The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 431, 30 October 1875, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1875.

The report we alluded to yesterday has caused no small amount of discord in the Synod. The trustees cannot understand why they should be blamed. The Clerical Trustees especially are very indignant at the well deserved censure which they receive, and they are backed up by a legal authority in the person of Mr Hanmer. Archdeacon Willock’s indignation is expressed in no measured terms, and he accuses the Committee of treating him as an “ old rowdy drunkard.”

Now we do not believe tor one moment that the Archdeacon was treated in a manner that could justify his using language of this sort. It will be remembered that the Archdeacon was a witness on the trial of the late Church steward, and the Committee, no doubt, tried to elicit facts from the reverend gentleman who was so conspicuous on that occasion. In the course of his examination some questions must have been asked which ruffled his dignity, and hence his expressions with regard to a number of gentlemen who are at least his equals in the eyes of the community. Mr Mellish carried most of the resolutions he brought forward, but he was compelled to withdraw one of the most important. This was “that the Pre- “ sident be requested to appoint a com- “ mission composed of persons familiar “ with business transactions, whose “ duty it should be to examine and “ report in detail upon the state of the “ property,” &c. It is greatly to be regretted that the President should have expressed his intention of exercising his right of veto if this resolution was carried. No one can pretend to say that up to the present time the Church Property Estate has been really well managed ; but the dread of interference, we presume, induces the President to believe that it is better to potter along in the track in which the Trustees have been moving for some years, than to arrive, by outside aid, at a clear and unmistakeable understanding as to the value of the estate under their control. Every clause in the resolutions, as it was brought forward, was opposed by a certain section of the clerical party, but we are glad to say that the opposition was not of much avail. Mr Mellish and those anxious to get the Church Property Estate into workable order, carried six resolutions, and those that were withdrawn, though they might have remained with advantage, yet were not so much importance that their withdrawal would vitiate the usefulness of those that were carried. The suggestions that the Synod should elect a fresh body of Trustees was a common sense view of the matter, and if such a course was determined on, a certain number of well qualified business men might be induced to act. This would be a real benefit to the estate. The present Trustees, more especially the clerical gentlemen, must feel that they have made a mess of the work they undertook to do, and some of them would be glad to retire from a position that they are incapable of filling with satisfaction to those interested.* The new Trustees would enter on their duties with a distinct knowledge of the difficulties and disorder left them as a legacy by the outgoing Trustees, and in this case the services of harcUheaded business men would be preferable to those of well-meaning but incapable clerics.