CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 626, 14 April 1852, Page 3

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

[From the " Sydney Herald," March «.] Thb following is the reply of the Ai-chbishop of Canterbury to the minutes agreed to by the Bishops of the province of Australasia, afc their meet- j ing, in October, 1850. It will be seen that His Grace asserts positively that no Synod ical action of the colonial Church can take place without j interfering with the Queen's supremacy. (extract.) Lambeth, 4th July, 1851. With respect to the matter of greater doubt and difficulty, tbo inconvenience is apparent of the uncertain jurisdiction of the Bishops, and the con«pquent imperfection of discipline, in your remote provinces. For the present, the Queen's siipre<micv rau*t l>e a^umed as unquestionable; and no doubt it prevents the issuing of any Synodiciil inundate, or even tlie assembling of any Sj nod which should claim authority. Whenever the subject of eccle>-ias f ical jurisdiction in the cfd'inifs lias been mooted here, the absence of any sp-cific scheme or proposal on t lie part of < he colonial Bi-hops has bei'n ur»ed as a reason for postponing the consideration; and it ce/tan>ly would not be competent for the authorities he c to propose Mich enactments as mi^ht remedy the evils un ler which you labour, without a BUggesiiots-fKom you of the means of their removal. It appears to me tl'at such a scheme as might be diawn up pn the spot, with especial view to the inconveniences vrhicb you experience in the practical enforcement of

discipline, should b^ prepared and sent to tln« counti y. The subject would then be con-id^red by ilip Colonial Secretary and the fccle-ia«ticnl officers of the Crown; and such legislation might follow as would place you in a better condition for the light administration of CJjurcu discipline. I remain, &c, &c. (Signed) J. B. Cantauk.