CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4546, 15 October 1875, Page 2

CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Thursday, October 14. The Synod assembled at 7.30 p.m. The following members were - present : The President. Clergy: The Clerical Secretary, Kevs. B. W. Harvey, J. McWilliam, B. K. Taylor. Laity : The Lay Secretary, Messrs. W. M. Bannatyne, E. W. Lowe, J. W. A. Marchant C. P. Powles, B. Hunter, and Colonel Gorton.

The President having read prayers, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The President read a circular which he had received from the Archbishop of Canterbury, suggesting that special services commemorative of missionary work might be celebrated on St. Andrew's Day in the various churches throughout the diocese. The President believed that special services would be held on that day in all the churches of the Anglican communion throughout the world. Mr. McWilliam's report on the state of the Maori Church was ordered to be printed in the appendix to the report of the Synod. The following motion was proposed by the Clerical Secretart, and carried :—When a report is brought up by a select committee it shall be read and laid upon the table. Notice of motion to be given if the committee wish the report to be printed in the Synod proceedings. If the report contain any resolutions, notice of motion must be given, that they may be discussed in the Synod. Mr. C. P. Powles, in the absence of Mr. C. C. GR&.HAM, in introducing the annexed resolution, said that though not entirely agreeing with Mr. Graham's motion, he thought that some efficient plan should be adopted for canvassing the diocese. He would 'therefore suggest that the standing orders committee be requested to take the matter in hand during the

recess, and report thereon to the next Synod. He then read the motion, which was as follows:—That it be a further recommendation to the appointed to consider the best means of augmenting the Bishopric Fund, that they also consider the best means of organising some systematic means of raising a regular general church fund, more particularly with a view to an increase in the stipendsof clergymen in country parishes or parochial districts. The motion was put to the Synod and lost, when the following amendment, proposed by Colonel Gorton, was adopted,—That it be a recommendation to the Standing Committee to consider the best means for organising a system for increasing the Diocesan Fund, with a view of assisting the outlying districts. The Rev. B. W. Habvey moved the following resolution:—That standing order No. 19 shall not be suspended on motion with notice, if any one member of the Synod objects. In support of the motion he drew attention to the two forms in which the Synod legislated on the various matters brought under its consideration, namely, by resolutions and by Acts. The first method was used where the subject was of minor importance, while graver matters were disposed of by Acts. An Act is passed through several stages before it is confirmed. He had recently discovered that an Act might be passed as an ordinary resolution, if notice of objection to it by ©ne member had been lodged the evening previous, and asking for the suspension of standing order No. 19. After some discussion, the Synod negatived the motion. The Pbesldent having expressed himself satisfied with the way in which the business of the session had been gone through, and commended the increased interest in their work manifested by the members, closed the session with the benediction.