DIOCESAN SYNODS

AXD

DIOCESAN CONFERENCES ;

THEIR DISTI]?fC* CHARACTER AND DIFFERENT USES :

AN ADDRESS

DELIVERED IN THE

DIOCESAN SYNOD,

HELD IN

THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF LINCOLN,

ux
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1871,

Cim. WORDSWORTH, D.D.,

Bishop of Lincoln;
TOGETHER WITH

The FORM and ORDER of HOLDING the SYNOD.

LINCOLN : JAMES WILLIAMSON.

AND TO BR HAK OF

Mehsiis. RIVINOTON: LO\Dr)N, nxroUD, f< CAMP-RIDCE.

iP?' /3 O Zi

My Reverend Brethrex,

We are met together to-day iu a holy phice, for a
holy purpose. We have joined in prayer for the presence
and guidance of the Holy Ghost, and we are about to partake
in the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Great reason therefore have we to cherish within us a spirit
of peace ; and good gi-ound we also have for believing, that
if that spirit is in us, God will bless us, and unite us more
closely to one another in brotherly love.

Suffer me also to remind you that you youi'selves have
given a pledge, that all things here to-day will be done in
charity. This Diocesan Synod is your own work. More
than 430 among you have subscribed your names to a
memorial requesting me to convene it. That memorial has
been duly considered in a Conference of many of the elder
Clergy of this Diocese, and the result is, that you have been
called together to meet in Synod to-day in this Cathedral
Church. You will therefore, I am persuaded, do all that in
you lies that your own work may not be marred, but that,
with the blessing of God, this cora])liance with your desire
may conduce to His Glory, to the good of this Diocese, and
to tlie edification of His Church.

Your MeiJKJi-ial has led me to examine carefully the history
of Diocesan Synods in the Church Universal and in the
Church of f]nglan(l ; and it is my })ur})ose, with God's help,
now to lay before you the results of that enquiry.

Here let me first exhort you, to divest yourselves of prc-
pofisessions derived from what we sometimes see or hear of
Diocesan Synods in modcru times. This is very re(piisite.
It would indeed ill bec<jnie any one to animadvert here on
what may \)k: done elsewiicre. But we ourselves have a duty
to perroiiii. We must take good heed as to the niniuier in

which the work before us is done. Our wisdom will be to
"seek and ask for the -old paths where is the good way, and
walk therein."^

We need not hesitate to affirm that no one is duly qualified
to deal with this subject, — involving as it does, important
results with regard to Christian Doctrine and Discipline, and
affecting the eternal interests of immortal souls, and touching
very nearly the fundamental principles and vital elements
of the Clnistian Church, — unless he has devoted himself
diligently and conscientiously to the study of the constitution
and history of Diocesan Synods from primitive times.

Happily for the Christian Student some learned treatises
have been wiittcn on Diocesan Synods, which will much
lighten his labour, and give him clear views with respect to
them. I refer specially to the works of Lambertini,^ Gavanti,
Thomassinus,^ Van Espen,^ Martene,^ La Luzerne,'^ and others ;
and especially in our own country, the chapters on Diocesan
Synods in the Reformatio Legum, drawn up by Abp. Cranmer
and his associates in the reign of King Edward VI.,^ and
in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the ^vi^itings of
Dr. Field,^ Archbishop Wake,i<' Bishop Kennett, and the
great work of Wilkins,^^ containing the acts of Diocesan and

1 Jer. VI. 16.
^ De Synoclo DioscesandUbritrededm, 2 Yols., 4to. Ferrar, 1760. This
work may also be found iu Mignc's Theologico Cursus Computus, Tom. xxv.,
p. 801. Paris. 1840.

3 Gavanti B. Praxis exactissima Dimcesance Synodi; Aug. Find. 1763, in
liis Thesaurus Suerorum Eituum, Tom. iii. This is the most complete work
on the constitution and proceedings of Diocesan Synods.

4 Thomassinus, Fetus ct Nova Eccl. Disciiilina, Tars, ii., Lib. in.. Cap.
LXiii., Vol. VI., p. 555, ed. Mogunt. 1787.

5 FanEsjKn, Jus Ecclcs. Pars, i.. Tit. xvnt., ]). 105, ed. Colon, 1748.

6 Murteni, de Antiquis Ecclcsicc BUibus, Lib. iii., Cap. i. ; Tom. ii., p. 311.

7 De la Luzerne, Droits ct Devoirs dcs EvCques ct des Pritres. Paris, 1844.

8 See note A at the end of this address, " The work and words were mainly
Cramners's o\\\i."—Strypc's Cranmer, p. 134.

" Dean Field on the Church, p. 508.
1" See note B at the end of this address.
" Concilia Magnoi Britfinnixe, 4 Vols., folio. Loudon, 1737. Sec note
C at the the end of this Address.

other Synods in England from the earliest times ; to which
may be added some excellent Treatises,^^ on this subject,
which have appeared in our own time.

It will be evident from the examination of such works
as these, that Diocesan Synods were among the earliest^^
Councils of the Christian Church. They were more ancient
than Provincial Synods. A Diocese is prior to a Province,
which is a group of Dioceses. Some have recognised an
image of a Diocesan Synod in the Acts of the Apostles,^*
where we see St. James, the Bishop of Jerusalem, and all
the Elders with him, offering their fraternal counsel to St.
Paul. For many centuries Diocesan Synods rendered great
service to Christendom. In the Latin Church, as Roman
Catholics wiiters themselves deplore,^^ they have been para-
lyzed by various influences, — especially by the growth of
the Roman Papacy. The Roman Pontiff aspu-es to be the
Universal Bishop, and claims the World for his Diocese ; and
now that the attribute of personal Infallibility has been
ascribed to him,^^ it may well be asked, — what can be the
use of a Diocesan Council, or any other, to advise with him,
or to give authority to his Decrees ?

12 Partimkrly the loanicd work entitled EiujlmicVs Sacred S'l/noJs, by the
Rev. James "Wayland Joj-ce. Loud., ISoo. See eliap. II. of that volmiie ; and
the same writer's Letter on Diocesan and Provincial Synods to the l>isho]i of
Deny. Dnhlin, 18G9. Also the Letter of my dear friend and fellow laliDiucr —
pspeeially in the work of the present Synod — the Rev. Cliancellor Massiiii^bcrd
(Li-tter to the liislmji of l>ineoln on a Diocesan Synod, 1869), and a Paper hy
a Layman (.1. W. L.) in tin- l/iiion Jicvkiv, Jan., 1871, pji. 32—54, and the
PajMT on Diocesan Synods, hy a person to whom the Synod of this Province,
and the rimrch of En;,dand, owe a deep deht of gratitude,— Ihc Ven. Kilward
IJiekersteth, D.D., Prolocutor of the Convocation of Canterbury, and Arch-
deacon of liuckingham. Lond. 1867.

^^ Lftmherlini, i., p. 7; Thomaasini, vi., p. 522.; Bijskoj) KcniicU, Eccl.
Synoih, ii., 254.

" Acts XXT., 18; Lamhcrtini, i., ]>. G.

" Grminli, p. 2. Allliongh by the Council of Trent (Sess. 21, Ca]). 2)
P.i.shojiH are rerpiircd to hold Synods annually, "(piod hcu ! ncgligitur " says
(Javanti.

"■' In the Vatican Council, on July 18, 1870.

In our own Churchy Diocesan Synods have not been held
in modern times. ^^

It is unnecessary to dwell on the causes which have led to
their disuse. One of these was, that the Capitular^" Bodies
of our Cathedrals were regarded as the representatives of
the Clergy, and the Councils of the Bishop ; and this being
the case, the summoning of the Clergy from the various
parts of the Diocese did not seem requisite. Suffice it now
to say, that no one can have duly studied the tendencies of
our own age, without coming to the conclusion, that, if the
Church of England is to hold that position which for the
sake of the Nation and of Christianity, it is her duty to
endeavour to maintain, she must do all in her power to
strengthen, consolidate, and extend those things which,
under Him, are the true elements of her power for good, —
namely, her Parochial System, and her Diocesan Organization.

In her endeavour to accomplish this work, the revival of
Diocesan Synods will, with the Divine Blessing, prove very
effectual.

Let us now proceed to enquire into the constitution of a
Diocesan Synod.

J6 With tlie exception of the Synod held at Exeter, on June 25 and 26, 1851,
which, as it consisted merely of delegates, could hardly be called a Diocesan
Synod in the proper sense of the term, as will hereafter appear. See belo\v ji. 7.
'its proceedings are described in the Ecdcsiaslieal Gazette for July, 1851,_ p.
14. In the same volume, p. 62, may be seen a legal opinion condemning
them : but if any one imagines that Bishops are estopped by the Act of Sub-
mission, 23 Henry Vlll., c. 10, wliich relates to Provincml Convocations,
from holding Diocesan Synods witliout the Royal Writ, he may refer to
subsequent Acts— 28 Henry VIII., c. 10, sect. 4 ; 31 Henry VIII., c. 14 ;
2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 1. — where Diocesan Synods are supposed to be held ; and
the Canons of 1603, Can. cxix., and to the Chapters in tlie Reformatio Lcgum,
framed in Henry VIII.'s reign, j^'cscrihing Diocesan Synods to be held yearly.
See below Xotc A at the end of this Address. The whole cpiestion is well
treated by ilr. Joyce in his Sacred Synods, p. 40. See also Archdeacon
Uickersteth, p. 8, and Chancellor Massingberd's Letter, p. 15, and Hansard's
TarliarM'ntary Debates, Vol. cxvi., 3rd Series, pp. 419—425, where Lord
Russell, then Prime Minister, expressed the same opinion, viz., tliat tlie Act
of Submission did not relate to Diocesan Synods, which have never at any
time been convened by the King's Writ, but were always called together by
the Bishop. Diocesan Synods have been summoned and ludd by English
Bishops .since the Reformation, and Canons- been promulged in them. See
Note D at end of this Address.

1'^ Tho'inassinus, p. 525.

Who are the pei^sons that have a right to be convened to
it?

To this question it may be replied that all Priests and
Deacons^'* exercising Ministerial functions in a Diocese are
entitled to a place in a Diocesan Synod.^^ This is a funda-
mental principle. Let nothing be done without the Bishop,-**
was a maxim of the primitive Church. But let not the
Bishop act without his Presbyters, was a rule of equal
authority. ^^ The beautiful simile of one of St. John's Dis-
ciples, — St. Ignatius, the Bishop and Martyr of Antioch, —
happily combines these precepts in one ; " Let the Presbyters
be joined together with the Bishop as the chords of a harp,
to make sweet music to God."^^

It is true that in some cases, on account of penalties levied
on Presbyters for not appearing at a Diocesan Synod, they
claimed a right to send proxies;-^ but it is a principle laid
down by the best wi'iters on the subject, that a Council
formed by a process of delegation cannot rightly be called
a Diocesan Synod. If a Diocese is so large and contains so
many Presbyters that they cannot conveniently meet together
in one Synod, this may be a just reason for dividing the
Diocese, ]mt not for depriving the Clergy of their riglits.
Whatever inconveniences therefore might arise from bringing
together the Presbyters of this extensive Diocese, — the
second in size among the Dioceses of England, and contain-
ing more Clergy than any other Diocese but one, — I <lid not

^* As to the presence of Doaooiis, .scf; TlioinassintLf, p. .'il.'> ; ^F<lHnH\ Lib.
Iir,, Cap. I., pp. 312—314. Tlioy iCTnaincd .staiuliiig wliile tlic lU.sliop ami
rricsts .sat. Not all Deacons, but .some who were .specially elioseii, were ail-
iiiitted. Tkoma.HHiiius, p. .022.

1" Seo Van Eupcn, p. lOG ; T/inmnssiiius, ]>y. TjI?— 519 ; Lnmhcrtmi, pp.
81—100 ; Oavftnli, p|>. 3, -1 ; ami below Note 15.

^ S. I'inal. ad Mnrju's., c. 4 & c. 7 ; Trail., c. 2 & c. 7 ; Smyrn., c. 8 & c. 9 ;
Phil. c. 8.

" Cp. .S'. Ifjnal. Eph., c. 4 & c. 5 ; Trail., <:. 7.

" .S'. Irj7iat. ad Eph., c. 4.

» Van E^pni, ji. 105; Oamnti, p. 23.

feel iiij'selt' at liberty on that account to dispense with my
own obligations, or to impair the privileges of the Clergy,
and have therefore invited all the beneficed and licensed
Priests and Deacons of the Diocese to the present Diocesan
Synod.

With regard to the Laity, it appears that they also were
invited to Diocesan Synods, which had a judicial as well as
deliberative character, and were Ecclesiastical Courts, as well
as Church Councils. The purpose for which the Laity were
called, was that they might state grievances, or in modern
Ecclesiastical language, "make presentments" of those things
which required amendment in their Parishes.^'* We may
recoo-nize a remnant of this usage in the word "Sides-
men," or " Synodsmen," the ancient " testes Synodales," and
in the functions which these lay officers of the Church may
lawfully perform in Episcopal and Archidiaconal Visitations ;
which still preserve some vestiges of ancient Diocesan Sjoiods.
But our lay brethren, we are persuaded, will not resent an
assertion derived from one whom the A})Ostle St. Paul calls
his own fellow-labourer, whose "name is in the Book of
Life,"2Hhe Apostolic Father S. Clement. "The priests[of
the ChurchJ he says, " have their own appointed places and
duties, and the layman of the Church is subject to lay
precepts."-*^ They will not set at nought the words of S.
Gregory Nazianzen, " Let not the sheep of Christ's flock be
shepherds of their own Pastors ; for God is not the Author
of confusion, but of peace, as in all the Churches of the
Saints." ^^ And if such authorities should have little weight,
they will not disdain the words of the Holy Ghost saying by

27 S. Greg. Nazian. Oral., xix., Tom. i., p. 369. Ed. Paris, 1778.

24 Gavanti, pp. 8—11 ; Van Espcn, p. 106. When the Synod lasted three
days the "querehe laicorum" were li.stened to on the second day. Cp.
Lamhertini, pp. 113—117 ; and Dcnn Field on the, Church, p. 508 ; and
Wilkins' Concilia, iv., p. 784 ; helow Note C, and below Note B at end of
this Adress.

2= Phil. IV. 3. 26 ,5'. Clement, EpisL, c. 40.

the Prophet Malachi, " The ])ricst's lips should keep know-
ledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth ; "^ and of
the Apostle, " Obey them that have the rule over you, and
submit youi'selves, for they watch for your souls as they that
must give account."^

We maintain with Richard Hooker^'' that " all that are of
the Church cannot in all things jointly and equally work,
and that the first thing in polity required is a difference of
persons in the Church, without which difference those func-
tions caimot in orderly sort be executed. We hold that God's
Clergy are a state which hath been and will be, as long as
there is a Church upon earth, necessary by the plain Word of
God Himself; a state whereunto the rest of God's people
must be subject as touching things that appertain to tlicii*
soul's health."

These, brethren, are the things which arc the proper matters
to be treated of in Diocesan Synods,^^ in their deliherative
character. The sacredness of the subjects appointed for their
consideration was indicated by the name given to the Synod,
whicli was called a sacred assembly : and by the place in
which the Synod was held, — usually the Cathedral Church, —
and even by the attire of those who were assembled in it.^-
And it would be an idle and unseemly thing, arguing no
small ignorance of Hh' history and laws of Chri.st's Clmrch,
and it would be almost a mockery of our lay brethren, to
require the presence of busy, pi-actical men, whoso time is
preciou.s, at Ecclesiastical Councils, in which the matters to
be treated of and agi-ced u])on arc not within their legitimate

28 Mutt. II. 7 ; C].. Dout. xvii. 9, xxiv. 8 ; Lev. x. 11.

"9 Heb. XIII. 17 ; Cp. I'liil. ii. 29 ; 1 Tlicss. v. 12 ; 1 Tim. v. 17.

3" Hooker E. P., iir. xi. 18.

" " Difpcosana SynoduH est coiifrrcnatio Icfjitiiiia, fniaiii facit KjiiscdjiHH rum
clcriciH .silji sulnlitis, in sua Duvwai, dc ii.S(iii(! in v'd trai tat, <[UiL' curie suic
pastorali incunilmnt." — Oavanti, p. 1.

"' Tlif lii.sliop wfLS to 1)0 in liis Kpisco])al drcsH ; tlio CliTgy in sui'iiliccs. —
rjavmid, ]'\<. ly, 2'i, 25 ; Tkomassinus, p. 521 ; Laiabcrlini, i., pp. 124—128.

I)roYiuee, and where, according to ancient practice and pre-
cedent for 1500 years after Christ, they would have no active
functions to perform.

The proper place of the Laity is in other Church Councils,
not less useful, but of a different kind, namely, Diocesan
Conferences ; of which we shall speak hereafter. Let Diocesan
Synods be kept distinct from Diocesan Conferences;^^ let
there be no confusion between them ; let the Clergy do their
proper work, and the Laity theirs ; then we shall tread safely
in the ancient paths, while at the same time we adjust our-
selves to the requirements of modern times.

These conclusions will appear still more reasonable when
we proceed to examine more closely the proper mode of
proceeding in Diocesan Synods, and the peculiar functions to
be performed by them.

The holding of a Diocesan Synod was a holy work. It
was a solemn act of religious worship, performed by the
Bishop and Clerg}' of the Diocese in the Church of God. In
it they joined in the profession of the same flxith, — in the
Nicene Creed ; in it they sang praises to God, in the " Te
Deum ; " and in certain Psalms appointed for the purpose f*
in it they invoked the aid of the Holy Ghost, in the " Veni
Creator ; " in it they were united together in the Holy
Communion.

One of the duties of a Diocesan Synod was to make known
and promulge Canons and Constitutions which had been
already agreed upon in the Provincial Council. ^^ Accord-
ingly one of the functions of our own Diocesan Synod to-day

33 The words ol' Tlwmaasinus dc Synodo Dimcesand (p. 520) deserve care-
ful attention, "Plures habes conventus ab Episcopis convocatos " (Diocesan
Conferences) "in quibus et laicis locus erat, potissimum veri) nobilibus, quo
et lii conventus distahant a Synodis," wliere (lie adds) the Laity did not take
a deliberative part.

3^ Psalms 33, G7, 68, 84, 87, 133 ; Gavanti, p. 25.

35 Van Espcn, p. 106 ; and see below Note B, and Note C, at end of this
Address.

^viU be to publish resolutions adopted in the Convocation
of this Province of Canterbury. ^^

Another use of a Diocesan Synod was to give authoritative
utterance and public assent to what, after the Bishop had
previously taken counsel with elder and graver Presbyters
of the Diocese,^^ especially with the Capitular Body, —
the "Senatus Episcopi," — had approved itself to his judg-
ment.

These being the principal functions of a Diocesan Synod,
it may readily be supposed, that in the first sixteen centuries
after Cln-ist it never was the custom to bring qviestions before
the S}Tiod for the pui'pose of eager debate and controversy,
and with a view to divisions of the Clergy into majorities
and minorities. And therefore, though Diocesan Synods
sometimes numbered as many as nine hundred presbyters,
assembled together, yet there was no discord or confusion in
them.

No, my reverend brethren, the truth must be spoken, how-
ever unpleasing it may be to some men's ears in modern
times. During sixteen hundred years after Christ, a Diocesan
Synod was called the Synod of the Bishop. ^'^ The canons
and constitutions published therein were said to be pro-
mulgcd by the Bishop. It never occurred to the mind of
ancient Christendom, that the Bishops of Christ's Church,
seated in their Cathedral Churches, would enter into the Hsts
of controversy with the Clergy of their Dioceses, divided into
opposite camps.3" This was not their view of Episcopacy.
In their eyes the Bishop was a Father in God ; and while on

^ See below in the " Form and Order of holding tlic Synod."

^ Lambcrlini, i. 227.

^ See Fan Espcn, p. 106 ; GavaiUi, pj). 19, 20 ; Thoinassinus, p. .'^19 ;

Lanibcrlini, p. 134 ; ii. 203, 210, 213.

^^ Lnmhcrtini, ii. p. 196; Tlwmassinus, )>. T)!?.

A distinj^islieil Ainorir.ui layman and lawyer (Mr. Murniy Ho(rniaiin\ in

hia elaborate work on tlic Laws of tlio Cliincli, liiw .stated tliis m.itter in

stronger language tlian the hierarchy itself would vcntun; to use. See Note

E at end of this Address.

the one hand It was presnmed that the Clergy would treat
their sjiiritnal father with filial reverence, it was antici])atcd
on the other, that he would endeavour to rule with parental
love, and that he would not obtrude his own private opinions
on a reluctant clergy,**^ but that he would pray fervently to
God for gTace and guidance, and give himself to diligent
study and devout meditation, and would seek to lead the
Clergy by wise counsels and gentle persuasion to right con-
clusions ; and with theu' help would embody and concentrate
those conclusions in Synodical utterances, which would have
great force and weight by reason of previous consultation
and general subsequent assent.

Surely this is a wiser course of proceeding than that into
which many have been beguiled in modern times.

And here it may deserve consideration, whether our Visit-
ations might not receive some benefit from an imitation of
ancient usages. As was before observed, an Episcopal Visit-
ation still preserves many vestiges of a Diocesan Synod. One
of these may be seen in the Episcopal Charge, delivered at
the Visitation. The Bishop, in his Charge, pronounces ex
cathedra his own judgment on various questions which affect
the interests of religion and the Church. This is a remnant
of the practice according to which the Bishop delivered a
Synodical Address, — an " Admonitio Episcopalis," as it was
called, — and promulged canons and constitutions on such
matters in the Diocesan Synod. Episcopal Charges are a
consequence of the disuse of Diocesan Synods. There is no
example, I believe, of an Episcopal Charge published with
that name, before the close of the seventeenth century.*^

"*" Thomassimis, p. 522.
"■^ The first examples of Episcopal Cliarcjcs published with that name are, I
believe, those of Bishop Compton of London, a.d. 1C96, and r)isliop Stilling-
fleet, 1698. In the see of Lincoln, Bi.sliop Gardiner, a.d. 1697, published
Advice to the Clergy; Bishop Wake (1706 and 1709), and Bishop Gibson
(1717) delivered and published Charges. The Bisliop of Kochestcr (1690)
delivered and published a " Discmirse to the Clergy of liis Diocese at his Visit-
ation" ; and the Bishop of Ely in 1692^ 1698, 1701, 1704, published four
Discourses to his Clergy at four Visitations.

Perhaps a return to ancient practice in this respect might
not be undesnable. However sound the judgments may be
that are pronounced by the Bishop in the Charge delivered
at the Visitation, it is probable that they are regarded by
many as merely the utterances of the individual Bishop, and
that they even provoke unmerited opposition by the sem-
blance of independent and arbitrary dogmatism with which
they are supposed to be invested ; and it may be said with
truth, that while the Clergy need the advice of the Bishop
and ought to pay reverence to his authority, the Bishop also
needs the previous counsel and subsequent assent of the
Clergy. It would be well, therefore, if the Charge — or
" Admonitio Episcopalis," — were followed (as in ancient
Synods) by some Synodal acts, in which the Clergy had then-
part, giving then assent to the recommendations of the
Bishoji. In a modern Visitation, Episcopal authority seems
too much to resemble an inverted pyramid, trembling on its
apex ; in an ancient Diocesan Synod it reposed quietly on
its base.

But perhaps it may be alleged, by some among ourselves,
that Diocesan Synods will be tame and lifeless tilings, unless
they arc animated l)y the quick sallies and lively repartees
of eager and excited debate ; and if nothing is to be pro-
mulged by them without the authority of the Bishop.

Brethren, such an objection as this ought to have been
considered, and I trust was considered, by you, before you
desired me to convene the present Diocesan Synod. You
have asked for a Diocesan Synod, and I should have been
unworthy of your confidence if T liad endeavoured to p.ilin
upon you a counterfeit assembly instead of presenting to you
agcnuinc and authentic Synod, constituted n|inii tliosi- prin-
ciples, and regulated by tliose laws, wliicli were universally
received by the Christian Cliurdi fni- ]('>{)() years, and wliidi
were specially [irescribed Ibr dur observance by those holy

men, to whom, vmdcr God, we owe the inestimable blcssinii
of the Enolish Reformation.

Brethren, it is the glory of the Chnrch of England that she
appeals to primitive Christian Auti(iuity on behalf of her
doctrine and discipline ; and it is one of our strongest argu-
ments against the Church of Rome, that while she lays claim
to Antiquity she enforces novelties in faith and regimen.
What a triumph therefore should we give to her, if in this
important matter of Diocesan Synods we were to abandon
the principles and practice of the Christian Church from
Apostolic times to the sixteenth century, and were to adopt
some modern devices of our own in their stead !

In the present Diocesan Synod assembled to-day by the
good providence of God in this Cathedral Church, I have
endeavoured to follow as strictly as possible the precedents of
Christian Antiquity, and to conform to the rules — grounded
on Christian Antiquity — which were laid down for such as-
semblies by Archbishop Cranmer and his associates in the
reign of King Edward VI.,^^ and by one of my own prede-
cessors in the see of Lincoln, whose profound learning in

all Synodical questions will not be disputed, — Archbishop
Wake.*3

But Brethren, we need not be afraid to encounter the afore-
said objection on its own merits. Believe me, there is some-
thing better in the Church of God than oratorical harangues :
there is a sound more joyful and blessed than the triumphant
acclamations of victorious majorities. And what is that?
The calm voice of unity, and peace, and brotherly love. It
was well said by one of the wisest and holiest of men that
this Church and Realm of England ever produced,*'* " There
will come a time, when three words uttered with charity and
meekness shall receive a far more blessed reward than three

*2 See Note A at end of this Address.

^ See Note B at end of this Address,

« Richard Hooker, E.P. Preface, ii. 10.

thousand volumes written ^^dtll disdainful sharpness of wit."
Few things, we doubt not, are more pleasing to the Holy
Angels and to the God of Angels, than to see the Clergy of
a Diocese joined together with the Bishop in prayer, and
praise, and Holy Communion, in the mother church of the
Diocese ; and, — if it may be by God's grace, — in the unani-
mous adoption of such measures as may tend to promote His
glory and the eternal salvation of His people.

May this blessed vision be realized among us to-day !

Such haiTuonious action as this, will, by its very quietness,
have great power. It will shew the Clergy to the world as
an united body, and as strong by union. It will have the
blessed effect of rescuing the matters agreed upon from the
vitiated atmosphere of party, and of placing them m the
calmer light of genei'al consent. Whenever the Clergy of a
Diocese agree together on the course of action to be taken in
any given matter, there is no longer any room for those in-
. vidious comparisons between one class of Clergy and another,
which engender so many heart-bvu'nings and bickerings, and
cause so much distraction and weakness, and expose the
Church to the derision of her enemies, as a house divided
against itself, at a time when the storm is rolling around us,
and when we need, if we are to stand, to be firmly built
together upon a rock.

Let me now proceed to lay before you a summary of those
matters which are proposed to be treated of, and agreed upon,
in the present Diocesan Synod.

1. In the mystical Body of Cln-ist, "when one member
suffers, the other members suffer witli it." We cannot but
view with deep interest the present condition of Christendom,
especially on the continent of Europe, distracted by two
opposite forces acting and re-acting on each other, and stim-
ulating one another to more violent excesses, religious and
political. Ami who among us viu\ contemplate witliout

syni|)atliy and adi)iiiatit)u those energetic and courageous
endeavours, which are now being made by wise, learned, and
jnous men, in Germany, France, and Italy, to rescue society
from iutidclity and anarchy, by protesting against the proud
pretensions of the Roman Pa])acy, which are driving many
into unbelief; and to accomplisli an internal reformation of
the Church to which they belong, by an appeal to the infal-
lible Word of God, and to the judgment and practice of the
primitive Church ?

Such sentiments as these have found an utterance in both
Houses of Convocation in this Province of Canterbuiy, and I
would propose that in this Diocesan Synod, held in a Church
adorned for 800 years*^ by illustrious names of holy and
learned men, such as St. Hugh of Burgundy, Henry of
Huntingdon, Robert Grossetete, William of Wickham,
William Alnwick, Matthew Parker, John Whitgift, George
Herbert, Herbert Thorndike, Robert Sanderson, and others
of later times, we should adopt the declaration upon this
subject which was put forth with the unanimous consent of
the Upper House of Convocation of this Province,**^ and has
also received the assent of the Lower House. And I would
suggest that we should add to that declaration an expression
of earnest hope and fervent prayer, that it may please God
to bless the efforts of those who are labouring to drive away
dangerous error, and to maintain saving truth, so that we
may be joined together with them and they with us in
the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

2. Secondly, the Convocation of this Province has also
dealt with another question which concerns us all, my
reverend brethren, in the exercise of our sacred ministry in
the House of God. The Convocation has approved the new
Table of Lessons which was framed by the Ritual Commis-
sioners ; and that Table of Lessons has now received the

^ The foundations of Lincoln Cathedral were laid in A.D. 1073.
*^ June 16, 1871. A .similar Declaration was adopted by the Lower House
Feb. 15, 1871.

sanction of the Leo-islatm-c. This new Table of Lessons is to

be inserted in all the copies of the Book of Common Prayer
printed and published after the 1st of October in this year.
It raay he legally used by us in the public service of the
Church on the 1st of January in next year, but it is not im-
perative till Jan. the 1st, in the year 1879. Inasmuch, how-
ever, as Uniformity in liturgiad matters in the same Diocese
is desu-able, and as our congregations would be perplexed by
diversities of usage in this respect, let me suggest that we
should begin the use of the new Lectionary with the new
year.

The new Lectionary introduces into the public services of
our Church some portions of Holy Scripture which hitherto
have been excluded from it, such as the Books of Chronicles ;
or are scantily supplied in it, such as the Book of Ezekiel
and the Revelation of St. John. It will also produce more
uniformity in the length of our daily Lessons ; and it has the
advantage of supplying a third set of Lessons for use on
Sundays in the evening when there has been already a scrAace
in the afternoon.

There is another matter of interest in which we may derive
much benefit from the recent concurrent action of Convoca-
tion and the Legislature in this matter. I refer to the means
it affords us for the additional provision of special Psalms
and special Lessons for special Occasions.

It is very desirable that our congregations should be taught
by our sei'vices to make a Christian use of the Psalter, and
to recojxnizc the fjlorious Form of Christ our Lord and
S?iviour, nrif] tlie Ijlcssings of His everlasting Gospel, fore-
shadowed i]i that divine Book. It is therefore a happy thing
that appropriate Psalms may now bo sung or said, not merely
on some of the great Festivals and Holy Days of the Church,
but on all. Hitherto we have sometimes been constrained
to use joyful Psalms on mourn In I occasions, or mouinrul
Psalms on joyful ones; Imt now, by the joint action of

Convocation*^ and of Parliament/^ it has been provided that
"ii]~>on occasions to be approved by the Ordinary, other
Psalms may, with his consent, be substituted for those ap-
pointed in the Psalter," and this power may be exercised by
him on all occasions whereon "he shall judge that such alter-
ation will conduce to edification."

It is obviously very desirable that suitable Psalms should
be provided for the fii'st Sunday in Advent, and also for the
Festival of the Circumcision of Christ, which is also the first
day of a new year. It will also tend to edification that those
noble and heart-stirring Psalms which foretell the manifest-
ation of Christ to the Gentiles and the triumphs of Christian
Missions, should be sung on the Festival of the Epiphany.
It will surely be a happy thing that on the Festival of the
Annunciation, the Church should lift up her voice, and should
salute with appropriate melodies, thrilling from the harp of
the divine Psalmist, the mystery of the Incarnation, in which
the nature of God was joined for ever with the nature of man
in the Person of Christ. It will also tend to edification that
some plaintive and pensive strains, derived from those solemn
Psalms which speak of the valley of the shadow of death
cheered by the light of the Gospel, and reveal to us the
Sabbath of the Grave hallowed by the burial of Christ, and
which cast a ra}'- of faith and hope and joy on the death -bed
of the Christian, should be heard on Easter-Even. It is also
much to be desired that all hearts in every congregation of a
Diocese should be attuned to a triumphant strain of praise
and jubilee on the great and crowning Festival of Trinity
Sunday.

This may now be done. Let us thank God for it.

It is also desii-able that a distinct series of Psalms, no less
than of Lessons, should be provided for the use of those who

^^ See tlie Report of the Proceedings of Convocation of Canterbury, on July 5
and July 6, in the Chronicle of Convocation for 1870, pp. 451 and 530.
^ In the "Table of Lessons" Act' 34 & 35 Vict., chap. 37.

have three services in theu' churches on Sundays. This also
is now within our reach.

The Ordinary is also authorized to permit the substitution
on special occasions, such as Harvest Festivals and Cliurch
Openings, appropriate Lessons in lieu of those specified in the
Calendar.

You will, I am persuaded, my reverend Brethren, concur
with me in the opinion, that it is my duty to lose no time
in exercising the authority given to me as Ordinary in this
behalf. After having taken counsel with persons well versed
in Liturgical learning, I purpose to lay before you to-day a
Table of Special Psalms for use on special occasions, and also
a series of Psalms*'^ for a third service on Sundays and Holy
Days, together with an indication of Special Lessons which
may be used on certain occasions.

Let me commend these Tables to your consideration and
use for the next ensuing three years, at the expu'ation of
which they may be revised, if thought necessary.

3. There is another subject connected with our sacred
services in which I tinst we may be unanimous. I rejoice
to find by the returns made by you to my Pastoial Letter?
that the Festival of our Blessed Lord's Ascension was cele-
brated with divine service in G15 parish churches in this
Diocese in the present year, and that the Holy Communion
was also administered in -tSl churches. In some churches
there were three services on that day. This cheering fact
encourages me to believe that we shall rejoice to join together
to-day in an united resolve, witli tlie help of God, to celebrate
next year, and in future years, that glorious Festival with
prayer and praise and Holy Communion, in all the Churches
of the Diocese ; and thus shew forth with one heart and (Hic
voice, our faith and love toward our adorable Kcdeemcr,
Who is gone to heaven to [»ray for us and to bless us, and to

*" This portion of the Tables is due to the labours of a Committee of the
Lower House of Convocation.

pvopaie a place for us ; and is ciitlironcd in His glorious
Majesty at God's Eight Hand, and is worshipped by the holy
Angels as King of kings and Lord of lords, and Whom we
ourselves hope to behold and worship for ever and ever in
the Church glorified in heaven.

4. There are some other matters which, if time allows,
will be treated of in this Synod. Among these may be
specified the further restraint of clerical non-residence ; the
use of the weekly Offertory ; the constitution of Parochial
Councils ; collections for works of piety and charity ; the
means to be adopted for the maintenance of the sanctity
and peace of our Churchyards ; the religious teachmg and
inspection of Parochial Schools ; the restoration of our non-
conformist brethren to the unity of the Church.

5. On these topics, however, I will not now dilate, but
hasten to specify in the last place a subject of primary im-
portance, in which your co-operation is earnestly desired.

I have already stated the principles on which a Diocesan
Synod, properly so called, is constituted, and the laws by
which it is regulated, and the benefits which may be derived
fi^om it.

But in addition to the Diocesan Synod we need a
Diocesan Conference, in which our lay bretlu-en may be
associated with us, and in which they may deliberate with
us, not on controverted questions of Theology, or on the settled
Articles of our Faith, but on various topics which arise from
time to time, and vitally aflfect the interests of religion and
the Church.

A Diocesan Synod (as I have already said) has its own
peculiar duties to perform ; and a Diocesan Conference has its
characteristic functions also. The one is distinct from the
other, but each may assist the other. Every well constructed
balance has two distinct attributes, stability and sensibility.
In our Diocesan constitution, the Synod may be compared

to the one, — the Conference to the other. The subjects
proposed for consideration in them are very different. The
matters for the Synod are those which relate to the doctrine,
the disciphne, and the sacred offices and worship of the
Church, The questions for the Conference are of a more
mixed character ; — such as concern the relation of the Church
to the State, the tendency of legislative measures affecting
the Chui'ch ; the endowments of the Church ; the mainten-
ance of the Christian ministry ; the sustentation of our sacred
fabrics and their services ; the building, and maintenance,
and efficiency of our Schools ; the support of Home and
Foreign Missions. A Diocesan Conference, by its composite
character and its stirring debates,^'' may ventilate many sub-
jects of interest like these, and by open and animated dis-
cussion may prepare matters for Diocesan action.

In order to serve such purposes as these, the Diocesan
Conference must be a representative body composed of Clergy
and Laity.

My reverend Brethren, you have been invited here to-day
in order to settle the constitution of a representative body of
the Clergy by delegation, to be associated and to deliberate
with a representative body of the Laity to be chosen by the
Laity, — in a Diocesan Conference.

Such a representative body of the Clergy authorized and
empowered to act as your delegates, could not be constituted
without the presence and consent of all the Clergy whoso
delegates they are to be. If there were, therefore, no other

**• The Diocesan Synod (which is a sacred assembly for sacred purposes) has
its projMT jtlace for iiifctiiig in tlic Ciithi-dral f'luircli ; hut I Would VLMituix- to
submit for considcnitioii, wiiether a Diocesan Conference, whicli bears more
resemblance to a public meeting of a secular kind, would not be more fitly
gntlicred togctlicr in a secular building. It excites a painful feeling to hear of
"Applause" given to speeches, and of marks of disapinobation, and of eager
repartees, and of divisions into majorities and minorities, and other accessories
of "public meetings," in the sanctuaiies of our Cathedral f'hurches.

reason for calling this Synod of all the Clergy of the Diocese,
this of itself would have sufficed.

A plan for the election of representatives of the Clergy
will be laid before you to-day. The principles upon which
it is based are these.

It cannot, I think, be desirable that one Clergyman should
be put up as a rival Candidate against another Clergyman,
dwelling near him in the narrow precints of the same rural
deanery. Such a process of competition, multiplied through-
out the Diocese, would engender endless heart-burnings and
animosities, and instead of promoting unity and efficiency,
would distract and weaken us.

Besides, there is a gi-eat disparity in the extent and
population of the fifty rural deaneries into which this Diocese
is divided ; and it would be difficult to adjust their relative
claims with regard to the number of Clerical representatives
which each of these deaneries should send to the Conference.
It is proposed, therefore, that the entire Diocese should
be taken as the basis of the representation, according to a
scheme which will be laid before you.

In addition to the elected Representatives, it is proposed
that some of the Clergy of the Diocese should be Members
of the Conference ex officio. The Convocation of the
Province consists partly of ex offcio Members, and partly
of elected ones ; and it is probable that the Lay Element of
of our Diocesan Conference would be constituted on this
principle.

The mode in which the Lay Representatives in the Diocesan
Conference should be chosen, must be left to be decided by
the Laity themselves. We possess ah-eady a valuable body
of Laymen, the Lay-Consultees, which has rendered much
service to the Church, — especially by the foundation of the
Association for the Imj^rovement of the Incomes of Poor

Benefices in this County. The constitution of that body
will shoi'tly come under revision, according to the terms on
which it was originally formed. No one, I am persuaded,
would desu'e to disturb it, as long as that time lasts, and it
may reasonably be hoped that, with its help, arrangements
may soon be made for the election of Lay Representatives to
be associated with the Representatives of the Clergy in a
Diocesan Conference.

Thus, by the blessing of God, this Diocese will possess two
distinct Institutions, differing indeed in constitution, and
also in their modes of proceeding, but mutually helping
one another ; the one derived from the earliest ages of
Christendom, and consecrated by the venerable prescription
of eighteen centuries, and by the time-honoured traditions
and historical associations of the Universal Church and of
the Church of England, — the DiocESAN Synod ; — the other,
springing up from the free life of popular Institutions and
Representative Government, — the Diocesan Conference.
By means of both we may hope to invigorate the old with
what is new, and to consolidate the new by what is old ; and
thu.5, by not cutting off the entail of the past, but by gladly
welcoming the present, and hopefully looking forward to the
future, we may combine all ages together, and join them in
a cordial embrace of Christian Truth and Christian Peace.

And now, my beloved Brethren in Christ, let us hallow
our work Vjy joining togctlier in the holy festival of Christian
Love, the Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ : and may God of His infinite
mercy grant that those solemn words whicli were uttered by
Him Who instituted it, and mm the d.iy in wliirli I Ic instituted
it, may be fulfilled this day in us; "Sanctify them. Holy
Father, througli Thy Truth ; Thy Word is Truth. I pray for
them that they all may ])C one, as Thou Father art in Me
and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us, 1 in them.

24.

and Thou iu Me, tluit they may be made perfect in one, and
that the World may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast
loved them as Thou hast loved Me."'^*^

=" St. John XVII. 20—23.

f — -- -• 'j\

NOTE A. .- -

From the " Kefoematio Legum " (ed. Lond., 16iO, p. 103).

Cap. 19. De Ecdesid ; de Synodo cujuslibet Episcopi in sud diosccsi.

Quii-IBET Episcopus in sua dicecesi habeat synodum, in qua cum suia
presbyteris, parocliis, vicariis et clericis, de his agat rebus quae pro tempore vel
constituend;e sunt vel emendand?e. Etenim aptissima profecto medicina synodus
est adcastigandam negligentiam, et tollendos errores, qui subinde in ecclesiis
per diabohim et malos homines disseminantur ; fietque ut per hujusmodi
synodos conjunctio et charitas inter Episcopum et clerum augeatiu- et servetur.
Nam ille suos clericos propius cognoscet et alloquetur ; atque illi vicissim
coram eimi audieut, et quando rei natiu'a postulabit interrogabunt.

Cap. 20. Dc tempore et loco sijnodi Episcopalis.
Singulo quoque anno synodus ab Episcopo indicatur, curetque diem con-
dictam omnibus pastoribus qui sunt in agi-o, per decanos ruri sparsos, indicari ;
sua vero in civitate per concionatorem Eeclesite Cathedralis, et schedas foribus
affixas, diem hujusmodi pervulgari mandabit, toto mense priusquam synodum
instituat. Liberum ver5 ei sit quemcunque diem voluerit ad id accipere post
doraiuicam secundam quadragesiniiB. Locum vero in sua diojcesi deliget sibi
Episcopus quem omnibus, qui accessuri sunt, judicaverit esse commodissimum.
A synodo vero nulli ex clericis abesse licebit, nisi cujus excusationem Episcopus
ipse approbaverit. Et ipse cum primis praesens adesto Episcopus, et (quemad-
moduni par est) synodo prassit: quem si gravissima causa fortassis abesse
coegerit, ejus loco .synodo prssit Archidiaconus.

Cap. 21. De formd habcndce synodi.
Ad locum quem Episcopus assignaverit die condicta cleras adsit, et mane
hora septima ad templum conveniat, primumque in medio templo preces, qu£e
Litanise vocantur, solemni ritu decantabuntur. Deinde Archidiaconus, vel
Episcopus ipse, si adsit, concionabitur, idque lingua materna, nisi aliter causa
legitima suaserit ; concione vero absoluta, Communio celebrabitur ; qua peracta,
Episcopus ad locum aliquem interiorem cum toto clero migrabit, exclusis
omnibus laicis, iis exceptis quos ipse manere jusserit, oranibusque ordine con-
sidentibus, maxima cum gravitate summaque pace de his agetur, qute maxime
necessaria visa fuerint.

Cap. 22. De rebus in synodo Episcopali tractandis.
Si qua con-uptio verae doctrine obrepserit, coarguatur. De Scripturis
quae cum animarum offensione perperam exponuntur, juxta fidei orthodox*
convenientiam explicentur ; et quae fortassis non intel'lecta conscientias per-
turbant, fideliter excutiantur et declarentur. Ccrcmonite impiaj et super-
stitiosaj, si qua iUapsa' sint, auferantur. • Ecclesiasticae querela; atque

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controversine audiantui', ot quantum tempns ferat, definiaiitur. Et inqniratur
quam diligeutissime an ritus omnium sacrorum ollieiorum, juxta I'ormam
a nostris legibus prsescriptam, in ecclesiis instituantur. Et in sumnui,
qufficunque ad utilitatem populi Dei visa fuerunt pcvtinere, integi-a fide ac
singulari diligentia tractentur. Ibi de qua?stionilnis rerum coutroversarum
interrogabuutur singuli presbj^teri. Episcopus vero doctiorum sententias
patienter colliget, neque dicentes, quoad finem fecerint, ab uUo assidentium
sinat temere interturbari : nam (ut inquit Apostolus), "Deus non est con-
fusiouis Deus, sed pacis." (1 Cor. xiv. 33).

Cap. 23. De synodo condudendd.
Non permittat Episcopus ad multos dies perferri sjTiodum, sed illi, quam
primum fieri possit, finem imponat ; qiua neque pastoribus neque gregibus
conducit ut a se diu utrinque disjungantur. Sententiam itiique feret de litibus
et querelis, qute illo brevi spatio temporis definiri poterunt : alias, quaj
cognitione longiori opus habent, aut alio tempore ad suum tribunal judieabit,
ant per Archidiaconum cum Septembri mense ad \-isitaudum dicecesim pro-
fieiscatur, quid decreverit, significabit. De qurestionibus qua? ad doctrinam
et ceremonias spectant, canones partim tunc publice propouet, partini
Archdidiacono visitatino publice proponendos committet. Decreta vero illius
et sententias, vel in Sjniotlo per ipsura, vel per Archidiaconum in visitatione
divulgatas, iuferiores rainistri ut validas et firmas retinebunt. Quod si quid
in eis vel injustum vel absurdum contineri arbitrati fuerint, id ad Arcliiepis-
copum deferaut, cuju.". erit, ab Episcopo constitutum decretum aut sententiam
vel confirmare vel emendare, ita tamen ut qua parte ilia non correxeiit
Archiepiscopus, vigorem suum et robur retineant. Episcopus itaque, in synodo
suis promulgatis decretis atque sententiis, ad curam et solicitudinem commissi
gregis clerum adhortabitur, et cum pace et Spiritu Domini eorimi quemque ad
suas ecclesias reverti jubebit.

NOTE B.

Archbishop "Wake "On the State of the Church." London, 1703:

pp. 23—24.

"The Diocesan S>Tiods of the Bishops and Clergj', of every Dioccss, who by
their joynt counsel and authority (committed to them by Christ) ordcr'd the
affairs of their respective Diocesses, before any other Coimcils were settled, or
assembled in the Church. —

That the Fjishop of every Diocess has, by Divine Commission, a power to
govern the Cliurch of Christ, over which lie is placed; and in order tliereunto,
to call together the Presbyters wliich minister under him, was the constant
sense of all the ancient Councils and Fatliers of the Church. They have not
only allow'd of tliis power, but have directed the exercise of it, and commanded
the Bishop, from time to time, to put it in execution.

How often every I'ishop was obliged to assemble his Diocesan Synod, the
Canons of the Churcli inform us :* wliicli generally ordained tliat these Coun-
cils .shoidd be lielil at least once every year, and obliged the Clergy, under tlic
severest penalties, to appear at tliem. In the ancicTit formulary for holding of
these Synodst among us, the order is, tliat tliey should be convened twice in
the year ; and tliis seems to have tlien been the ancient measure of them. Tlie
Synod of Calcyth:J: settled it betimes liere ; and if we may rely upon the
Worcester cojiy of tlie Synod of ^Vin(■llester, anno ]07C,§ we must hmk iipim
this to have tlierc again had a [lublic deterniinalion. 'Tis tine in llic Colton
MS. tlie ilecree is more general ; that every IJisliop should hnjd a Syn(»l
eveiy year, and yet, above 200 years after, in the Constitutions of the I'.ishop
of Durham, II anno 1312, the proportion of two yearly Synods was not oidy

• ."v-n Spelman Corfil., Vol. tl. p. 1. t Coneil. Anihsiod., Ann. /)78, Can. 7.

t .Spelm. Cone, Tom. I. p. 29:t, Can. 3, Ann. "87.

i Apud Sptlm., lb. p. 12. || Spelm. Coneil., Vol. 2, p. 436, Cop. 3.

established as a rule for tliat Bishopriek, but was said to liave been established
according to the Canonical Sanctions, which therefore seem to have yet con-
tinued in a general force among us. But the coninion direction of the Canon
Lawli was to have such Synods held once in the year ; and tliis Lynwood**
seems to deliver as the rule of our Church too ; and tliere is this reason to be-
lieve tluit by tliis time it was become so, that when the Knformatiou was made
of the Ecclesiastical Canons, then in force in this Church, tt tins was the
Proportion which we find was intended to have been continued by those, to
whom the review of those Canons was committed.

To this Synod all the Clergy who had any Benefice within the Diocess, were
obliged to come :Ji and so were the Regulars too, as well Abbots as Monks ;
excepting only those who, in process of time, were exempted from the Epis-
copal Jurisdiction. And even those,g§ if they had any Benefices, by reason
whereof they became subject to the Authority of the Bishop, were obliged upon
the account of such their Benefices to come likewise. In the Constitutions of
the Bishop of Durham, |||| the Members of these Synods are thus computed :
Abbots, Priors, Archdeacons, Provosts, Vicars, and Parochial Chaplains : and
that this was nothing peculiar to that Diocess, the Kcformation of our Ecclesi-
astical LawHH shews, wliicli was gathered out of the Canon Laws, then in
practice among us ; and (omitting only the Regulars, who were now suppress'd^
enumerates the rest much after the same manner, the Bishop with his Pres-
byters, Parochial Ministers, Vicars and Clerks.

The first thing that was usually done on these occasions, was for the Bishop
to make his Synodical Enquiries ;* of Mdiich the ancient forms still remain to
us. Then the Synodical causes were heard. Every one who had any proper
complaint to make, was permitted to speak ; and for this end, not only the
Clergy, but the Laity too, tvcre suffered to he •present at these Synods, and to
speak in them.

In these Sjaiods, the Bishop was wont to declare to his Clergy what had been
decreed in the Larger Synods of the Province :t In these, he was directed to
charge his Clergy to have a care of their Ministry, and to lay before them the
main branches of that Duty, which was incmnbeut upon them in their respect-
ive places to fulfil.

And lastly, in these Synods, the Bishop published his own Diocesan Consti-
tutions :§ which being read, and agreed to by the Synod, were from thenceforth
of force within the Diocess ; provided they were not contrary to what had been
decreed in some superiour Council of the Province. Of these we have several
collections already published in the volumes of our Councils, and many more
there are still remaining in the Registers of our Churches, which witness the
same to us.

How they proceeded in the celebration of these Synods, the ancient Orders
framed for the holding of them, inform us. The Clergy in solemn Procession
came to the Church where they were to meet, at the day and hour appointed
by the Bishop, and sate according to the time of their Ordination. || Then the

^ Dist. 18, c. IG, 18, q, 2, c. Abbates Concil. ArelaL, vi., can. 4.

** Provincial, Lib. I., Tit. 14, de Maj. and Ob. Cap. Item. Statuimus, Voce Synodis.

tt Reformat. Leg. Eccles. De Eccles. <fc Ministr. Ejus, Cap. 20.

XX Capitul. Vol. I, col. 171, Siinod Vernens. cap. 8, Lynwood, 1 c, Voce Synodis.

§§ Concil. Antissiod, can. vii.. Synod. Moguni., 1, can. xiv.

lill Ubi. Supr., Cap. 3. f f Loc. Sup. cit.. Cap. 10.

* Vid. Not. Baluz. in Reg., p. -Wl, 5.32, Reform. Icgq. Eccl. 1, c, Cap. 22. Vid. Ord. Rom.

Bibl. P.l'. To. 13, p. 742, 743. Spelm. Concil., Vol. II., p. 1,2, &c. Ord. MS. in Bibl. Cott.

Tiberius, c. 1.

t Dist. xviii., Epist. Bonifac. ad Cuthbert. Arch, apud Spelm. T. 1, p. 238. Lynwood de
Consuet., Lib. 1, Tit. 3, Cap. Hujus autem, p. 18, b. Ord. Rom. loc. Supr. Cit. Baluz. in Reg.,
p. -532. Ord. Spelm., Tom. 2, p. 1, Ord. MS. Supr.

5 Leo IV. Epist. ad Episc. Britannice apud Labb. Concil., Tom. 8, col. 31. Ord. Rom. in
Pontifkali, lib. III., fol. 18!), Edit. Veiiet., An. l.'jfil. Lynwood de Appell.. I., 1, 2, Tit. 7, cap.
In Consilio, verb, statutum, Francisc, Leo prax.for. Eccl., par. 2, cap. 9, sect. 15.
11 Vid. Ord. MSS. Bibl. Cotton, supr. cit.