The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-27 00:00:00

THE BISHOP'S SYNOD.

Our correspondent writes as follows :
EXETER, Sr:ir 28.
I have nothing defiuite to report as to the proceedings of I
the so-called synod. Application was made fur admission 1
to report the proceedings, but the answer was that no
reporter would be admitted. I understand, however, that
the bishop has a reporter from Loudon in attendance, who
takes notes, and is called secretary.
There are rumours in the town that some bickering'
arose during the deliberations yesterday, but I do not think
they are true, the reports of the tranquillity of the pro-
ceedings being universal in the hest-informed quarters. A
mob had assembled outside the cathedral yesterday, it being
reported that a grotesque procession would meet the dele-
gates. This, probably, was a suggestion of some lover of
practical jests, but it served to draw a considerable throng
to the portals of the cathedral. The people, however,
quietly separated when they found there was nothing to
look at, and to-day there is not the slightest symptom of
curiosity manifested.
Upwards of a hundred delegates assembled at the morn-
ning service to-day, and afterwards proceeded to their I
deliberations.

As our own reporter was not admitted, we giro the fol-
lowing account of the proceedings upon the authority of
this day's Morning Chronicle, whose reporter, it would
seem, is a favoured personage in " high " quarters :
"SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

" EXETER, TIMIRDAT.
" After divine service the synod resumed its sitting
at eleven o'clock this morning, in the Chapter-house. The
attendance was fully as great as that yesterday, and it will
be seen that the business transacted was of a most practical
and important character.
" The Lord Ilishop, having taken his seat, proceeded to
say that the great business of the day was the consideration
of the declaration on baptism, with certain modifications,
which he had had printed since yesterday.
"The synod then proceeded to the consideration of this
important document. The discussion upon it was very brief,
and most harmonious, having relation merely to the phrases
oloiry employed in the first mid second paragraphs. Even•
tually it was carried unanimously, on the motion of the
Rev. Prebendary Osenliam, who delivered a very able
speech, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Downell, of Oakharup-
ton, and ably supported by the Rev. Prebendary Role.
(The paper front which we quote hire gives the altered
" declaration," published in yesterday's Esprces.)

" Eflt CATIO\,

"The next subject for discussion was that of education
according to the principles of the church of England, in-
cluding schools for the poor, middle I,ehools, the Training
College for Masters at Exeter, for Mistresses at Truro, and

"The Rev. Chancellor Hantxoros brought under the
notice of the synod the worth and position of the Diocesan
Training College at Exeter. This college, the reverend
gentleman stated, lied sent out thirty-three masters, who are,
or at least were at Christmas, employed ❑s master% of schools.
There were nineteen resident in the college, and there had
left twelve from various causes. Many of these had been duly
educated for the work of schoolmasters, but il• the circum-
stance of so many being withdrawn caused any apprehere-
ohms, he requested his brother clergymen to remember that
' at the York training-Wuxi', which was admirably endowed,
and which was one of the five recognised Privy Council Col-
leges, the proportion had been nearly 20 per cent. But in
future the Exeter Diocesan Training College would nut lose
so many, because, in future, those-
who left would obtain
certificates of merit, from which an increased stipend would
necessarily follow. De was glad to state that in the compe-
tition for certificates of merit the pupils from this school had
been very successful. Two pupils and one master had all
obtained certificates. One, a lad of only Is, who knew little
before he entered the school, had obtained one of the second
class ; and when it was recollected that out of 700 certificated
men, there were net twenty five with that of the first class,
they might be able to appreciate the character of the minim.
tition fa the second. There were in the diocese at this mo-
ment 131 pupil teachers. Fifty-five schools had now pupil
teachers, whilst three years ago there were no more than
five. There were liken ise 13 certificated masters—showing
a considerable want. Of the pupil teachers 3) were in Corn-
wall and 75 in Devon. It was the wish of the committee that
every master educated ill the diocesan college should be en-
abled to take with him, when In, left the college, a govern-
ment class certificate, in order that he might be enables' to
take pupil teachers. There were always applications, for mas-
ters capable of taking pupil teachers, and, he was obliged to
add, that, in mum caws, applications were mails to St.
Mark's College at Chelsea, Battersea, and other training col.
kites because they had not at Exeter a supply of certificated
masters. The next point be should touch upon was the
erection of a college. Unless there were funds to build it,
the diocese would not be placed iu the positiun in this respect
which it ought to hold. At present they had not the in-
spection of government, and why ? Because the premises
where the college was now located did not meet their re-
quirements, and until that was done the college could not
receive the assistance which arose from the payments made
by the government on account of the certificates obtained
by the pupils. During the last year, for example, they
had had five certificatM men; the college should have re-
ceived 10/. for three years on account of that, but it was
withheld until the college was built, iu accordance with the
government requirements.
_ _ _

" In reply to'a question from the Rev. Dr. Harris,
"The ttev. Chancellor Ilmenvorort stated that the es-
estimated coat of building a new college was 7,0001. The
rev. gentleman concluded by moving:
'" That the clergy of the diocese of Exeter, in synod as-
sembled, duly appreciating the advantages which this dio-
cese has already received from the Diocesan Training Col-
lege, and feeling confident, from the proficiency of the
pupils, as evidenced by their late succes,ful consomition
certificates of merit, that the wants of this diocese may be
fully supplied by the Exeter Diocesan College, if duly sup-
pioted, resolve to promote the interests of the Training
College in our several deaneries, through the medium of
the local imarda, by augmenting the funds applicable to the
purposes of the college, by endeavouring to obtain pupils,
and especially by recommending fur admission pupil teach-
ers and stipendiary monitors, who may have successfully
completed their term of apprenticeship; and we further
resolve to aid the diocesan board in their endeavour to
erect a college capable of receiving an increased number of
pupils."
" The Rev. Prebendary LUNE seconded the resolution.
" A discussion followed, in which the greatest desire was
shown to forward the object by all tiro clergy who engaged
in it, in the course of which it was explained by the chan-
cellor that the college would only require to he inspected in
order to receive the grants from 'government, but that it
would not come under the management clause.
" The resolution was unanimously- carried : after which the
lord bishop stated that he had put down his name as a sub-
scriber to the college for 100/. He should rejoice to make
that amount annual for the next five years, en furtherance
of the object, if he might humbly presume to look forward
to so long a continuance of his life. (Applause.)

" SCIIOOI. INSPECTION:

o This subject, being allied to the last, was now taken into
consideration, it being introduced by the Rev. Mr. Sanders,
in a loug and very able speech. The rev. gentleman de-
scribed the disadvantage s and imperfections of the existing
system, which, he stated, had occupied the attention of the
diocesan board in relation to the schools in connection with
it. The inspection, he contended, would never be effectual
until it was made periodically and systematically. This, ho
showed, was the intention of the board from their first report,
in order to extend and improve education among the people,
whilst not interfering with the control and management of
local boards in their respective schools. A temporary ar-
rangement was in the first instance made, by which a com-
mittee, in conjunction with the several local boards, took
upon themselves the duties of inspection fur one year. The
temporary arrangement, however, owing to different eir-
curnatances, had, with some slight molifications, been car-
ried on up to this moment ; till now it was extremely de-
sirable that a better plan should be adopted. The existing
plan embraced two classes of inspectors—diocesan and local.
The former were appointed by the board, and the latter by
the local board; and there had been much difficulty in ob-
taining them, so that an enormous amount of labour had
been thrown upon the honorary secretary (the Rev. Chan-
cellor Harington) in writing letters only to persons re-
questing them to undertake the duty. The rev. gentleman
then described, from papers which he laid before the synod,
the objects to which the attention of the inspectors should
be specially directed, and observed that whilst the church
action was secured, the advantages of efficiency and unifor-
nifty all over the diocese were points of the last importance
In promoting education. Ile concluded by moving the fol-
lowing resolution :
" That on any vacancy occurring in the number of
diocesan inspectors, whether clerical or lay, the archdeacons
of the respective arelideaconries be requested by the dio-
cesan board to recommend to them proper persons to whom
the board may make application for their consent to act as
inspectors.'
"The Rev. Dr. Como" it said he had great pleasure in
seconding the resolution.
"The Its,. Chancellor HARD/OTOS suggested, in answer
to a statement that the inspectors had in some instances
been refused access to schools, that it might have been under
en apprehension that the inspectors had not the bishop's
sanction. The fact, however, was, that every diocesan
inspector had his lordship's sanction in writing.
" In the course of an interesting discussion of considera-
ble length, a number of practical considerations were sug-
gested, which were maturely considered. Among them was
the appointment of a paid inspector or inspectors, but the
difficulty in the way of this was stated to be the want of
funds for an adequate remuneration. One or two clergy-
men recommended two paid inspectors, a portion of the

expense to be defrayed hi a annual payment from
each school. All these, and a variety of other incidental
topics, were discussed in a most solemn and calm yet cordial
tone, without the slightest approach to bitterness or divi-
sion; and, after some time had been profitably spent in
this way, the resolution was carried unanimously.
" In connection with the subject of inspection, the synod
' took into conaideration the papers laid upon the table by
Mr. Sanders, with the object of securing efficiency and uni-
formity. It was, however, considered expedient not to
adopt any resolution having specific application to them ;
but the synod unanimously agseed to the following resolu-
tion:
That this synod has such confidence in the Diocesan
Board of Education that they are ready to accept from the
board the papers which they have drawn up for the
guidance of diocesan school inspectors.'
" This resolution, we should state, was agreed to on the
motion of the Rev. W. Kerslake, seconded by the Rev.
Prebendary Oxenham.
" In reply to a question,
The Luau Manor stated that, as he bad already given
his sanction to the visits to schools by the diocesan inn**.

tors, he should be happy to do the same in respect to th
local inspectors.
It was thereupon resolved unanimously, on the motion
of the Rev. Mr. SAUNUEIN, accoaded by the Rev. Mr.
KAU/MAKE:

',` That this Synod rejoices to find that the bishop is in the
habit of giving his sanction to the diocesan inspectors, and
is glad now to hear that the some sanction will be extended
to the local inspectors.'
" It was further resolved, on the motion of the Rev. Pre-
bendary WOOLLCOMRE, seconded by the Rev. Mr. 110 WELL:
" That a proposal he made to tho several masters and
mistresses of church schools in the diocese, that they offer
themselves for examination, in order to hold Pertilicates of
merit from the bi%hop, and that the details now submitted
(these details of examination were exceedingly comprehen-
sive) be referred to the diocesan board for their considera-
tion.'

"On the motion of the Rev. Chancellor HARINOTON, se-
conded by the lie,. Sub-Dean STEPHENS, it wan resolved :
" ' That the several resolutions adopted this day by tho
synod, having reference to the diocesan board, be trans-
mitted to the general committee, with a request that the
best attention of the board be directed to the matters con-
tained therein.'

" And it was also resolved, on the motion of the Rev. Mr.
Gossurr, seconded by the Der. Dr. COLERIDGE :
" That it is, in the opinion of the synod, highly desir-
able that at least one paid ineNctor he appointed for the
diocese, to co-operate with the diocesan and local inspco-
tors.'

" A number of other subjects of great church interest, es-
pecially a discussion on catechising, come under debate, but
as the synod sat until rather a late hour, the report is de-
ferred until to-morrow."

Thus ended the second day's proceedings of the synod,
which commenced at eleven, sat till three, then adjourned
for the evening, and sat till past six.