, 1874-02-21
COLONIAL.

Oh UI2duISdIIUnr " NIX AZ consequence !
the resolution which has been pretty generally
adopted both in England and some Of her colo
MES to effect its disestablishment as a State
Iustitu ion. And the present stage CT this
transition promises the introduction Of certain
measures into its constitution aud government,
which appear startling, aud almost Inconsistent
with that stern principl Of underwriting and pure
~ ecclesiastical rule, which has ever been its sus-
tanning power. In being thrown, however, upon
itself for the means whereby It's existence shall
be sustained in these remote regions, a meeting
of West Indian Bishops has been held in George
town, Demerara, at which certain resolutions
wEre adopted, that involve an organisation
which only time will be able to demonstrate, as
suitable to the inherent state dignity, which has
always been attendant upon its admIniStra-
ton. .r-.r.,.. ..,..
"The, resolutions Of the West Indian Bis
hops" says the West India" of Barbados,
"embody the politico-ec ecclesiastical results of their
conference. Taking them backwards, the or
ganisalion which they propose for the West
Inoies is this -
Each congregation is recommended to keep
a register of COMMUNICATE and Don-commuui-
cant members, FROM which open and notorious
Offenders are, after admoniliou. to be from time
to time removed, "each removal Git is cautious
~ added} "to involve the forfeiture Of all right
TO Church privileges SO far as the civil law will
permit
1T is proposed, = continues the same paper,
''that a Diocesan Synod Suould be constituted
in each diocese, or, falling this, a Church Coun-
Gil in each island, to consist of the Bi,hop, the
licensed clergy, or their representatives, and
the representatives of the laity. These Synods
or Councils are to seek power from the local
legislatures to make rules fer the management
of their W affairs, not being inconsistent, it
is again cautiously added, with the laws Of the
colony"
"The Conference ~contcmpIates The immediate
institution of a Provincial Synod, subject to
the concurrence of the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, to whom the Bishops have vowed cano-
meal obedience they contemplate the immedi-
ate cons tuition of a Provincial Synod, to con-
sist, in the first instance, of Bishops only, but
10 comprise representatives Of the clergy ard
laity, in case geographical and other obstacles"
can be removed. Among the functions Of the
Synod will be the framing of regulations for the
formation Of new dioceses, and the constitution
of a Provincial Court of Appeal, and Of a tribu-
nal for the trial of Bishops
Continuing the subject, and entering yet
further iuto details, the West Indian states,
'that among matters Of detail the most observa-
bic is the following resolution -
The admission to holy orders Of a person
who intends to continue partially occupied
with some secular pursuit must be left to the
discretion of each individual Bishop but it is
the opinion of the Conference that the practice
of the medical profession is peculiarly com patti
BILE with miuistlatian to sick souls, and with the
discharge of the office Of a Deacon or Priest.
In all gases, unless of extreme urgency, such
persons should act only in subordinarion to the
Priest in charge Of the parish or district"
81 "The West Indian Church, says the same
paper further, "as far as we understand our
position, is no longer a branch of the establish
ed Church of England, although it. adopts, her
liturgy, formularies. and %tenets, and the West
Indian. Bishops have vowed Canonical obedi-
ence to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is a
separate Church standing upon It's own basis,
with authority to frame rules and regulations
for its own government, and this basis is the
voluntary system, tue Church in all the Do
cesesi except in Barbados, being disendowed
and disestsblished. All the Bishops haying
been consecrated by the Archbishop Of Can
terbury, they naturally desire to continue the
alliance between the Church in the West Indies
and that Of the mother country, in order that the
West Indian Diocesesma continue to be supplied
with Bishops from England,-the strongest
guarantee for preserving the connection be-
tween the mother Church and that in the West
4 il