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S 2.40 
 
 REMARKS 
 
 ON 
 
 DIOCESAN SYNODS, 
 
 ADDRESSED TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY 
 OF .'HIS DIOCESE, 
 
 BT 
 
 HIBBERT, BISHOP OF NOVA SCOTIA 
 
 HALIFAX, N. S. 
 JAMES BOWES & SONS, PRINTERS, HOLLIS »T. 
 
 1864. 
 
 &j^giguii g[&wjjtof^£. 
 
Xn)TlCK TO Tilt: tLEllGY. 
 
 TnK Dirtecsan Svnocl will assemble in the first week of next 
 »tuly, in acconlanecwlth llic resolution passed at its last sessum. 
 VoU are therefore desired to give due notice to your several 
 oonrtre -rations that it will be the duty of each Parish or '• district 
 forrain" a separate Cure of souls/' to elect, at their Easter meet- 
 ing-, tw'o adult lay communicants of the Church of England, to 
 i^^present them in the Wynod to bo held in Halifax in July. 
 
 tmmedialdy after Easter, vou will please to communicate the 
 result, en(dosing a certificate that the person elected is a com- 
 municant, (if he has been residing within your Cure,) to the 
 Uegistrar, Henry Pryof, Esq.^ JM.P.P. 
 
 •^ "^ H. Nova Scotia. 
 
 Halifax^ F';b. 18, 1864. 
 
 The f( 
 
 written a 
 
 who hav( 
 
 be placec 
 
 tion upor 
 
 hope tnal 
 
 in dispell 
 
 anywhere 
 
 my breth 
 
 to be der 
 
 If we 
 
 source, w 
 
 when " tl 
 
 der of," s 
 
 their deci 
 
 and Bret 
 
 the Bisho 
 
 year, " t< 
 
 themselvc 
 
 versies th 
 
 the first I 
 
 held. 
 
 Besides 
 the earlies 
 of each Di 
 says, " In 
 
^■■BI^^BB 
 
 REMARKS 
 
 ON 
 
 DIOCESAN SYNODS 
 
 Ihe follouinir remarks on DIocesnn Svhods. have been 
 written at the request of several members of th(> Churcli, 
 who have suggested the propriety of issuing a paper, to 
 be placed in the hands of persons wishing' for informa- 
 tion upon this subject. I now publish them, with the 
 hope tnat, by God's blessing, they may be instrumental 
 in dispelling any prejudices and misconceptions thatmav 
 anywhere exist, and in strengthening the confidence of 
 my brethren, who have rightly appreciated the benefits 
 to be derived from this Institution. 
 
 If we would trace Ecclesiastical Synods to their 
 source, we must go back to the Council at Jcu-usalem, 
 when '*^the Apostles and Elders came together to consi- 
 der of," and to determine, a controversy, and Dublished 
 their decree, in the name of « the Apostles, and Elders, 
 and Brethren." In the so-called Apostolical Canons, 
 the Bishops are required to meet in Synod twice eve ry 
 year, "to determine all doctrines of religion, among 
 themselves, and put an end to all ecclesiastical contro- 
 versies that may happen." This Canon is confirmed by 
 the first general Council, and by others subsequently 
 
 Besides the Synods above mentioned, there were from 
 the earliest times, assemblies of the Bishop and Cleroy 
 of each Diocese. Van Espen, a well-known authority, 
 says, « In the first ages of the Church, the Bishops -ere 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 u 
 
in tlie hal)It of convening thoir Clergy, whenever matters 
 (jf importance occurred, for deliberation." Collier says, 
 " It has been the constant sense of the ancient Councils 
 and Fathers of the Church, that every Hisliop has a com- 
 mission from our Saviour to govern his Diocese, and rn 
 order thereunto, to convene his Priests under him."* In 
 our own branch of the Church, in Saxon times, "the 
 liishop had twice in the year, two general Synods, 
 wherein all the Clergy of his Diocese, of all sorts, were 
 bound to resort."t 
 
 In consequence of the suspension of such Synods for 
 :i long period, their utility is not understood, and some 
 persons have supposed that they savour of Popery, 
 whereas, in truth, they are directly antagonistic to the 
 Papal system, by which all separate and independent 
 Diocesan action is discountenanced. + By the revised 
 Canon Law, prepared by Cranmer and other Reformers, 
 called the " Reformatio Legum," the Bishops Avere re- 
 quired to hold Diocesan Synods annually, in Lent, as 
 the best expedient to preserve orthodoxy and discipline. 
 In consequence of the death of Edward VI., who was to 
 have latified these laws, under the authority of an act 
 of Parliament, they were never in force, but they are a 
 sure guide to the opinion and intention of their compilers. 
 It is worthy of notice, too, that Archbishop Tenison, 
 whom no one could suspect of any partiality for Romish 
 institutions, alleged, as one of the reasons for his legacy 
 of £1000 towards the establishment of two Colonial Dio- 
 ceses, a desire that Synods might be held. 
 
 • CoUicr Eccles. Hist. ii. p. 20, Ed. 1862. 
 
 t Durns Eccles. Law, ii. p. .31. 
 
 That the Ulshop of every Diocese had here, as in all other Christian coun- 
 tries, power to convene the Clergy of hia Diocese, and in a common Synod, 
 or Council, with them, to transact such aifairs as specially related to the 
 order and government of the Cliurches under his jurisdiction, is not to be 
 questioned. lb. f. 17. 
 
 X Hoffman, in his treatise on the Laws of the Church in the United States, 
 B&ys, " Tlie Diocesan Synods fell into disuse, when tlie Provincial Councils 
 were abandoned, and we cannot but be struclc with the restitution, in our own 
 Church, of that primitive order and system, wliich the usurpations of the 
 Popes brol(c down in the Latin, and its connection with the state has impaired 
 in the English Church. P. 130. 
 
 In tlie Synods, as they are now restored, the laity lave a voice, but I pre- 
 lume that the propriety of this addition to the ori^'iual constitution is gene- 
 rally admitted. 
 
 The 
 
 favor c 
 
 have th 
 
 fercnce. 
 
 Church 
 
 while d 
 
 Synods 
 
 has assi 
 
 an Esta 
 
 the Col( 
 
 But i 
 
 herctofc 
 
 now be 
 
 this obj( 
 
 adapt o 
 
 Clergy ■ 
 
 from th< 
 
 to provi 
 
 mav niA 
 
 of the a1 
 
 that rul( 
 
 to be gu 
 
 Synods i 
 
 force in 
 
 stead be 
 
 The j 
 
 case of J 
 
 Synodic; 
 
 of Engl 
 
 blished 1 
 
 religious 
 
 the mcml 
 
 niunion 
 
 their bod 
 
 or h]j imj 
 
 settles tl: 
 
 any furtl 
 
 sons pres 
 
The practice of all denominations of Christians, is in 
 favor of the Synodical system, for the rreshvterians 
 have their Asseml)ly or Synod, the AVesk-yans their Con- 
 ference, and the IJaptists their Convention ; and the 
 Chnrch of England is not on an equalitv with them, 
 while deprived of this mode f " action. In^Enj^dand the 
 Synods have fallen into disuse, l)(<caiise tlu; Parliament 
 has assumed the right of legislating for the Church as 
 an Estahli^hment, hut that legislation does not apply to 
 the Colonies. 
 
 But it is o])jectcd that \vc have gone on very well, 
 heretofore, without Synods, and therefore they cannot 
 now he necessary. If all things continued as they were, 
 this ohjection would he perhaps plausihle ; hut we must 
 adapt ourselves to things as they are. Formerly the 
 Clergy were maintained, to a great extent, by supplies 
 from the mother country, whereas, now, the; pooi)le are 
 to provide for their own Ministers, and, consequently, 
 may rightfully expect to have a voice in the management 
 of the affairs of the Church. Moreover, it is now found 
 that rules and regulations, hy which we were supposed 
 to be guided, are not binding in the Colonic^s, so that 
 Synods are required, either to adopt those which are in 
 force in the mother country, or to frame others in their 
 stead better suited to our peculiar circumstances. 
 
 The judgement of the Committee of Council, in the 
 case of Mr. Long, is, so far as it affects us, in favor of 
 Synodical action. Their Lordships say, " 'J'he Church 
 of England, in places -svhere there is^no Church esta- 
 blished by law, is in the same situation with any other 
 religious body, in no better, but in no worse position, and 
 the mrmhcrs may adopt, as the members of any other com- 
 munion may adopt, n/lcs Jor enforcing discipl'mc within 
 their body, Avhich will be binding on those who expressly, 
 or hy imj)licafio7i, have assented to them." This finally 
 settles the question of the laAvfulness of Synods, without 
 any further sanction, and of tho>ir authority over all per- 
 sons present, either personally or by their representatives. 
 
 'i 
 
6 
 
 since such unquostlonahly, either " expressly or by im- 
 plication," assent to the rules adopted by the majority 
 of the Assembly. 
 
 It is, moreover, aiHrmcd that tribunals may be consti- 
 tuted, of which the decisions will be bin(lin,i>[ upon the 
 parties bt'fore mentioned, and that the Courts of Law 
 will give eff(!et to their decisions, when tii(>y have acted 
 in aceordaneo with. the regulations under which they 
 may be constituted. 
 
 These decisions confirm the opinions which I have 
 previously held and promulgated concc .-ning these mat- 
 ters. I liavc always admitted that the p irties represented 
 in the Synod, and no others, were Ic^aUij l)ound by its 
 decisions, and I have maintained that the Courts of Law 
 must give eff(;ct to the judgement of any tribunal consti- 
 tuted and acting in accordance with the system of the 
 Church of England, or with our own rules for the better 
 management and regulation of our own affairs. 
 
 With respect to the application to the Legisla'^ure, 
 last year, it is needless to say much, but a bri(>f summary 
 of our proceedings may perhaps be acceptable to you. 
 The Synod, at its last session, by a large majority of the 
 members present, determined to apply for an Act of the 
 Legislature, to give to us the status and privileges which 
 are enjoyed by our brethren in Canada. A committee 
 was then appointed to frame the Bill, and take charge of 
 ■it in its passage through the Legislature. This commit- 
 tee performed the duty entrusted to it, and, as the state- 
 ment was made in the Council that I had introduced 
 alterations into the Bill, on my own sole authority, I 
 think it necessary to assure you, that this statement was 
 wholly unfound(^d ; that every change made in the ori- 
 ginal draft, was made by the authority of the committee ; 
 and thai even the gentlemen who were unable to attend, 
 were requested to communicate, and did communicate, 
 their opinions by letter. 
 
 Our Bill passed the Assembly by a large majority, 
 without opposition from a single Churchman in that 
 
 

 
 Home, and witliout the entry upon the Joiu-nals of any 
 division. Jn the Upper House, however, in whicli the 
 ])r()i)i)rtion of Churchmen is very small, it was rejected. 
 Of the nature; of th(> o])position, nnd of the nu-ans nsed 
 to defeat the Jhll in that House, I will say nothini?, foi 
 the influences whieli have most power tliere, must he 
 we_ll known to you. I endeavored, to the hest of my 
 ahdity, to supiiort the cliiiius of the Churchmen throui^h'- 
 oiit the r. r/iuee, hy the followins,', with other ari,ni. 
 ments : 
 
 I. Synods are part of the Constitution of the Church, 
 and were regularly held in tno early af,'cs. 
 That they have hwn adopted in afmost all the 
 colonies, where it has heen praeticahle to convene 
 them. 
 
 3. That they have Avorked well in the United States, 
 
 and that they are as necessary here as there, on 
 account of the separation of the Church from the 
 State. 
 
 4. That without a Synod, we are left without any 
 
 mode of adapting ourselves to the circumstances 
 of a new country, and of this progressive age, — 
 and that we are almost without laws, except the 
 old Canon Law, since i'vw of the English Statutes 
 passer^ since the estahlishment of a Trovincial 
 Legi. arc, have any force here. 
 
 5. That in consequence of our peculiar position, 
 
 as an uncstablished branch of a Church estab- 
 lished in England, there are many doubts and 
 difficulties^ which ought to be removed by an Act 
 of the Legislature, recognizing our right to remedy 
 any defects in our system, and to determine doubt- 
 ful points. 
 It was, indeed, maintained, on the other side, that we 
 are not without law, but they failed to show that any of 
 the English Statutes, determining the mode in wdiich the 
 authority of the Bishop is to be exercised, and limitim; 
 its extent, arc applicable here. And in the Capetown 
 
 I' 
 
8 
 
 rn<ip, the Commlttoo of Council said, ** tho I^ord liishoi* 
 has been involved in the difKcultics, by wliicli lio has b«'fii 
 embarrassed, in a great measure by the doubtful state of 
 th(! law." 
 
 I further claimed a favorable reception of our Jiill, on 
 the ground that all other denominatir is have obtained 
 such powciJi as were decerned requisite for the manage- 
 ment of their own affairs. I showed that the applica- 
 tion was made by a body fairly rcpre:^cntin^ the (Jhnrch 
 in this Province, ami that there was in reality no actual 
 opposition before the Tiouse, except from one parish, 
 which was exempted from the operation of the Bill, and 
 had represented that it would be satisfied with such ex- 
 emption. If the novel theory is adopted that no Act is 
 to be passo<l, without the nmniiitious assent of all who 
 arc to be aifected by ii:, Legislation will be confined 
 within very n:now limits. 
 
 It was gratifying to find that all the religious papers 
 manifested a good feeling towards us, and, in accordanc(^ 
 with the golden rule, urged that such powers us we re- 
 quired ought to be granted. 
 
 Nevertheless, the influence exerted against us was so 
 powerful, that our claims were rejected in the Council, 
 by an overwhelming majority, and I think that the names 
 of tho minority, who nobly and generously su])ported us 
 and voted for us, ought to be gratefully remembered by 
 Churchmen, seeing that they Avere not of our communion. 
 They were two on each side of the House, and, I believe, 
 that in both Houses, our supporters and opponents wc^re 
 pretty equally divided between the two political parties?. 
 The leaders of the lato government, being in fiiAour of 
 liberal n.easurcs, were disposed to grant us the J'Vn'ty 
 we desi'.ed, but the then Receiver General, and some 
 other members of the Executive Council, opposed us, one 
 of the latter moving the rejection of the Bill in the As- 
 sembly. On the other hand, the leaders of the opposi- 
 tion were one for, and the other against, us. 
 
 After this rejection, I should certainly have feii; bound 
 to summon a special meeting of the Synod, last October, 
 
 to dfccidc 
 8c ^i^m of 
 action bet 
 of a Bill 
 to determ 
 it will be 
 further, 
 prevail, b 
 tion may 
 JiCgislativ 
 tion to wl 
 
 It may 
 indirectly 
 *•' The Syi 
 presentati 
 land and 
 and corpo 
 Nova Sco 
 to be, to c 
 to confer i 
 Thus the 
 institution 
 derive its 
 limited bj 
 
 If we h 
 action woi 
 our autho] 
 the very I 
 our resolu 
 the Synod 
 any attem 
 inherent i; 
 cannot be 
 Parliamen 
 take part : 
 have a leq 
 rishcs sho 
 osts, to lea 
 the impor 
 
 "^1 
 
to (Ifccido upon tho course to bo adopted, in the next 
 8t i .n of rarliiunent, had not the necessity for immediaUj 
 action hwa removed, l)y the introcUiction and adoption 
 of a ]V\[[ for our Ijicorporation. Tt will be for the Synod 
 to determine whether, since \vc have obtained thus much, 
 it will be necessary or expedient to press our claims any 
 further. I am persuaded that the right must at length 
 prevail, but at the sann; time I fear tliat prolonged agita- 
 tion may be required, before we can obtain from the 
 Legislative Council, as at present constituted, tho atten- 
 tion to which we are entitled. 
 
 It may be well to explain how far the Act, directly or 
 indirectly, affects us. The substance of the Act is : 
 «* Th(! Synod, consisting of the Bishop, Clergy, and re- 
 presentatives of the Laity of the United Oiiu'rch of Eng- 
 land and Ireland in this Trovince, shall be a body politic 
 and corpoi.ite, bj. ho name of the Diocesan Synod of 
 Nova Scotia." The object of this incorpor.ition is stated 
 to be, to enable the Synod to hold property, and it is ?wt, 
 to confer any spiritual jurisdiction or ecclesiastical rights. 
 Thus the Synod is recognized, and made a permanent 
 institution. It is not coiislhuted by this law, it does not 
 derive its poAvcrs from this law, and therefore is not 
 limited by it. 
 
 If wc had obtained the act for which we applied, en- 
 action would have been controHed by it, and dcrivino- 
 GUI' authority from it, we must have begun again from 
 the very beginning ; and our constitution, our laws, and 
 our resolutions, must have been discussed anew ; but now 
 the Synod is recognized as an existing body, and without 
 any attempt to interfere with the power ami authority 
 inherent in every Synod, those powers are added which 
 cannot be exercijod without the sanction of an Act of 
 Parliament or a R-oyal Charter. Wliether many or fcAv 
 take part in it, henceforth the Synod of Nova Scotia will 
 have a legal permanent existence ; brt the several pa- 
 rishes should consider whether it will be for their inter- 
 ests, to leave to the deliberations and decisions of a few, 
 the important qvcstions that may be discussed in it. 
 
 '^ 
 
10 
 
 Some persons have alleged that the Synod was illegal, 
 and some that it infringed the Royal Supremacy ; but 
 these suppositions can no longer be entertained, since 
 the Royal Assent has been giyen to the Bill passed by 
 the Legislature. We may, therefore, hope that those 
 brethren who have held themselves aloof, in consequence 
 of these objecuons, will now join with us. 
 
 I must not pass over, without notice, the oft-repeated 
 objection to what is called the Bishop's veto. Of the pre- 
 sent opponents of the Synod, the majority have signified, 
 that they Avould gladly join it if this were annulled. It 
 was stated before the Committees of the Legislature, 
 that no independent man can possibly sit under the pre- 
 sent constitution. This is an insult to the Clergy, and 
 to some of the leading laymon, of this Province, w!io have 
 sat in oar Synod, which needs no refutation from me. 
 I may, however, remind you that men of the highest 
 rank and character, judges, and lawyers, and legislators, 
 in the most important British Colonies, in Canada, Aus- 
 tralia, and New Zealand, have sat under this same con- 
 stitution. 
 
 Let us see, then, what is the meaning of this terrible 
 bugbear? The rule is this: "No act or resolution of 
 the Diocesan Assembly shall be valid,, which shall not 
 have received the concurrent assent of the Bishop, the 
 Clergy, and the Laity." "Can anything be more reason- 
 able / I must confess my astonishment that persons are 
 to be found, profcbiing to believe Episcopacy to be a 
 Scriptural institution, and yet objecting to this rule ! 
 I am fully satisfied that the great body of Churchmen 
 would not be contend to have it otherwise, would not 
 wish to deprive the Bishop of the privilege enjoyed by 
 the Clergy and the Laity respectively, or to compel him 
 as the executive, to carry into effect decisions of those 
 bodies, to which he might conscientiously object, as 
 being contrary to the principles of the Church, or to the 
 solemn obligations by which he is himself bound. 
 
 Then I beg you to observe' that, if this power were 
 to be exercised in the most arbitrary manner, an.d to its 
 
 fullest e 
 
 tmij mein 
 
 utmost, i 
 
 teration, 
 
 those wh 
 
 introduce 
 
 may be o 
 
 to prize i 
 
 minoritij i 
 
 It has 
 
 Bishop ci 
 
 lution ap] 
 
 objection 
 
 to all del; 
 
 debates ii 
 
 have beer 
 
 so that th 
 
 decision t 
 
 I would ii 
 
 can be foi 
 
 some pers 
 
 of the Soi 
 
 to the Im] 
 
 ir stances 
 
 have been 
 
 as, for c3 
 
 OiJv there 
 
 the Colon 
 
 comparati' 
 
 of the Co' 
 
 sentatives , 
 
 strained tc 
 
 other two 
 
 that he ha 
 
 ments that 
 
 the objccti 
 
 judgement 
 
 As s(jme 
 
 h 
 
11 
 
 fullest extent, it would not enable the Bishop to cany 
 uni/ measure, or to perform anij act ivhatever. At the 
 utmost, it can only have the effect of preventing any al- 
 teration, and therefore it ought to be highly valued bv 
 those who fear that the Synod may do too nuich, and 
 nitroduce novelties. Again, those who fear that they 
 may be outnumbered and outvoted in the Synod, ought 
 to prize it, for it can only be exercised in favour of the 
 miiioritij under any circumstances. 
 
 It has been said that discussion becomes, a farce, if the 
 Bishop can, by his vote, prevent the adoption of a reso- 
 lution^ approved by both Clergy and Laity. Now this 
 objection is by no means peculiar to Synods,— it applies 
 to all deliberative bodies. We all know thr . after long 
 debates in the House of Assembly, Bills passed theixl 
 have been rejected hy a majority of one in the Council, 
 so that the one man could be pointed out, upon whose 
 decision the fate of the measure had depended. And 
 I would ask, where, in civil governments, a legislature 
 (;an be found, Avithout the safeguard of a veto, lodged in 
 some person or persons I It may be said that the veto 
 of the Sovereign is never actually exercised, with respect 
 to the Imperial Parliament, but there are certainly many 
 n^ stances of the disallowance of Colonial Acts, which 
 have been i)assed after full discussion by the Legislature, 
 as, for exam])l_e, in Prince Edward Island, last year.' 
 Only there is this great difference in favour of our system ; 
 the Colonial Secretary, in Downing Street, knowing 
 (;omparatively little of the condition 'and circumstances 
 of the Colony, annuls the decisions of its ovvn repre- 
 sentatives; whereas, if the Bishop should feel con- 
 strained to withhold his assent from the decision of the 
 other two orders, there is the satisfaction of knowing 
 that he has been present, and has heard all the argu"- 
 ments that could be advanced in support of it, and that 
 the objections to the proposed measure, according to his 
 judgement, are serious and insuperable. 
 
 As s(nne persons will persist in maintaining that the 
 
12 
 
 Bishop has a veto, I have argued in conformity with that 
 supposition; hut I maintain that the lule, requiring the 
 concurrence of the three orders, does not confer that 
 power, but should rather be regarded as a practical ex- 
 position of the theory of the Church. The Bishop, in 
 her system, has a distinct, Avell-dcfined position, " he, 
 the Clergy, and the Laity, are all distinct and important 
 parts of the same body, and therefore must concur, or 
 nothinor can be done." 
 
 If at any time a really good measure should be opposed 
 by the Bishop, while a large majority of the members of 
 the Church Avere in its lavor, this opposition could only 
 be temporary ; for no veto can be maintained, under 
 such circumstances, in these days when public opinion is 
 so strong, and has so many ways of making itselt under- 
 stood and felt. 
 
 I believe, then, that every member of the Church, 
 who, laying aside prejudice, will consider this question 
 upon its merits, w/J arrive at the same conclusion, that 
 the rule, requiring the sanction of the Bishop, the Clergy 
 and the Ijaity, to every resolution, is good, and ought to 
 be retained ; that the so-called veto is absolutely harmless, 
 since the Bishop cannot possibly use it for the purpose 
 of effecting any object whatever, and that it may some- 
 times be very beneficial, in restraining an organii^ed party, 
 from taking advantage of the accidental absence of other 
 members, to pass objectionable resolutioni, and in securing 
 ample deliberation for important measures, which might 
 otherwise be rashly adopted, by deferring them to ano- 
 ther session. 
 
 It has been pretended, by the opponents of the Synod, 
 that the Clergy arc so dependent upon the Bishop for 
 their incomes, that they cannot vote freely. Now there 
 is no foundation for tins statement, and in fact most of 
 them arc dependent upon their congregations very much 
 more than they are upon their Bishop. Under the pre- 
 sent system of the Church Societies, both in England 
 and in this Diocese, the grants are payable on condition 
 
 of the pre 
 
 so that in 
 
 the whole 
 
 tributions, 
 
 tJiem, and 
 
 the young 
 
 yielding tc 
 
 paid by th 
 
 cannot be 
 
 And th( 
 
 such as arc 
 
 members o 
 
 on this SCO 
 
 deliberativ 
 
 world of V 
 
 tirely inde 
 
 may howev 
 
 of the min 
 
 be, to say t 
 
 integrity ai 
 
 Fears h? 
 
 tyrannical, 
 
 And again, 
 
 extent, in 
 
 abolishing ] 
 
 bered that 
 
 consent of t 
 
 to send rep 
 
 honestly an 
 
 do not give 
 
 you have nc 
 
 affected by 
 
 or even aga 
 
 Again, so 
 
 because the 
 
 This is a st 
 
 Han ; but I 
 
 Bishop is at 
 
 T 
 
 /, 
 
13 
 
 of the previous payment of certain sums by the pcni)lc, 
 so that m truth the people can deprive the Clergyman of 
 the whole of his maintenance, by stopping their own con- 
 tributions, and thus the Clergy ore made to depend upon 
 them, and not upon the Bishop. This is the case of all 
 the younger Clergy, who alone could be suspected of 
 yielding to his influence. The seniors, who are either 
 paid by the government, or by the venerable S. P. G., 
 cannot be liable to any such suspicions. 
 
 And then, supposing it possible that any influences, 
 such as are dreaded, could be brought to bear upon the 
 meinbers of the Synod, I ask whether an objection to it, 
 on this score, would not be equally valid against every 
 deliberative body? Is there any Legislature in the 
 \yorld of which all the members are supposed to be en- 
 tirely independent of every external influence? Wo 
 niay however surely believe that an Assemblv, composed 
 of the ministers and communicants of our Church, will 
 be, to say the very least, not inferior to any other in 
 integrity and independence of action. 
 
 Fears have been suggested that the Synod may be 
 tyrannical, and may be made the instrument of mischief. 
 And again, we answer that there is this danger, to some 
 extent, in every Assembly, but no one would think of 
 abolishing Parliament on this account. Be it remem- 
 bered that nothing whatever can be done without the 
 consent of the lay members, and it rests with yourselves 
 to send representatives oi" ability and integrity who will 
 honestly and watchfully protect your interests. If you 
 do not give sufficient attention to this important matter, 
 you have no right to complain, if you find yourselves 
 affected by measures adopted without your concurrence 
 or even against your will. 
 
 Again, some persons are suspicious of Synods, simply' 
 because the Bishops are supposed to be in favor of them, 
 ihis is a strange objection on the part of an Episcopa- 
 lian; but I ask, is there not reason to suppose thxit a, 
 Bishop is at least as likely as any other person feo, be 
 
u 
 
 interested in tVie welfare of the Church, and to promote 
 such institutions as he sincerely believes to be most likely 
 to contribute to its growth and prosperity ? And inasmuch 
 as he devotes more time and attention than others can to 
 this subject, is it not probable that ho will judge more cor- 
 rectly than those who, although his equals or it may be 
 his superiors in ability, have not the same means oi( 
 forming an opinion ? The truth is that,, with very fcW 
 exceptions, those persons both lay and clerical v/ho are 
 best acquainted with the present position of the Church,i 
 and have the best opportunities of judging, are of one 
 mind on this subject. Of this we have a remarkable 
 illustration in the Edinburgh Rcrmv for October last. 
 A writer who adopts the very lowest possible estimate^ 
 of the episcopal office, nevertheless says, " Synodical 
 government, by bodies composed of both clergy and 
 laity is obviously the only alternative in our colonial 
 Clmiches for episcopal autocracy, or mere anarchy. 
 We have to make the best of it, and in this as in other 
 matters Ave have to place our confidence in that sound . 
 Anglo-Saxon spirit of the majority, the spirit of organi- 
 zation, of mutual compromise, and of tolerance, which 
 in other departments of administration carries us con- 
 tinually in safety, through greater difficulties than these." 
 Let us then all unite in endeavoring to render our 
 Synod as efftcient as it can possibly be, with a view to 
 the security and increase of the Church. If we are con- 
 tent to remain in a sleepy state, doing little good or 
 making little progress, we may dispense with the Synod, 
 and all other organizations, but if we would be active 
 and energetic, if we desire not -to be left behind in these 
 days of progress, we must adapt ourselves as far as we 
 lawfully can to the circumstances of the age in which 
 we live. Notwithstanding the charges and insinuations 
 with which I have been sometimes assailed in reference 
 to this matter, I recognise with much thankfulness the 
 confidence reposed in me by the great majority of those 
 whom God has committed to my care, and I know that 
 
 you do 
 much I 
 mcnt, t] 
 devolvi) 
 loss, ani 
 dound t 
 and httf 
 In CO 
 the adv 
 Church 
 (your B 
 sition to 
 to see ; 
 highest 
 unity ai 
 occasior 
 when it 
 of Chris 
 faithful 
 nor to p 
 general 
 your efl 
 nothincr 
 do nothi 
 feeling ; 
 system, 
 as an im 
 
15 
 
 you do not require nny further proofs tKat however 
 much I may fail, through infirmity or errors of judge- 
 ment, the great object of my life is to perform the duties 
 devolving upon me so that the Chiu-ch may not suffer 
 loss, and that my administration of this diocese may re- 
 dound to the glory of God, and conduce to your welfare 
 and happiness. 
 
 In conclusion, permit me to commend to your notice, 
 the advice of the Bishop of Vermont to the Clergy of the 
 Church in the then United States: "Believe that he 
 (your Bishop) cannot possibly have any interest in oppo- 
 sition to your own ; that it is his earnest desire and prayer 
 to see you all prosper in your labours, and that his 
 highest earthly happiness must be found in your fraternal 
 unity and concord. Advise and counsel him if you have 
 occasion, and doubt not that he will receive it kindly, 
 when it is done as it ought to be done, with the spirit 
 of Christian tenderness. Strengthen his hands by your 
 faithful support. Give no encouragement to party spirit 
 nor to party movements. And you may rely on it, as a 
 general rule, that your Bishop will respond with joy to 
 your efTorts ; that in proportion as you desire to do 
 nothing without his approbation, it will be his wish to 
 do nothing without yours, and that you will realize in 
 feeling and in fact the true design of that beautiful 
 system, which is too often held, in our degenerate day, 
 as an impracticable theory." 
 
 ml 
 ■;J| 
 
 ( 
 
/^ V^a-^ite^?i.^.J , -. ^"■T^gffl^ ^ I-' :■ 
 
 The following regulations of the Synod are published for the 
 information of persons who do not poaaess the printed copy of 
 its Constitution and Rules : 
 
 The representatives ,of the laity must have been com- 
 municants for the twelve months preceding the election, and 
 every adult male parishioner may vote for the Parish or district, 
 of which he is a member, upon subscribing the following declar- 
 ation (if required by the chairman or by any parishioner present): 
 " I do declare that I am a member of the United Cnurch of 
 Ingland and Ireland, and belong to no other religious denomi- 
 nation." 
 
 Each representative shall receive from his minister a certificate 
 that he is qualified as above, and from the chairman of the meet- 
 ing, at which he is elected, a certificate of his election, and shall 
 continue in oflRce until a successor be appointed. 
 
 If a vacancy should occur in the number of representatives 
 for any district, the minister is to proceed to appoint a new 
 election, as soon as possible, after due notice. (This provides 
 for the case when a noR-rwident, upon being informed of his 
 election, declines to serve, or is found t« be not qualified.) 
 
 Each district forming a separate Cure of souls may send two 
 lay representatives, (whether it may be a legally constituted 
 Parish or not.) 
 
 When ,iiiy such district is without a resident minister, at the 
 time appointed for the election of repr^^sentatives, a meeting may 
 be called by the wardens, or the vestry, or by any five parish- 
 ioners. In this case the notice should be posted in the most con- 
 spicuous places, and cin^ulated according to the usual custom of 
 each town or settlement. And the chairman of the meeting 
 should specify, in his return, by whom, in what manner, and at 
 what date, the notice was published convening the meeting. 
 
 At the time of the election of representatives, two provisional 
 representatives may be appointed as substitutes, to take the place 
 of either of the persons elected, who may not be able to attend 
 the Session of the Synod. 
 
 ii> 
 
 lOfcxMmMaiMlki