DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1408, 22 October 1885, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch commenced its lirst session imi Tuesday afternoon. The Right, Rev. the Primate took his seat at hulf past two o'clock. There was ,i larg9 attendance of the clergy and laity among tliose present being the Von Archdeacon Harper, the Revs. T. A. Hamilton, J. Preston, Jasper Smythe, the Hon. J. B. A. Aclaixl, Mr \V. tf. Hargreave», Mr A. Cox, and Mr W. B. Howell. After prayers, His Lordship delivered his opening address. He referred to the result of the elections aa being of advan tage to the Diocesan Church. The large proportion of lay brethren who hid before served as Syhodsmeo, indicated an intelligent, tamest spirit of church membership, and a practical recognition of responsibilities of such membership. There was also a change as regarded the clergy, by the diminution in number of tlioao who were then officiating in the diocese. The services of six of the clergymen had been lost by iesignatioD, and oiio by death. Owing to the rsduced number of the clergymen three cures were vacant, and he proposed asking ] the Synod to allow of the appointment } of a Select Committee on the matter. After a reference to the work of tho Church in large centres of population, and the addresses recently delivered in Christchurch by the Rev. Mr Holland on "True Manliness," His Lordship went on to say the most important business was the maintenance of the Church, and provision would have to be made for her wants by | tho enlargement of her operations and the increase of her ministrations. A'luding | to the means employed for raising funds, ho deprecated the holding of entertainments, which seldom wore of an enabling character, and grated upon the instincts of reverence, and said that what was wanted was a practice of systematic giving. In the early part of next year a special mission is to be held which would be found exceedingly helpful to the parochial clergy. The triennial meeting of the General Synod would- meet in Auckland in the Inst week in January next, and the Diocese should be represented by three clergymen and four lay communicants. He had been requested by the Bishop of Wellington to lay before them a resolution of his Diocesan Synod, to the effect " that the General Synod be J recommended to define the word comi.iunicant to mean one who shall have communicated once at least v/ithin twelve months previous to his nomination as a Synodsman, Churchwarden, or Vestryman ; and a hope has been expressed by this Synod that the several Diocesan Synods might be willing to co-operite in the same." The question suggested by this resolution had more than once been before them at the General Synod, but without any satisfactory result. It was, however, open to any member to bring it up again ; and he felt assured if this wero done it would receive the careful consideration which had uniformly been accorded to all questions of importance. It. was decided to meet each day in the week, except Saturday and Sunday, at 4 p.m., and adjourn at 6 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. The reports of tho Standing Committee wero laid on the table, together with a statement of accounts duly audited. Reports were also received from the Cathedral Chapter, Church Property Trustees, and Diocesan Board of Trustees. At 4.5 p.m. the Synod adjourned. Yesterday the Rev. Canon Cotterill was to move—" That it be a recommendation to the Church Property Trustees to make a provision, as far as possible, for the payment of the following grants :—Timaru Church (renewal). £IOO ; Opawa Sunday School (renewal), £100; Peel Forest Church, £4O; Temuka Church, £100; Geraldine Church, £SO ; Ashburcon Sunday School, £IOO ; Sandietown, Timaru, Sunday School, £SO ; Addmgton, enlargement of Sunday School, £25 ; St. Albans, enlargement of Church, £SO; Lincoln, enlargement of Church, £SO. And, that in case of a sufficient amount to pay all the grants in full not being forthcoming, it be left to the Standing Committee to decide on the urgency of tha respective claims ; and that it be a condition of all grants for building purposes, that a contribution of at least an equal amount has been raised by subscriptions or donations by the parish or district interested."