CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4543, 12 October 1875, Page 3

CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The Synod assembled at 7.80 p.m. yesterday. The following members were present:—The President. Clergy; The Clerical Secretary, Revs. B. W. Harvey, A. Knell, J. McWilliam, T. Fancourt, A. Towgood, C. H. S. Nioholls, and B. K. Taylor. Laity : The Lay Secretary, Colonel Gorton, Messrs. W. M. Bannatyne, H. T. Clark, W. A. Fitzherbert, G. Beetham, E. W. Lowe, C. P. Powles, R. S. Barton, J. W. A. Marchant, F. Robinson, A. W. F. Halcombe, G. Hunter, G. Didsbury, and T. Buchanan.

The President having opened the proceedings with prayer, the minutes of the previous session were read and confirmed. The interim report of the committee to revise acts and resolutions of the Synod was read.

It was then moved by the Rev. B. W. Harvey, and seconded by Mr. W. M. Bannatyne, that the report of the committee on the accounts from parishes and parochial districts be printed in the report of the Synod. Mr. H. T. Clarke moved, —1. That there should bo one hymnal in use in all the churches in the diocese. 2. That the hymnal published under the authority of the General Synod, and now in tise many of our churches, is quite inadequate. 8. That a committee be appointed to meet during the recess to make a selection of hymns from other compilations, suitable for divine worship, to be submitted for the approval of the Bishop. The committee to consist of the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, Revs. Harvey and Pancourt, Messrs. Bannatyne, Beetham, Pearce, and the mover. The Rev. A. Towooou said that one objection he had to make to many of the hymns contained in the hymnal at present in general use in the diocese was that they were incapable of being set to any known tune, and that they were named hymns of an impossible metre by hia parishioners from this circumstance. The Rev. B. W. Harvey admitted that the hymnal at present in use was not very acceptable to himself. He understood at one time that its use was enjoined by the Synod ; but when

he discovered that its use was not so authorised, its defects became still more apparent. Ho however thought it unadvisable for the Synod to make a new compilation, and said that perhaps “ Hymns Ancient and Modem ” would meet with the approval of the Synod. But the plan that most commended itself to his mind was, that each parish should have liberty to choose its own hymnbook, subject to the approval of the Bishop. Lieut.-Colonel Gorton moved as an amendment that the Synod enjoin the use of “Hymns Ancient and Modern.” The President opposed both the motion and the amendment, as he thought that sufficient notice had not been given for the consideration of the subject. He was not aware that the General Synod had sanctioned the use of the hymnal. With reference to the proposal that it should be optional with the churches throughout the diocese to choose their own hymnals, he would like to know whether this option would be exercised by the clergymen or the parishioners, or both of these combined. While the use of hymnals was not expressly enjoined by the Prayer Book, he thought they were useful as affording a safety-valve, if he might be allowed to use the expression, for the quasi-heretical opinions which he believed lurked in the minds of most persons. He thought it, however, better for the matter to stand over for the consideration of the General Synod. The Ven. Archdeacon Stock opposed the amendment, on the ground that “ Hymns Ancient and Modern ” taught doctrines totally opposed to the teachings of the Prayer Book. He would therefore oppose the amendment most strongly. He believed the hymnal at present in use to be generally acceptable, and he thought that objections were raised against the book not so much on account of the hymns themselves as against the tunes to which they were wedded ; while, on the other hand, “Hymns Ancient and Modern” were more popular because they were sung to tunes of an exceptionally excellent character. He was decidedly in favor of the subject being held over for the deliberations of the General Synod. Mr. Quick opposed both the motion and the amendment. As far as he recollected, there l never was any unanimity in the Christian Church on the subject of any given hymnal as to whether it was suitable or not for congregational use. Mr. Clark said that the object he had in view in bringing the motion before the Synod was solely to obtain an expression of its opinion on the subject. He agreed with the venerable Archdeacon that some of the hymns in “Hymns Ancient and Modern,” were really objectionable. In accordance with the general opinion of the Synod, he would ask leave to withdraw the motion.

The motion was accordingly withdrawn. The Venerable Archdeacon Stock asked the President whether the Maori Church of the diocese has made or is making any provision for the support of its ministers 2 The Eev. Mr. McWiixiasi said, in reply, that in his district there were two Maori clergymen at work, and that any surplus that remained of his offertories were applied towards their maintenance. As they were known to possess private means, the contributions towards their support were very scanty. A new church had been erected at Otaki; and in several other villages new churches were being erected. In the year 1869 the natives in Rangitikei had offered to make over several thousands acres of land, which would have formed a sufficient endowment for carrying on church work in that district. It was afterwards found that the Maoris had no legal authority to convey the land as a church endowment.

On the motion of the Rev. T. Fancouet, the Synod ordered the report of the committee appointed to consider the regulations regarding the issue of licenses for the erection of enclosures in burial grounds to be printed. The Act for the election of lay representatives was read a third time and passed.

The Lay Secretary moved that standing order No. 12 be suspended, in order that the resolutions attached to the reports might be passed quickly through the Synod. The Synod resolved itself into committee to take into consideration various suggested corrections in these resolutions, and afterwards adjourned until next day at 7.30 p.m.