CHURCH OF ENGLAND GENERAL SYNOD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4955, 8 February 1877, Page 3

CHURCH OF ENGLAND GENERAL SYNOD.

(FROM OUK SPKOIiLL BEPORTEB.) 1. -''■'. " ,JJ .".''\ ■■■ 1 ;"; - : "iNEts«N' 'January,2s.' ; > iThe'General £ynpd of A the L Churclj.of,j|;ngj; ' land '"opened to-dayi'by 1 aVohoral, serjvicff | and'" the" Holy Communion,bein^'pelebrated at' Christ phur'ctf.at The Bishops of; Ghristchurch .(Primate), jW.ellingbon, .ifelkon, ; 'Auckland, the J D^an v of Chtist'church, Archdeacons'Stoclc, WaUsms,, Harper, I and T nine: ! other fle'rgymen part;,. £mdi talked in' full 'rpb'es'in "procession JTOe-street'to the church.' *. '-.'.",, ''. \ -*.>.■) • ■'"''-'''{ ! "; Tfi*?BrMiT?'§'CHAßisE.' ; .'",./:., i •- "'-The'Synod"Vas' / f6VmaUy opened in the'Hro-, Hall;at &-, pjn.nwhen thirty inembere riWereripreßent.,,' The, fPrimate,;f after *depla^g''^'e ; Syn.o4.dwiy < opened,ldeUYerfiqan of,which as ! foUows;-T-jieferring, .to .theiirpsigriation of! Waiapu, . senseto'£th.e'greatl lpsßonsthe. resignation of 6ne" who "sOj.long-jhadi'beea ,'connected, with' (the 'Church. It-'Was ft loss- very .difficult' toj be supplied, there being, jio , fewer.- than 117,000 .Rlaom churchmen be; ;an4, who "require, ;a jbipbop conversant with: their^languagejand;;customs, > though . a:f pl&n |oc,proyidißg af^general bishoprio endowment; rf imd,i"adnot i mßfe'«rfifh general support. Thepnn,cipal; "of ) Ip. reference to tljis ■ important measure, tiie Primate said::v-if';Re-. sPlutibnß in reference jtPi.jthfc Mttiittion oi ithe> Formularies Bai have been forwarded, to me' .fftttt^^tbe ■■'■ dioceses L of 'They present, las 'migHt hSve' I beeß , .e^^t;ed,' a >oto§Vjointß ]of I dnferencei'bWihe3 ! ,agreeMri , 'abspm|ng.the:fa | ct ■thalt'tfo Chnrch'o'f %he *e|6lesia3*lic*al^rpvince ! t lh& I>o'wer4o mJiie^'alteratior^,';hor^ffecting, ' J may :i ''be. , '!cbbiidered^ece&ary' l ; ; and;''' on'''the,, ; btherh'andi' ih'-ftha iiiecessiiy ;of f puitifig;;M, 'the Bffl^^^'should "of/mhW iposdd amendihihtJ!; the' 'Second olauke hecomfa' the'coMtilratippt ,I ;Thi:^e ! iyears , 'iiußt Et' i Teart- > "ela^' I hbfore'ihe He"re:caii'*rih's''mfo 0 p'reseatf' servicea'for ; " i fb'rmularie"s T ~ ' i 'versibrf'bf the Hbl£Scriptur'sß;;'f ok is the Bill', imposed'at bnb'.Geheral Syiiod, Bfiacceptea.by £ thVmajority i; of ih# "Qiocesan ifinally agreed to in' the mßitihg ! of the General Synod next ensuing. To this I conceivb ther|e could ; no objection,, if the,p|pppsed..alterations, emanated from jthe': niembers of pur, ; pro-; *pi'»n6vel'kmd,'vmsup^rtedby ; 'the mother ,Ohurb]"t j^'the^exent ; pf?ito' bein^ ! |an ! aiteratibh by tha^Oliurch. 'with' the', 'consent of _th'4 Crown,- .wjti the ponjjcnrre'nce/bf generally throngt 'Coiivocation,or otherwise.,;; ; it,.seems 'to.me', that we 'ifughtr.fie,serioiialy r .,hindenng ■'Hae'veltaiß of -the ".New,;Zealand Church, if "pjir'- .itlivf'ere ,coritingpnt ; ,/)a .the of .prbcedureideacribed by"- i thetßill.i;;"*?or "it is ! 'to a large f 'm^brity r pi..the;!mo|t thpugh.t ? .fiil• and'/devout' be " ,.poß t ,pone^,'fpr.*!p'erioj(;o ^ rsjx years, ' iutrb^u"cJßd' # intp ..our in direct violation "of our jaw!; .and,'.in' ;eitiier caseithe 'Church h'eie'would ,suffer,lpgß.* claim for the Churfch,6i;^ew r dence' iialaE'matters which/concern ~fter.;wprk and mission, even "to> the/e^n%,«if 0 altoring all her services and fonnularies, and revising the iDresent: version Sof 'theßcrijitn'res. - jFor iinde-] .pendeilce Tfwould nbtf-'exceed ithatfcwhiph' iClaimediand leieroised by separfttdibistiops in .the iearlyOdatysrbf.tthe. iOhurob.; ,yious. eiijiedieiit iothat'.'-'thej rfeatociso ,of,oararV independence 'jrtße ."dilly negalatedi') and». tlieltoo' fiaßty4MiJj(«dn| bfji*nyi:«lf»ratio»« prevented, iwhether 'snbh ba irecommPnde*d» /by some Jritjti of '.provincial iiGhurcb) .pr*?exainplej of theinother Ghurch. "i*But,iwe<mnßt<ide f care-j oufihinds to *h"a pibbablehinsdeancfcof ,jdußXw"brk in; these 'islands; >*lt may rbe a £iirther:qni3s'tion jrbether/as the. Bill now ©iobesantSynods I the Icbnstitutioii, f.whicfii iassignff to <i<thd .'Gbneral iSyiw'ckthe/aysolutfe; power of< fconla'Plling,* alter-•ii»g;-a;epealmg< ?"or' suspending?any ireguUtioh jWhich;inay>be' nlade by/arry; Dibcesau'Synod. ThetGenefal Synodianay;of-couree, Se r t-Umitßl "to ltiiowfa pPweraiiarid it id' very"expedient! ithat the Diocesan express >their opinion on/anyiquestiofaiwhichjmay. com'e be-ifore'itha.-General''' Synod,l and' their opinion mbnldibei 'evecy/eonsideratioii; but ife r Mus't beiernembered; that-the'clerical and 1 .not(thefdelegates ibf i the J'Dibcesant Syttbd,' or ! :even /their>repregentatives,'b.ut'ithe represettitatives pLthet. churches of ithe several dioceses, and ;Mhe»:aßsemblbd ;,wfth ,tho> in ■SenefaLSynbdithey arb the representatives of •the provincialfChurch, l .and are ir"esponsiblo to it: fori what they adopt: or reject.!"'" It'hasheen Saidt that, unden the <'present 'cironmßtahcea '• fchoy dan,hardly ,;be) considered as'representing i thb provincial i Church,' especially' as> regards ; tiie lay.;pbrtioii'iof'therSyhod,diia3mucH as i{ ; is. difficult to secure from 'the several dibcesei f tho; attendance oMaymeu really representing » tbeifriviews and. qualified -to") maintain them. \ It is obviously of: importance that*'this shouk » be Remedied, and' will doubtless be no as tht , means of coiciyunication incruaso Apd a deepti ■' and more general interest be taken in tin I government of the Church; but that intercs t', I v/ill searcely be promoted if important <i"&v

tions affecting the government and well-doing iCan' be determined outside the central autho- ,-. rity. i I cannot but think'therefore that.all reference to Diocesan Synods, except; for in- ' formation, or for,the expression of'their views,' migbit be dispensed with. In other words, that ,' the General pynod should -take urjoh itself the whole responsibility. :of rejecting .or accepting any .alteration in, the, ; services or forrritilaries-ofour ChurcU.". In, reference, " ' tbthe Boai'd of Theological Studies, the Primate said :—"The Board "of '.Theological jStudies has held two examinations since OuVlait meeting, and'the interest' taken in, them, as may be, ■ seen; from thd : reports, : ha9 notbeen'limitedto .candidates.fori-holy orders.'•> They, , ;in• other;; instances a' stimulus'-to the sfiudy of theology, and will, Ihope, eventually ;be ex- . ;tended ,to the.impre.-advanced scholars and teachers, also, in, . pur, jSvmday-Bch'opla. i THeio importaribe as raisejthe ; standard| to clerical [attajijpent ' 'over.-rated; ; The wprk^g ! .pf. r &^ : stat^te..has , : hithe"rt6' ! dey6lve(i upim, thei Biihpp of JSTelspn, and oiir'- best; thanks' ire due to him tor jhis uh-, ! remitting exertions v in''carrying <>ut "its pro'yi■sions; and I'trtist'that/'he- may ; 4till be ablbtq give us thßibenefit of his A lt hjis'beeri; ; thatthe;General Syn6l3 should! testify 1 " i > their, satisfaction iin;lihe case'of those wlio have' . r ,passe4- so.creditably >ih.Grade.iv»-cbyia| public presentation; ,of (their- certificatesfof!proficiency, and I "cordially approve of 'this> suggestion;". Referringi.to-the inoreasejof the diaconate, -.his.c .Lord^fiip"saii^:."lt.js,simply,jthierefgre; fc ;' ."iip'n of expeiiiencywhetjier deaconsiiSQ , they cpntin*U|e,..deacon3 andr ( ai|e .didonarging '.certain, sacked, qflSc.es, should-be: permitted,lip engage "..in, some jSeqular calling, ;an"d ideriye from it"their meansjof subsistence, and there is ' r^u«h'in,'the i . r ',cpnditipni pf the ; .ChurcH, here tp' recommendpthis,.: is-, the" 1 clergy of,^necessity. ar^e;mainly, dependant"ori-' , jth'e. voluntary and, ' both in,the more populous wea^tliy;,. cases,) arfjiiinftuffiQient.to snppprt [ : deman'ds '. ,for o unremitting ipastoral;! labors, for the'JExeqiieat-and-due-celebration of ilivine, servises,,, and for jthe,- continuancemof: preaching of God's Word. ,; It: is obvious vhowOmuchrthe Chui-ch ti thegainer/ i£i;laymeh of ,kno\vn;,piety,,and„ faithfulness were admitted Wihe*diacqnate^\and^were, willing; to. exercise' its futtctions^without remuneration. .'■< As jassis-'' ta'nt3.,ofi parish.-ipriestPi or, under: the direction 1 of ,'tlje chiefs-ministers pfthev ;Chiu:ch,!as deacons,* they, could serve with .the 'degree of vvbjth,,in the estimation'bi so'many, i3 ; wanting" ; in the * office of a lay : reader, : ' and c , thejr ( disinterested'- 'sevices wouldhave weight witUthose who recognised no par- 1 .tacular.f. authority in.anyr. office (unless j sup-. 'ported*, by- personal .. character and 1 ' deyp,tipn ;,tp the i; rvvpA-k ; , 0f..;G0d.": Noticing .tlie"/liamb%th : ,. Conference, ;tli3; Primate suggested' it might, establish .a- final Court .of. Appeal, for. all colonial Churches, to be; binding only on those Churches which should 1 'assent thereto., .The Bishop; concluded with the following .'allusion to the Melaneaian Mis- , sion and vacant; bishopric:—" Among our duties "will, .be the -appointment of;l;the Missionary Bishop,' and.'tis consecration to his arduous .office\ will be.solsmnis.ed I trust during our present session..: It ■is a ; matter "for thankfulness that by the r.Hnion of - this i.mission \yith our jproyincial , ; Ghurch,c, we are. so distinctly remipded of : pur Christian, obligation to look beyond NewrZealand, and'are able to test ithe reality, of .'our.iapiritual::life''by; the -interest' in-the extension of the domof bur Master, to. regions iwhich as yet !are' •ignbrantjoliHim. -And it.isno'slight''advant-: •age to us to j have, so neaniat hand; the exainple; ,*pf in their ?eal, :fprjthe ; salvation of' souls'are enduring' jiardsbip3.<aß good. soldiers, of phrisiti f; It, ,is^,£m example which: to, us all; wh|ether,we.are i[clergymennor laymen, 'we^o-;'less4h'an ; - they , : have ih. r our:sey|ral, , yocatibnaVand,,;ministries onrnow.nr appointe'd work, ifor thejright fulfilment pl;.which iherp ;need of not.bnly'the wi^lingimind^bt^t:th'e'p;er- , '" ,s'evermg-labors ptseU-denyingiloye-.'l , -i j ,v- ---. ~The iolldwin'g pfficer3't;were'' J ap'ppirlted ''i—/Chafrman::of'; Committees; 7J.'' ; Bariifcb^t'i;' , Clerical^^^Secretai^:K«v^Wt -/Lay- 5 iSefcretary,;'Arthrir "Olivifer:;' R.'B. lioakj--.; 1 ' ■■■: An immense number'of notices, of motion, were;;giten,:'proving^:the >'sessipn' f likely tb jbe ,ver intferestihg. v.- I'.t-rr' ■■• ■•■'■'•■'■ " lv: -~-"l '' | ; ,.. VZ The Synbd then iadj6urned'till' i 4'p!ni..ne;xt day. ' ..., ■'■-"■'■'• --'- i~, THE CHBtt(»'.o*"BHiSi<AlJD IN HEW ZKALAMD; ...

, Y i 'Mr i ihis-resolution,-—; ,!!..Thatrtlie Chufdh bfrEngland'in Neflr;Zea*r landi.'and ;the;.Church' of England' are' •Churciieflf.but.;bne.fChurch."- • He'Jehteijed' at Wine-length into~th'e ihistoryof land Church", ,sfatinglthat:the : briginal-iae.a' |>f, ; Bishop his followers was to makeit, a I somewhat:!ex6ludW;.CKurchjC 'some' ©yen" .contending that:only conunvinicante.Bhould be: considere&members. .This howeVer'waaxfcrand: ijmpra'ctieableiiiand' if 'carried into-effect w6utd) .in faflt <haye seduced the Church of England; jn<New'Zealand to a sect of 1 ■" L But t a broader, basis .was adopted,' i and every, r pe'rsonj baptised r into the •Church'of (England iti'NW, Zealand. ißiia .member. oEj'that Chtochi- ; jft ,was: important that their precise position as ia* , <3hurch shouldie clearlyundersiood. Theywere' n,ot :,fk of ithe; Chiirch of England, ijai New ; Zealand,'' as .stated in one' place,' ; tiut* the • Church of. Englandjin i New Zealand. : Just' now -the.; 'somewhat to'/haye.' drifted from he* .mooringsi .andidragged' anchor. He"thougbt 'there'had been unseeniljy. -haste,in .the.'endeavors' made to cut loose the. moorings : whichtiboundi them ,tp^the''mother Churchiat fldimi. oJHe.hope3 the Synod, would .pause beforeiComimWang-ithe'Church irrSvoc'abiyijto. a. coursesc'ertaid. to* lead tb whatjhe assumed.f .There was .an iinmment danger of division < ;in; their camp.' I Already rthe" great held-aloof,!'although' ttey ' wiereithoroughlyfloyalibdth to the* Ctiurch' and .Crown. ;.:.<■ »:;. 'J -■'•-'■ •>■-»'- -'- 1 . . j . *,The jßev- E;s.WitaiAMS seconded-the'mtttidn. "'.'" -Archdeacon-pißFßainQvedanamentoeiat,- 1 -}- f That for, theifeake of ,on.thfe.principle"involved the "debase ,be ; \ Formularies, JBill as f tluli'a'issue 'frib the same in;both,cases,' jand'thjeir'aotion l on re splutjpns ;to-dayi tmuat .> be" conclusive on Jheii ■ jactipn as,t*> BiU to-morrpwfc u\ ; u'lThe-DEAif !>amendinehlb ;! t*riat r, aS ! *np r " suettj ;'existsjai it -is impd»sibl4 T to affirm',OT'deipiy !be.first reap. - <( vras Ithenresumed>fThe 7 iproposedvto-be^o'mitted^altf^^ that) stand part of firat ; was then - put., when-|he clergy,;6A,kity,„iq.,/ i % l es;aßJt9twp»/.5p blergy] SIV Tne,DEAH,then;asked^fj?r,4e»Ye.toiwithdraw

his amendment, «w r hiH object had beeri attained. ~! fJ ' < ,<< m ■* ~ ' Mr. yAHtKTO»'<?b]eptqd, i ' " ' ! And it was ruled that leave be -not granted unless with jibe unanimous consent of the Synod. ] The resolutipn having been reduced to thej word '' that," it (was jmovedr that that word be struck out, but this was ruled out of order, as that y/oxi had, been agreed to. i * j Archdeacon i Maiinsell then 'moved 'as, another amendment* —'bThat the Churches of J England ill New Zealand were two Churches | independent 'and distinct' in government, but j one in constitution and common formularies.'' Mr. CABLETON'accdpted this 1 amendment. I The Bishop df Wellington thought 'it undesirable to lay down mere 'abstiatt principles. " ',''',/ Aichdeacon Habpfr moved' f for leave to bring in a Bill to limit and Ylettne the powers of the General Synod with reference to the alterations oE strviees/fornralarfeji and articles of the Church'and the authorised veision'oi the Scriptures, settle the'mode of procedure in reference thereto. The proposed Bill waß not in tho' direction of any, change, but tended solely* towards preserving the faith of the Cliuich as at'present If they i ought to make provision for possible alterations, bettor do it now. Theio was no b ir to the. quietness of men's minds in the. shipc of those bumw = ' questions winch t excite the minds of men at Homo. Let tliern - take the Bill and shape and alter it as they

liked, and do as they wished: They should legisin time tb'pfeveiit undue alterations in the prayer-book. His intentions, as-he J had said before, werp,in,every- respect and non-revolutionary; ' '..-•.,.,- The Bishop pf Dunedin seconded, j '■■■ i Archdeacon■ -MAUsrsHra'- contended that ,the ; ; :Bill was grossly inaccurate in-its recitals, and disgracefully loose!in the language.: < He agreed; it. was known, from ithe "first that.'the New Zealand'Churchwas independent of thejmother ' Church,; and only, .bound, byf,- voluntary com- : they had no, right .to tamper with. I 'The proposed,•BiH.was wholly ultra vires, be!cause' contrary, to' clauses' 1, and : 6 of.the; cpnstitution, and' based' oil' the assumption that- eekain facts happened,' whereas . they had-'not happened.- -The; Synod had no .•power'.to alter- tlie constitution. 1 If;nbt satisfied with it'they;mus't make a new.bne,' but it better.to leave things' as they were.. , ; . (....The.. Bisho?-:; of .AdokeXni) would*prefer to see ihe prearnble omitted,ibutiothewiae he sup'portpd theßill., ■':..■, -. f t;,--' i«. .?.'i;'.fi. -i >.:: ! ~,.. . ' . The Rev; Mr. TAN^EBeppbsed ; ;the"Bill;as' a'breabnV.of faith;wddißhonest, contending it would be dangerous, -'men! v were governed only by so% courts instead ;6f "by'honor,' which was 'the," powep -upon' iwhich they'must 1 depend'; ."";;'""J'. ■'"•"."., i ■>. Mr. CAitlETOir'declinebi-tp accept the Bill even\"if ithe'- preamble -were,i omitted,[ which Lyfould only mean'that-they-were •jbuti .not j give \their :;reasonsJ '• The'-'Bill was pimply the thin:'edge; of .the. wede. ! -'iliaymen:. ,(lesired.no;phange. /:,: »: : .;. rr-'a:- c + :.iiv> j '.*.TKp Bishopo^:;'WELLiNQTOKljinade' a long and; F pp>yefful:!spe"ech,,uiifavor ,pf, the Bill, whicli he' maintained ,;wtts,, not to [make but 'to'prevent changes^,-^^The,Judges.had! ruled ' that*;'' tlie ! chief ' council '"0f.... any,';!■ ref igidus:■■ .body'-was in" pbsitipn. ~the,, •'Government' of a ui . State,'"' [therefore no-, canon'they passed -wbulcf'be'wfem vires, l and' the • Synod 'could > riot'- deprive : ;its'elf an|y t ; .powers or'bind successors j any inerS,than Parr". .liament-couldJ~':'-.;-fi;:t.;i > i -'" •■'■''*-y-> y \ •V c The,DEAN t of';CHBiSTOHTJBOH : expressed h% 'intentipn,.t;p yptft against:the BiUiti';'..'" j ,1" After a ileng . the/fmetipu was ,'negatived.;... r . ; ; r .ij.i ,::&';.'i--mij*i'ii.-'-; ;,".;,' ' ; ',„,,■- .THE EDUCATION QUESTION...,;; ; j *; ,; '!..' !: ?' l . "-,'' '.-'i' r- •' "■Mf^^t'^ ( H? r^ x 7 &' 1 l ln the : Generai;,Syn,pd.ia3t night "the|Eev. ' Mr! 1 ' Leighton 'adopts 'the resolution of'ths ' Dipcesanv Synod.. of'Nelson,; with-'-reference to'religious'Jnitruction in public primary and'resolves- to the General' Assembly in ac,cord■ance.therewith; 2.;;That-a select committfee be : ; appointed to draft petitions to tbbtti Houses of the embodyinsr .the?views)setjforth; 'in, the resolution,- .referred >,to, s,uohicommittee, to consist of',.Archdeacops,..S.togk;.and;;Harper and'the'mpver. • ; ■- > fi.;.i!i.;; .; The Bishop of Nelson seconded 'The Dean: of I ' Chbistchukch. thought! the motion did.not go' far enoughj ajiid as an amehdment,-^That'.the 'Synod petition the" General Assembly next session that in jany' general measure for -education provision be made for religious instruction being given by ministers of religion or ; other authorised persons, i. ' • ; Mr. Honteb Bbottw seconded the amendment. - ' ,

Mr. I/USK supportedit....' ; r : r.hTg-v I The Bishop of. Nei&on contended that Ijheyhad better ask; for something, they were likely; i to get ; something.like; the;. leaving much in'the hand?" of'local jcommittfeea, : who really : represented ' the parents ..'of ; ithe children' attending the scjibolsi rand' 'Who; if they wished for^religiouß'fin'structißn''to fbe given their 'cluldrenattendingf'sohoo),' ought tpbeable.'to have it."' V. ;, ' J; , ' : ; - J " ;, ] ,)i: " : -''| - .Apchdeacon HABpEßjdid<ii6fc;a'gree'with (the last speaker; that,]theyjishouid.6nlyJask;what;; ,;thqy likely, to, get* i jTHedocaliconuriitliees | already,had the power .mentioned,, but [seldom' •exercised;it. '. Te^pus'mstruptipn,of the,: 'young' .was",absphitely,.,going,,bacli !A j (E^p,. ; yas 'amazed 1 -at : the of* ignoraijce^,o|,jßib|e; facts h'e' found 'on 'gbingto Tim even as'old as ,17.' sometlung.were npt done, in 26'years the youth'ofNewZealand v.woiild be almost iwh\>Uy'ignb*aift;of thtf' Biqie." *: ' Mrii i Carijbtc-n the - 1 afeenymenti'. <He always had. religious but without th'e.hop«of«arrying it. is;r iu." j ~, ," '.'The!;,Kev.,•Mr ?l T^Sjr«ii t 'agreed J.withn the ' Bishop <?f ( M&sP u gw te«chers:ahould'' | ( ' ; '' ? The"BisHpr of, JjihnajlN,. 'veriinteut' - v schbbls as !lisht 'and l 'cbnchict!; 'Hfiisf'bught^tb'.beit .aadedji He'-waS theiri to .CbUdreniwereigrowiag tap ik<ignp'ra.hce?6'f-'the' absence 'oriinatifHi which twasdbecomiD'g seriously';f alt ■under the"iprm of,"Larrjkinißm ( .saiJl/i:;K'!;ii ' ~At^hjs (l stag t e order§{of/jJihe jiayijrere 'prbcee'dea 1 with.- .•> ~.,, ,-« & ,j y j; m i:,ma, - " t- riu ' >liil '-' : * ...jl. . ■-;.. i.