Waikato Archdiaconal Conference.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43366, 1 September 1908, Page 4

Waikato Archdiaconal Conference.

L. Archdeacon Willis,-' preachings? at | St. Andrew’s Church, Cambridge, I recently, on the Conference, said : |||!EMeetings and councils and conrnk fererices are, I think, of great value BpThey afford opportunities for exE| change of views between one man Bland another. No man—even the K'wisest—is wise always and in all Bathings. To err is human, and we fail repeatedly in our “course life. In the multitude of however, there is wisdom, l|i.and deliberative meetings for the KMI discussion of all questions are pppccssary-for good government. We |pgf|stify .to this in secular matters —in and other assemblies ; loan'd we' do the same in spiritual in our synods and vesteries conference this week ts differen any and all of these gatherings 'Parliaments and secular councils h tve legislative pow er. Our Synods also-legislate for the diocese or propf ymce, and our Vestries for the parishes. Our conference on the 1/ .other hand has no legislative power iV/ct all. It is simply a meeting for 'd SQUSeion, with a view to <n irging 0, our minds, and helping to form a sound public opinion. Still it is none the less valuable for having this limitation, Free discussion at earlier stages prepares the way for l egislative action later on. This is recognised in other, places than here among ourselves. The great PanAnglican Congress which sat in London in June, the Lambeth Con- > ference of Bishops which met together last month ; the Church Cong ess which meets yearly in some one or other of the chief centres in England, the Conferences which sit annually in every English diocese—all of these are in some such similar basis as our co iference ; and none of tiem has any legislative power whate er. They are simply meetings tor discussion ; but herein they do a most valuable legislative work. They help to form a sound public opinion, and so prepare the way for future legislation.”^