WELLINGTON EXTRACTS. CHURCH CONSTITUTION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 606, 4 February 1852, Page 3

WELLINGTON EXTRACTS. CHURCH CONSTITUTION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

At a Meeting of Members of the Church of England, held on the 17th of January, for the primary purpose of opening a School House at Thorn don, after the immediate business connected with the School had been gone through, the following important proceedings took place. We refer to them in our leading columns. The Bishop of New Zealand said, the subject now to be brought before them was much more wide in its nature, but it was thought by many a good opportunity at the close of the School meeting to take into consideration a general Church constitution for the settlement of all those questions of ecclesiastical laws which were not applicable to the state of the Church in this colony. The immediate occasion of this meeting arose out of a similar meeting at Adelaide, where the support hitherto afforded to the Church by the State in that colony had been suddenly withdrawn. In one respect (hey were not in the same position, no support had been withdrawn from them, for none had been given. It was true that a selection had been made by the Governor, in his discretion, of a Colonial Chaplain to minister to the spiritual wants of those under the care of the Government in the hospital and gaol, but no specific Government aid was given to the Church, they were therefore in the same condition with their brethren at Adelaide, and their object then was to consider and adopt some such course that every member in the Church might know his own position, and all its privileges and duties. A question might arise in the mindb of many n«s to the best course to be adopted 5 his own private opinion was that a slight legislative enactment, which would give the power to pass by-laws to be recognized as the compact between the members of the Church, would be the kind of constitution they required. The resolutions which his Ex-

ccllency the Governor in- Chief would submit to them, stated, Ist, the expediency of a Church constitution ; 2>idly, the adoption of some provisional measure immediately ; 3rdly, an application to Parliament for the necessary powers. They had met for the discussion of these object*, and he should be happy to hear any questions from any person present, vhich bib position or his experience might enable him to answer. Sir George Grey said he had prepared for the consideration of the members of the Church a resolution embodying five heads, and would take that opportunity of stating that, personally, he wa"s peculiarly anxious to sec a form of constitution adopted for the government of the Church in this country which was the same as that which the Church in the United States, after the experience of half a ccntuary had found, with some modifications, to be the best suited to their circumstances. Unfortunately, at first starting, the Church in the United States had adopted one or two rules which were mixed up with Church property, and which they now found it impossible to alter ; not having, when they started, previous experience to guide them they had, in as far as those few particulars were concerned, made shipwreck of their sonstitution, but the members of the Church of England in New Zealand were in a position to benefit by the experience of their brethren in the United States, lie felt so convinced of the necessity of doing something that, foregoing -wholly his own private much more extended views, he would ask them to assent to a few simple pi opositions which woidd bind them in one compact body, and which would provide funds for the support and extension • of the Church. The annual payment which was proposed by the resolution established a rate of franchise, and furnished a constituency who would elect committees on whom would de-v olve the duty of managing the pecuniary a flairs of the Church. These committees might perhaps hereafter be required to consider and recommend some form of Constitution for adoption ; but in the mean time they would form a nucleus from which such a development of the Church as circumstances required might hereafter take place 5 even if their first steps should provo faulty in some respects they secured the means of future and progressive development, and he felt persuaded that having such holy ends in view, although they might make some first erroneous steps, still that ultimately they must arrive at a form ' of Government under which the Church would prosper. His Excellency ,then read the resolution, briefly commenting on each head, and observed it was a disputed point with eminent authorities whether it was nccessai'y to apply to the Legislature for farther powers; but theie being this doubt, it became them as members of the Church of England not to incur the slightest risk of setting themselves in opposition to the law, but rather to set an example of the most scrupulous obedience by submitting the question, regarding which there appeared to be a doubt, to Parliament, and requesting, if it should be found necessary, that the requisite powers should be conferred upon them. lie wished further to state, that he might not be considered too presumptuous, that he had fully communicated with the Bishop of New Zealand, and it was only on the understanding that his Lordship assented in thinking that what he proposed was the best thing that could at present be done for the Church, that he ventured to draw up the paper he would now submit to them. Kis Excellency then read the following resolution :—: — That if is extremely desirable that some form of Constitution for the government of the branch of the Church of England in New Zealand should be established with :is little del.iy as possible. That all adult mcmbeis of the Church of England resident in the distiiet he invited to enrol themselves as such, and to ;igree to pay a subscription of three shillings per quaiter for Church pui poses. That the adult members of the Church of England so enrolling their names bli.dl annually appoint a Committee from their own members, lo determine to what specific purposes connected with tho Church, and in what propoi lions, the funds they subscribe shall he applied. Thai such Committee shall be nuthoiiscd to receive subscriptions foi Church purposes ftom any pcrsonc wishing to Mibsciibe, either ju'iiei ally for Church puiposes, or /or some specific object connected with the welfaie of the Chinch of England. That a Committee shall be appointed by such onrolled merubeis of the Church of England to piepare petitmons to both Houses of Parliament,' praying that any laws which may be deemed necessary or pioper for the puipose of enrolling the membeis of the Church of England to manage their own internal affairs in the New Zealand Islands may be enacted by Parliament. The resolution was seconded by Captain Rhodes. The Bishop of New Zealand said that, before putting the question as chairman, he was exceedingly anxious to hear the opinions of some of the gentlemen present. In answer to a question from Mr. J. 11. Wallace, His Lordship explained that an annual grant was given by the Government to the Church at Sydney, but that he considered the operation of this system unfavourable, and had never recommended the introduction of the Australian Church system into New Zealand. After some observations by Mr. Raymond with reference to the Church arrangements at Sydney, The Bishop said that in England every person was considered to belong to the Church, and had a right to vote who paid Church rates ; from this arises the difficulty of their position, as the ecclesiastical laws were inapplicable to the ch'cuinstances of the colony. His Lordship having requested Mr. Fitzherbert to state his opinion Mr. Fitzherbert said that, having been appealed to in so direct a manner by his Lordship, he must confess he had not paid such attention to the subject of church government as to justify the expression of his opinion on the question in so public a manner. As far as the resolutions were concerned, he thought they were so simple in form and general in their character, forming the basis on which a fitting superstructure might hereafter be raised, as to receive his hearty approval, and he had no doubt would be generally concurred in. The details of the measure might be the subject of future consideration, and this appeared to be the object of the framers of the resolution, who shewed their wisdom and prudence m giving it this general character. Mr. Kelham thought the resolutions of such a nature as to give very general satisfaction, and to leave nothing to discuss, while they prepared the way for further measures. Captain Rhodes said he had shewn his entire concurrence in the resolutions by simply seconding them. Another point which should occupy their attention was the necessity of raising funds for extending in New Zealand the salutary influence and benefits of the church, which had hitherto been mainly supported by contributions from well-disposed persons in England, lie had felt much gratification at the liberal and enlightened principles expressed by his Lordship, and he was sure that this day's proceedings, when ! published, would stimulate the members of the Church to make additional exertions. The exertions made in Australia for the extension of the church in the Pacific, in which the Bishop of New Zealand had taken the load, had attracted very general attention, and had obtained for hit, Lordship a world-wide reputation. He (Capt. 11 ) had recently received a letter from a relation stationed as a missionary in one of the most remote parts of India, who referred to the great sensation Avhich the missionai'y proceedings ;it Sydney had c.iuseci in that continent, lie (Capt. 11) thought that when they were blest with such a pastor, tho least they could do was to second his views by every exertion in their power. (Applause.) The Bishop was glad to find that the resolution proposed by his Excellency was considered to hit the happy mean in stating neither too little or

100 mur'i. Whenever such a form of Church constitution f/nould be established, as that proposed in the lesolution, he should bo hnppy to burrender to the general body every grant which ho held as Trustee, and relieve himself at once from these responsibilities. His only reason for returning them was his desire to prevent the multiplication of seperale trusts for every Church purpose. He hoped that all Church Trusts would be held by one uniform tenure, and that scperate committees would receive a delegated authority from the general convention for the management of Churches, Schools, and Burial grounds, and every other kind of Church property. The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously, and the proceedings were concluded by prayer.