The press. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1889

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7417, 7 December 1889, Page 4

The press. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1889

On Thursday, the 17th of' October, Oxford University was the scene of a festival which for more than two hundred years she has never witnessed, and which it is not to be expected she can ever see again. It is that space of time since the Puritans were driven from-the English Universities, and the occasion of the unusual gathering was to inaugurate the opening: of a Non- . conformist Theological College upon, the site, iandae one of the'"institutions, of the University. We have before us a full report of the proceedings. Dr. Dale's sermon, the address by Dr. Fairbairn, the head of the new College, and the "speeches of cordial welcome by the Master of Balliol, the President of Corpus Christi, the Rector of Exeter College, and the Key. Dr. Hatch. It is a commonplace observation on ceremonials of this sort to say that the 'speeches were worthy of the occasion, but upon: such an occasion as the opening of Mansfield College we. think no higher praise than this could; ba accorded to those who took part in! the proceedings". On the part of the Nonconformists some might not unreasonably have expected that there would, under the . circumstances, have been a willingness to exhib.it, an en- ; joymeiitf of the triumph which they have: unquestionably won. For two hundred: ye,ar.s, aa we said, they had |>eenj excluded from the' portals of the *tJni-; vereity. Little more than thirty years! since they conquered from Parliament l the right to share-in its studies and to obtajn its degrees.,. y The subsequent interval has been spent* political struggle. for full equality; within its Walls as between Noncon-j formists and Churchmen, and By continuous that in the literary' contest the latter were not behind rivals. It; would ( appear, however, from the full report we nave: before us that these were not the reminiscences which were regarded as suited to" the time. The minds of | those who took part in the three days'! i proceedings were, it is evident, deeply intent on the responsibilities of their i new portion* Dr. Dale did not, in! his late journey to Australasia, extend J his visit to New Zealand, but to! those who heard him during his stayj the line taken out his admirable 'address will not come as a surprise. While; courageously asserting, in face of the; certainly miscellaneous gathering assembled to hear him, the fundamental j principles of hie own faith, he accepted emphatically the right or Science toj pursue its own enquhies and to claim its own • results, and recognised not; less unflinchingly the obligations which ■ religion, itself is under, for the, light; which she has thrown once perhaps but half understood. One sentence we will quote for its energy and terseness:' " Wi :■Assert," said the reverend Dpctor, "the duties and the'rights of the intellect in'the; matter of religion. "We -assert them against those devput and timid persons \ who regard the intellect with a vague: terror, ra though it we^e r some vast• and:lawful power, untamed and un- ' tameable, the reckless and irreeoncileablefoeof the authority of the Supreme, a power that must be fettered, manacled and imprisoned, if it ia to be prevented from tearing up the very foundaJaons of. _the Clfcy of God. And; we asaert them' against the adherents* of a philosophy "by which the intellect, if disparaged, and-de-clared to be incom|retent to, the task \ of reaching any sure results, in its attempts to: know the truth concerning 1 man's relations, to the invisible, j the Eternal,, the Divine." Dr, Faib-; pBAiBN, in his character of Principal of; the new College, waa nob less explicit,! and avowed it to be one of. the chief benefits to be derived by the theological students -under his charge,'that theyi would receive .their theological train-' ing - ,* uncoiitined by denominational influences and in the midst of com-] panions af of the Chriatlan' faith and of the opponents of all. There, was, we think, nothing,.in thai address of either which could make it. in any way the heads of! the ancient Colleges to feel that they were all assembled in pursuit; of a common and in devotibia. to a common t'aith. One-would feel, while. listening to their speeches, that fresh element now introduced iuto the University course was after all but; another branch of the same Church which for ages had. undisputed possession of iteij precincts. ? : ; .^, We heartily congratulate net M&s ' the Congregationaliat founders of the College, but the authorities also ok'the ancient University, who have thus welcomed it among them, upon the proepeots wbieb the great ceremomal;

of last October does SOmgthing more than open up. In the most important of all respects, the two bodies cannot but be drawn closer, and each as well as Awth wjlj discover $bat muQn is strength. It Iβ clear indeed that very much must have been already accomplished. $ot to draw too strongly a conclusion from words of welcome uttered when other words would have been less seemly, it must etill be felt that there is a vast interval between the Oxford 0f1854 and the Oxford of 1889. The University has moved with the times. It has shared to the full in the emotions and the anxieties which the earnest enquiries of all that period into the very foundations of the Christian faith have, as the Co4gregationalist speakers at the gathering co vividly testify, brought home to themselves. The differences which separated * past generation have ended, the common principles and the common faith hare survived.

Combinations of all kinds are being organised for the promotion of special political objq<jt«, Wβ have some years been acquainted with protection, leagues, industrial associations, and so forth. These organisations have had for their aims not merely the promotion of industry, by disseminating information and so forth, but jbey have had distinctly political ends in view. They have sought, through the ivBtrumenjsal&y of the Legislature, to : forward the special objects aimed at by their members, and It must be admitted that they have met with a large amount of success. Hitherto the greatest industry of the colony has been coi\tenti to trust to the chapter of aocidents, when a general arrives for securing a proper representation in Parliament of its speoial requirementa. There are, it is true, perhaps thirty members in the House of Representatives who are more or lees engaged in agricultural pursuits. The fact, however, that, they are in the Houae, is due to no organised effort on the- part of farmeress a body. An attempt is about to be made to alter this state of things. Representatives of Farmers' Clubs have been holding a conference in Puneduv the, other day, at. which .questions of interest to farmers wece discussed at eorne length, such as railway rates, the eetabliehuient of distUleries, and a number of other tione of public concern. Amongst other mattere, the Conference considered the subject of political tepreeentation, and after discussion it was resolved that , " the Union be bouati- " tuted so as to secure to the farming! ". interests proper political representa- ~" tion/' " This, it appears to lis, is a step &in Othe x-ighi direction. are no advocates of ;i system" which•.': aims at making oUr members mere delegates, aent to Parliament to vote and speak at the dictation qI a League or Club, A member may be a most; excellent representative of the interests of the ; farming community without being a working farmer himself. But : .if.-we; [understand thejaim of the Conference; aright, whafcissought tobe accomplished ia the creation of more political activityin the rural districts. The progress aad 'prosperity of Ne*w Zealand depend upon its rural population, yet it ia only when i&e country aettlere are really; stirjred up;ttfa; sense of their responsi-i biiliies "that proper cbneideratum,"ls 1 given to a question from their point of; view; "This was what happened at> the last general elections. OiT th r at j occasion the voice' bi the country' settler*' ?was very largely •in favor of economy and 'prudence, and opposed tp ii,^ott6^in r g and Squandphti;. The newilipoUcy ha* already brought about a remarkable change in; 'thb' ooadition of the: , ? $$ it is essential * to: our future progress *that the policy adopted in 1887 should Ibe steadily adhered to. If our farmers generally-: take precautions to have their views properly in the Legislature there is little fear ofcthe 'reslilt. : -~}. : ;-*%'. ' ' - : '\' : - •