THE ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2320, 18 February 1892, Page 4

THE ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

WicM.iNfJTON, Feb. 15. \t tin) Anglican Synod this afternoon, the committee who had considered the working of the Marriage Act presented their report, in wluch they recommended the adoption of the following• resolutions: —« Tiiiit in the opinion of the byuod it ja deauaWo tlmt the Manage Act, ISBO

be so amended as to provide inter alia that a period of fourteen days shall intervene between the date of notice of intention to marry and the issue of the Registrar's certificate. That persons notice- shall be required to state the full names and addresses of the p:> rents or legal guardians resident in :,*cv/ Zealand of each of the parties to the intended marriago. That it is of the highest importance for tho protection of .-•uoiety that greater publicity slionld be given of the intention to marry, and ■Ami such publicity may be given by requiring («) that the Registrar shall post a copy of the notice of application }\>v a certificate to the parents or guardians of the parties intending to many; (b) that he shall affix a second copy of the same to some part of his office accessible to the public; (c) that in tho event of these amendments or any of them being approved by the Synod, they be entrusted to the charge- of a member of the legislature with a view to his bringing them under the notice of the Government."

The report of the committee on home ami foreign missions showed that tho Melanesian mission account was oveidrawn,the cost (£10,000) of the outfit and despatch of the new ship, which is due in Auckland at the end of this month, having absorbed the greater part of the English contribution. The following resolution was carried on the voices :—" That m the opinion of this Synod it is desirable that candidates for holy orders in this Ecclesiastical Province should possess some knowledge of the principles of public reading and speaking, and of the art of vocal music, in order that the minister's part in divine service may be more adequately rendered than is now frequently the case."

An interesting debate took place in the Synod to-night on Sir John Hall's motion for the second reading of the bill to amend the canons in order to give women the right of voting at parish meetings.

The bill was introduced some days ago by the Bishop of Waiapu, but on his being called away by serious illness in his family Sir J. Hall took charge of the bill.

The Synod chamber was crowded throughout the evening and the greatest interest was evinced in the debate. The Dean of Christchurch announced his intention of moving in committee an addition to the bill providing that before coming into operation it should be submitted to the diocesan synods and come up again at the next session of the general synod. The President vehemently opposed the bill, and said that if the synod were to carry the second reading or let the measure go into committee he would leave the chair; protest before the whole church, and explain the reason of his resignation. He would not be a member of that Church which had made itself ridiculous in the face of Christendom by acting counter to what had been the tradition of the conduct of the Church from the beginning up to the present time. The debate was interrupted by the 10.30 adjournment. Feb. 16. The Synod met at 3 p.m. It was decided that the next triennial session of the General Synod should commence at Nelson, on Wednesday, Jauuary 31st, 1895. The resolutions appended to the report of the Select Committees to examine and report upon the Marriage Act came up for consideration. The first resolution setting out that a period of fourteen days should intervene between tho date of notice of intention of marry and the issue of the Registrar's certificate, provoked considerable discussion, and was strongly opposed by several Synodmen as useless.

The clause was still under review when the Synod adjourned at 5.45.

The Synod resumed at 7.30 p.m A motion for the second reading of the Bill to .amend clauses 6 and 30 of the Constitution wus discussed at considerable length. The Bill was for the purpose of asserting the independence of the Church in New Zealand as to its formularies, and to impose a check on alteration. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Synod went into Committee on the measure, which was reported without material amendments. The Synod rose at 10.20 p.m.

The sesssion will in all probability close on Thursday night.