THE RESIGNATION OF THE PRIMATE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1759, 5 July 1888, Page 1

THE RESIGNATION OF THE PRIMATE.

The constitutionnl question as to th'' resignation of the B shop of Cluihtchnrch und the appointment of his nucceasor itstill engaging attontion. In a 1-tter which the Daan of 0 iristc mrcli h : i-» wri'ten to the Church No«t», lit? Ktate« that if o-! the asHeranling of the Synod convened by the Bishop it is proposed U> t»ke a rote on any motion hearing directly or indiree'ly on the appointment of the Bishop, he (the Dean) will pro est ngainet the step as il'egal, >n i appeal to the standing Commission. Dr Jacobs adds : —lf 1 am os'ied to s-»y wh.f, in my opinion, ought to be done.. I reply that the course seems perfectly clear. The Bishop to fo low the lino laid down in the resolution of the General Synod adopted »t its las' 8»s8ioa (188 S). S n e proceedings, page G 4 Resignation of B shops—That, until a Canon or Ctnons b 9 i meted by tho General Synod to regular* the resignation of Bishops, it shall be sufficient if a B shop be desirous of resigning his ses, th-it h<* fleud written notice (f resignation to the Primate, or; if th»re be no Primate, to the senior Bishop of the province, file 1 ' no'i -e to state the time at which tht! Bishop dpsirs to retire from the dut'es of h's offic. And the Piimite, or ssnior Bishop, »s the case may be, on receiving such ri"ti<v. shall forthwith dir C tho Oomnvssa'y (appointed under Tit'e B. Cmo'i ii., clause H) of tho Binhop proposing to r»s : gn his oftice, to take the < esensary steps for 4 ha oh-c'ion of his buccassor. No real d ffioulty arises from the- Bishop intending in tho present case to res gn his offic, boing bim-elf the Pr'mate. As Bishop of Christchurch, he cm ban! the notion to hims-lf »8 Prima e, cm dircc ths Specia' Commissary appoint <d as provided, to convene and prea'de over .-■ Synod for the election i t his successor. ll* can fix any dute he thinks fit for th<time when he wi'l tetir* from the duties of his oflieo ; but as soon m ever ho Sy.iod tonveaed »nd pp-aidrd by his .Vp-cul Commissary ; s assembled, r will be in a position to tako perfectly vil'd steps, whether directly or by delegition, for the appointment <~'f a successor to tho Biah pric." The Djan further points out that 0 he himself was appointed Special Commissary to the Bishop of Christchurch in 1871, and tha appointment has never been revnlrr d.