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 34, 8 February 1877, Page 2

GENERAL SYNOD.

The Synod met yesterday at 4 p.m. Some discussion arosp on the form of the minutes, which, however, ultimately were confirmed without alteration. Mr Pitt then moved, pursuant to notice, That the division list upon Archdeacon Harper's motion for leave to introduce the Formularies Bill be recorded on the minutes of the Synod, with the names of the voters. Mr Pickering seconded the motion. Mr Carleton would like to see all division lists entered in their minutes, as members' constif vents ought to be able to ascertain how their repj-eseptatives voted. T t e .u llon Mr Ac - an d moved as an amendment that the names of the voters in all l l r IO S ts be reco -ded in the minutes. mv £ armcoat secol ded the amendment. 1 he Dean of Christchurch moved as af r -ther amendment that the names should be recorded in all divisions when any two* members should require that it be done.

A very long debate- ensued, \ occupying nea-ly the whole afternbon; At length the Bishop of Wellington moved that the Synod proceed to the next order of [the , day, which was negatived on the voices." The original motion as arhended'"(bo.h amendments being accepted by the mover) ihen was put and lost on division by the adverse vote of the five_ bishops. The division was a very curious one, 28 clergy and laity voting for the motion and only four against it. A motion which 28 members voted for and only nine against was lost through the principle of voting by orders. The numbers were:— Ates: Clergy, 14; laity, 14.' Noes: Bishops, 5; clergy, 3; laity, 1. Archdeacon Maunsell then moved and Mr Rous Marten seconded— That the Most Revthe Primate be requested, and is .hereby authorised, to give to the Synod of tbe Diocese of Auckland, or of such other diocese or dioceses as may request the same, authority for such term of years as may be requested, to hold and use all copyright property which this Synod possesses in the compilation known as the New ' Zealand Hymnal. Some discussion ensued as to the wording of the motion, which, however, in the end was agreed to with the omission of the words " Or of such other diocese or dioceses as-may-request the same.", : . £. ..; The Bishop of Wellington moved, and thd Rev MrjJackson seconded, That a resolution of the Diocesan Synod of Wellington, refei4 ring to the appointment of a' Standing Committee of "the GenqralSypod,' be referred to the Committee' of Statutes. ; The discussion on this motion was interrupted by the hourfqf rising, and on resuming at 7*30 p.m., the Synod proceeded with the orders of the day, arid went into Committee (Mr Carletonin the chair) ori the "Appointment of Pastors Bill," which occupied the entire evening up to 10*30. p.m. Aiyery lengthy! debate arose on clause lfi, referring to the length of ndtice required to be given by a clergyman in 'resigning or withdrawing from a cure.. At one time- no -fewer! than seven amendments were on the •■ table alt one time, and the chairman (Mr Carleton) had to exercise the greatest care in putting them sb that the adoption or rejection of one should not exclude the others .from consideration. At length the clause was amended to the effect that a clergyman should be at liberty to withdraw from ithe duties of his cure six months after giving notice to the Bishop of his intention, whether such resignation should have been accepted by the Bishop or not, provided the clergyman should have given a second written notice three months from the date of the former one. The remaining clauses were passed with some slight verbal alterations, after a great deal of discussion. The Bill then was reported with amendments, and the third reading made au o *der of the day for Friday. It was resolved, on the motion of the Hqu ( Mr Acland— That it be an instruction to the Pnutiug Committee that the interpretation of clause 23 of the Constitution, passed at the late session of the General Synod (rev ferred to, p. 66 and 67 of the report), be I printed in future reports as. a foot-note to c-tmse 2S of the Constitution. The Rev J. C. Andrew's motion " That the names of the division on Archdeacon Maunseil'sßill (Statute 19 Amendment Bill) be recorded on the minutes" was postponed. On the motion of Archdeacon Williams the memorial of the trustees of the Hawke's Bay Trust was referred to the Committee oh Trusts. ■ .-■•,'• The Hon Mr Acland obtained leave to bring in « a Bill to amend Statute No. 2," which was read a first time and the second reading made an order of the day for Friday. Archdeacon Stock obtaiued leave to bring in " a Bill to alter the words in the schedule . attached to the Constitution, clause s—' for any term not exceeding twenty-one years,' to bring them into agreement with the wOrds in Instructions to Trustees, clause 3 — « for no, more thau sixty years.' ■" The Bill was read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for Friday. The suspended debates on Archdeacon Stock's motion relative to the General Pension Fund, and on the Rev Mr Leightqn's motion relative to religious instruction, were postponed. Archdeacon Maunsell then moved the second reading of a bill entitled " A bill for amending Statute 21." Some discussion ensued, several of the bishops expressing themselves as opposed to the measure. Archdeacon Maunsell said that, as three bisbops had expressed tbe nselves adversely to the Bill, it of course could not lie carried, and, to avoid wasting the time of the Synod,' he should therefore ask leave to withdraw it, at the same time, expressing his regret that the bench of bishops should have set itself so strongly against the wishes . of the large majority of the Synod. Mr Quick opposed the withdrawal of the Bill, and, the unanimous consent of the Synod being necessary, the withdrawal was refused. : Archdeacon Harper suggested that the Bill should be postponed until after MiAndrew's " Constitution Interpretation Bill," which latter would settle the whole question - and render this Bill unnecessary! ' The Bishop of,, Dunedin denied that .there had been any obs'trucfciveness onthe. part of the episcopal bench. The Rev Mr Andrew moved the adjournment of the debate until Monday. Mr Rous Marten moved as an amendment that the debate be adjourned until immediately after that on the " Constitution Interpretation Bill," as several members would have left before Monday. The amendment was agreed to. It was resolved on the motion of the Bishop of Nelson, •« That the Synod for the rest of the session sit at half-past three'-in-stead of 4 p.m. The Synod then adjourned at 11*15.