CHURCH OF ENGLAND GENERAL SYNOD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4945, 27 January 1877, Page 2

CHURCH OF ENGLAND GENERAL SYNOD.

. : ♦— (from our special reporter). Nelson, Friday. The Synod sat this afternoon. The Bishop of Auckland presided. A petition was presented front the diocese of Auckland, that the Synod should not make any alteration under the Formularies Bill until it should be assured by competent legal opinion that it possessed authority to make such alterations. Mr. Rods Marten presented a petition from the parishioners of St. Peter's, Wellington, for permission to raise a sum of not more than £IOOO by the mortgage of the parsonage. A petition received from Archdeacon Maunsell prayed that every speaker when moviug a resolution be restricted to twenty minutes, and every subsequent speaker upon that resolution be restricted to fifteen minutes, but that the Synod may in either case by vote grant an exception. He explained that his object was to prevent a waste of time by long speeches, which led to important business being postponed till so late in the session that a quorum could not be kept together, and business had to be shelved. Mr. Carleton seconded, deeming the proposed allowance of time quite enough for men who understood arranging ideas. Those who did not should keep silence until they had learned to speak to the point. Any practised speaker could pump his own brain dry in twenty minutes. In the case of a reply it would be more difficult. Archdeacon Harper opposed the motion as derogatory to the Synod. They ought not to' put members to personal inconvenience. In the first place, they only met once in three years, and then to deal with matters of great importance. They ought not to be limited as to their time of speech. Long speeches were a bore, and also long sermons ; but he doubted whether any one would advocate limitiug the latter to fifteen or twenty minutes. The prins ciple would not be a wise oue to adopt.

Mr. Ht'N'i'KU Bhown also opposed. He held that time was wasted, not in long speeches on exccpt : ouaUy important questions, when Synod fhdly listened to them, but by members constantly making short speeches on every possible subject. Archdeacon Macnsell, in reply, adduced the late parliamentary session as an instance of such limitation of speech being needful. The question was put aud negatived on the voices. . ' Archdeacon Stock moved that the mmntes of the proceedings of Synod when in committee shall be duly read to the Synod on the next day, and shall be duly signed' by the chairman of committees. He explainedthat, for want of such a precaution last session, a • grave error was allowed to creep into the minutes of proceedings as to the leases of Church lands, which by a clerical error were limited to 21 years instead of 60. The Hon. Mr. Acland seconded the motion. . MTV.™* Theßisiior of Auckland, in moving liiat on next sitting day the Synod appoint to fall the vacant office of Bishop of the Islands of Melanesia, the Rev. John Richardson Selwyn the person recommended to the General Synod by members of the mission, now engaged in carrying on mission work, to fill the said vacant office," sketched a history of the Melanesian Diocese and its connection with the N ew Zealand Church, and mentioned that the late Bishop Patteson before his lamented murder had asked the Kev. Codrington, the present head of the mission, to consider whether he could accept the bishopric as his successor if offered to him. Mr. Codrington however, positively declined, to the general regret, as he was most fit in every way. They aU would have been glad if Mr. Dudley could have taken it, but he had been compelled by failine health to retire from the mission work. The Kev. Mr. Selwyn, however, was singularly qualified in every way. He inherited his father's character, was unselfish to a degree,, and selfsacrificing, as was shown by hia voluntary relinquisbing a certain brilliant career at the bar to take deacon's orders so as to assist his father, who could not obtain a man to help in the work. A more eminently qualified mail could not be found. ; The Kev. Jackson (member of Melanesian Mission) seconded, and testified warmly to Mr. Selwyn's merits. He had opposed his election last time on the ground of Mr. Selwyn's ill health at that time, feeling he would not be able to undergo the necessary hardships; but it was impossible not to admire the brilliant talents of Mr. Selwyn, and he was satisfied now'that he was the best man for the post. Mr. Codrington was fitted in every way but one, namely, he was a bad sailor, and unable to bear the constant sea voyages among the Islands. Mr. Selwyn, however, was now most fit in every way. The Primate called on members of the Synod to join in silent prayer before proceedin"' to vote on so important a question. Deep silence followed for five minutes, and the scene was very impressive. The question was put and Mr. Selwyn was unanimously elected, the announcement being received with loud applause. Other business wi's merely formal. The Synod adjourned at 6 p.m.