DIOCESAN SYNOD AT EXETER.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 577, 25 October 1851, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD AT EXETER.

Mattciw which will be consider at the Diocesan Synod to be hoklen (God willing; in the Cathedral at Exeter, on Wednesday, 25th June, and the two following days. On the 25th "will be proposed — 1. A declaration of adherence to the Article of the Nicene Creed—" I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins," and especially to the dcctriue of the catholic church, and the A.i doles aid i'oi mularies of our own church, on the spirited gra.ee gueu to infants in the holy sficrameut of baptism. 2. A declaration of adherence generally to the dottiine and discipline of the Church of England, as now set forth in the aiticles of icligion, and in the Book of Common Prayer; and of our firm belief that secession from our chinch, keing a sound branch of the catholic chinch, to any other religious community' is an act of schism ; and, in particular, that secession to the Chinch of Rome involves the abandonment of truth for error, and is perilous to salvation. 3 A declaration against the recent schismatical assignment of a bishopric ot Plymouth by the Pope. On the 26th and 27th the following subjects will be considered so far as the time sh.ill admit: — 1. Education according to the principles of theChuich of England. Schools lor the poor— -middle schools— trainii q college of masters at Exeter, 6t mistresses at Tnno. Inspection of schools. 2. Catechising— Best mode of carrying out the requirements of the Lhurch, as stated in die rubrics and canons3. Continued pastoral supeiintendence of the\ountj, who have left school— especially the encouragement of the living together of young agriculture labourers, on a plan at one« economical and under iegulat,ious for sell-dibcipline, in agricultmal colleges.— (see " Paio chial Woik," by Key. C. Momo, p. 184—198.) 4. Increasing the number of authorised teachers and assistants of ministers, by the ordaiuiug ot permanent deacons, especially of teachers duly recommended by the Tiaiiimg College at Exeter. 5. Assistance of lay paiishioners to the parochial clergy, by cucouiaging voluntary associations for good works. 6. More frequent divine services in churches on week-days. Due observance ot the days appointed by

the church to be Kept hoi}'. On Ascension-day the Lords-supper to bi* always adtninibteied. 7. Moie frequent celebration of the Holy Communion. 8. Sepatation of services, especially in connection with the two immediately ptecedtng questions. 9 Public peifonnance of public baptism of infant* ; and right of parents, giving due notice, to requite the public baptism of their children on holy days. 10. Caie to be taken in reminding sponsors of their real responsibility, and correcting the false notious of tii.it resjionbi'nlity. '1 he encouiao;ement of bodies of pei sons (especially Sunday school Teachers, district visitors, and other lay parishioner) agr e.ng to undertake the office of sponsors in cases wheie it shall be found necessary. .... 11. Clunching of women after illegitimate bnths, under what regulations 12. Whether the office of burial ought not to he always fully and equally performed overall that ate buried (except the taking: the corpse into the church, where there is danger of infection)— advising the minister, who may doubt whether the paity to be buried fall within any ol the exceptions in the fust rubric before the oilicc of burial, io refer his doubt, with as little delay as possible, to the bibliop for his -olution, according to the direction contained in the pi elate <£ oticcinmp: the sen ice of the church." 13. Selection of mctiical version of ps&lms and of hymns. 14. Receiving persons into the chut ch from the Romanist schism in this countiy, or fiom other sclnsmatical communities .ifter pievious lefeience of the seveial cases to the bishop tor bib direction. 15. Whe her to rc-marrv tho^e who, having been previously married befoie the registiar, may desire the blessing of the church ? H, EXETgR. bt. Olivias, May 23, 1851.

A meeting ofinfhiential gentlemen and tradesmen of the diocese of Exeter, members of the Church ot England, was Ueul on Saturday, at the Athena-urn, to protest against the synod proposed to be held by the Bishop of Exetoi hi the 25th June. Sir John Kennaway, Bart., presided. The chainnan,| in opening the business, of the meeting, said they had obtained the concui lenre of the Lon) Lieutenant of the county (Earl Fortescue) and the M.iyor of Exeter fW. W. tlooper, Esq ) in the object of the meeting, which was to protest firmly and temperately, against the proposed synod to be held by the Bishop of Exeter. He believed such a pioceedmg would cxci c much unpleasant feeling in the diocese, and that no practical good would lesnltfrom the gathering. The piopo-ed proceedings were new and i.;Uieaul of, and he behe\efl would produce discord riud t!ie reveise of what wl.s anticipated. Mr. Palk rose to pio]>osc the followii- ' piotest. In doina: so he disclaimed all personal feeling against the Bishop of Exeter whom lie was willing to obey in all his legal iequiiements .—. — " We, the undersigned lay members of the Church of the United Kingdom, rc*.ident in the diocese of Exeter do earnestly piotest against the steps taken by the Bishop of lixiter, for convening a diocesan synod on the 25th of June, and we lully concur with the Presby ters ol 0111 Church, who have publicly lecorded their strong objections then tj. " i. Because with them we deem it altogether unnecessniy that any member of the Chmch of England should be called on to lenew the affirmation of holding that article of our faith— one baptism for the remission o f cjjus — since we expi ess our full and un-haken belief in the same whensoever we repeat the Nicene Creed ; and we do not consider that the decision of the Judicial Committee in any degiee infringes, or is calculated to infringe, upon that aiticle ; or that it affects our position as members of the branch ol Christ's holy Church univcisiilly established in these lealms. < : 2. Hecausc, although such assembly may not be distinctly prohibited by the laws and constitutions by which the <. lunch of England is regulated, it is cer» t.iicdy at variance with the general piactice of the church since the Reformation. " 3 Because we do not consider that any emergency lias arisen sufficient to warraut a proceeding which isolates the diocese from the general body of the United Chuich of England and Ireland, places ourselves in opposition to the most reveiend the metropolitan of the province, and brings into question, whether justly or not, our loyal acknowledgement of the supiemacy of her Majesty the Queen. "4. Because we aie apprehensive that the proposed deliberations, instead of strengthening the chutch and healing the lamentable divisions which already exist, would have the effect of weakening her influence and increasing those divisions— would present an example of resistance to the solemn adjudication of the law, unbefitting the sacred oificc of her ministers ; and that if general .y adopted, they might lead to the separation of the church from the st-ite, and thereby be productive of the most fatal consequences to the well-being of the nation, the existence of the monarchy, atid the maintenance of the piinciples of the reformed faith throughout the world. " And we further protect, because we object to whatevei has a tendency on the part of the bishop or clergy to exclude from the diocese many honest and conscientious clergymen, who do not concur in the bishop's interpietation of the gieat aiticle of the creed — 'One baptism for the remission of sins." Mr. Bere (commissioner of bankruptcy) seconded the motion in an eloquent speech. Alter some discussion, 'n which Mr. Soltau, Mr. Bellamy, Mr. Peters, Mr. Vivian, Mr, H. M- Phillipps, and Captain Fospyr took part, it was agreed that a committee, the appointment of which had been propo-ed and canied, be empowered to cuter into such arrangements as were necessary to call a county meeting as soon as possible. A letter was read trom Sir Trayton Drake, regretting his inability to attend the meeting, and expressing his heaity cc-ncunence in the same. Thanks were unanimously \oted to the chairman, and the meeting separated.

Tud Bishop of Exeter's Synod and Protest of FoHIY-FOVR OF HIS CIERGY. We, the undersigned Presbyters of the Diocese, deem it to be our duty to put fortb and publish our reasons for declining to attend any Ruridecanal Meetings for electing such Representatives, or otherwise to take any part whatever relating to such Assembly of the Clergy, called '< a Synod," or the proceedings and acts thereof. We have come to this determination. 1. Because, if such Assembly, summoned and holden according to the directions, and for the purposes, mentioned in the Bishop's Pastoral Letter, do not contravene the strict letter of the Laws and Constitutions at present iti force for regulating the action of the Church of England, it is, in our judgment and belief, opposed to the spirit and intention of such Laws and Constitutions, and altogether unprecedented in the History of the Church. 2. Because the primary and avowed object, for which such Assembly is to be convened, is to issue a Synodic.^ Declaration of adherence to the Article of the Creed, — " I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins," which, it is allied, has been "viitually denied" by a judgment delivered by Her M,ijest3' the Queen, as, " under God, the only supreme Governor of this Realm as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things or causes, as temporal," on the recommendation of the Judicial Committee of Privy Council, with the concurrence of the two Archbishops •,— such a Declaration being, as we believe, altogether uncalled for ; inasmuch as the Decision of Her Majesty was not intended to impugn, neither does it, in our judgment, in any degree whatever impugn, such Article of the Creed,— au Article which we constantly and solemnly repeat before God and in the face of the congregation, with the lull "assent and consent" of onr minds. 3. Because, although it is declared by the Bishop, that in the proceedings of such Assembly, it is his " desire, t\iat there shall be as great consideration us possible for the judgment of all,'* and that " the llepresentatives shall speak and vote therein according to their own judgment," yet it is expressly provided in the Pastoral Letter calling the Assembly, that " the Bishop shall himself decide what matters shall actually be brought under the consideration of the Synod," and, " that no Resolution can bp deemed an Act of the Synod, which has not his concurrence." 4. Because, whatever be the object of holding such Assembly, it is manifestly powerless in law ; not having authori y to pass any Canons or Constitutions, which can settle any matter whatever, or be binding even upon those who pass them ; whilst it is calculated to produce great evil and mischief, even to the disruption of the Church ; being designedly intended to exhibit this Diocese as independent in itself, standing out in unbecoming and injurious, if not schismatical, opposition to the Archbishop of the Province, and the constituted authorities, by which the whole body of the Church of England is governed. ' For these reasons we feel compelled to abstain from taking any part whatever in the proposed Assembly; and in putting them forth, we desire to testify our unfeigned respect and honour for the character of the j present Archbishop of the Province, as well as for the ' office which he holds; and at the same time to express j our dehbei ate opinion, that his Grace has not " forfeitpd his right to Catholic Communion.' 1 | May, 18 jl. [Here followed the signatures of 44 Clergymen.] ]

The Archbishop of Canilhduiiy and the Bishop of ExLTr.u's puoposld Synod. — The following letter has been received by the chauman of the vestries of Tormoham and Upton, Torquay, at which resolutions were adopted disajipiovhig of the intended syudd ;—

•'Lambeth, May 21. " Sir, — I have the honour of acknowledging an address which you have forwarded to me as chairman of the vestry of the united paushes of Tormoham and Upton, in which you express your ohjections against the measure proposed by your diocesan, of holding a diocesan sj r nod, and desire my interference to prevent the evils which you anticipate as likely to result from such a measure. I am by no means blind to the probability of such evils, and I greatly regret that such a measuie should have been devised; but if it is not a transgression of the law of the land it cannot be successfully resisted ; and if it does violate the law, I have no doubt that the officers of the crown will interfere, by means more effectual than [ have authority to employ.— l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient and humble servant, J. B. Cantuar. W. Kitsox, Esq."