ANGLICAN SYNOD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 10

ANGLICAN SYNOD

CANDIDATES FOR HOLY ORDERS, Press Association.

NELSON, January 27. At the Anglican General Synod this morning, on tho question of candidates for Holy Orders, the Bishop of Auckland reported on behalf of a select committee : (1) That while there is no real scarcity of aspirants, there is need for greater effort by tho Church to discover, encourage, and assist them. Tho committee strongly recommends that the heads of secondary schools, as well as the local clergy, should make known among young men the need for them for the ministry and the opportunities for service; (2) parents are seldom well able to provide the expense of training their sons for the ministry, and it is urgently recommended that in every diocoso a fund should be established to assist aspirants; (3) that whilst hostels should be extended, it is desirable that students should pass through a further period of Sunday work and devotion under careful, experienced guidance. This would involve residence at a provincial college organised for the purpose, at which candidates could spend at least a year before receiving deacon’s orders; (4) it is essential that they should be placed under experienced hands before being given responsibility. The committee welcomes the* suggestion that men who have obtained university degrees and the necessary theological qualifications should be made deacons at twenty-two; (5) the committee submitted that a commission should be set up to deal with the matter

It was resolved that a commission he set up to deal with the doings of Mormons, and (o take such stops as it may deom necessary to counteract their effects.

A further discussion on the bill dealing with the composition of synods ensued.

AFTERNOON SITTING

Discussion on the Bishop of Christchurch’s Bill to amend the canon relating to the appointment of pastors occupied most of the afternoon sitting. Bishop Julius said the present system was the worst he had experienced. Dean Fitchett (Dunedin), who seconded, spoke strongly in support of the Bill.

The Bishop of Wellington said the whole system of appointment was imperfect but the present system had not acted disastrously in Ilia diocese. Archdeacon Neild (Dunedin), and Rev. W. Beatty (Auckland), supported the Bill, which was read a second time, passed through committee, and reported with alterations.