THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4540, 8 October 1875, Page 2

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Thursday, October 7. The Synod assembled at 7.30 p.m. The following members of the Synod were present: —The President. Clergy : Eevs. A. Knell, J. A. Newth, W. Ballachey, J. McWilliam, <Q. H. S. Nicholls, J. E. Teakle, B. K. TSdPffor, A. Towgood, and T. Eaneourt. Laity : The Lay Secretary, Messrs. H. Clarke, E. W. Lowe, G. Beetham, C. P. Powles, W. A. Marchant, F. Eobinson, C. C. Graham, A. B. Sheath, E. Hunter, G. Didsbury, T. Buchanan, W. A. Eitzherbert, and J. D. Cruickshank. The President opened the proceedings with prayer. The minutes of the previous day's session were read and confirmed.

The Eev. B. W. Harvey laid upon the table the interim report on parish accounts. The debate upon Mr. Quick's motion, that the Synod do consider the provisions of a Bill introduced at the last General Synod, for the purpose of defining its powers in reference to the alteration of the services, formularies, and articles of the Church, and the authorised version of the Holy Scriptures, was resumed by the Bishop, who strongly asserted that the present New Zealand Church was in exactly the same position as a provincial church in the early Christian ages, when each church was a self-governing body.

The Ven. Archdeacon Stock said that whether they liked it or not the Church of New Zealand was an independent church. He thought that the further consideration of the motion had better be deferred to the next session of the Synod.

Mr. C. C. Graham was in favor of the Synod going into committee, so that some more general knowledge on the subject might be spread abroad amongst churchmen whose minds might not be thoroughly informed on the subject. Mr. Quick spoke against the statement that had been made, to the effect that the Church of New Zealand was a provincial church, and absolutely independent of the mother church. The occasion would probably arise in which it might be necessary to appeal to precedents laid down by greater minds than his own. Many detected tendencies in the Church at Home towards being either ritualistic or rationalistic. He would venture to assert that if they followed in the wake of the Church they followed where many great minds had preceded them. The Synod ordered the further consideration of the motion to stand over till the next session. The Synod then went into committee on the Act to make provision for the election of lay members to sit in the next General Synod. The Synod adjourned to next day at 7.30 p.m»