Graduation Service At Cathedral

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30740, 3 May 1965, Page 14

Graduation Service At Cathedral

‘The young man or woman who has access to the university is in one of the most privileged minority groups in the world,” said the Rev. W. Selwyn Dawson at the University of Canterbury graduation service held in Christchurch Cathedral yesterday afternoon. After graduation, anyone with a spark of understanding was bound to ask what he had done to deserve that privilege, he said. But he ought to ask what that privilege entailed. “Privilege always entails responsibility, but you may ask how the educated person can understand and then exercise that responsibility.” Mr Dawson said that those having wider knowledge were called upon to be the custodians of life’s higher values, but many took the morally negative course and became the custodians of techniques. “It is easier to recognise flight from responsibility in someone else,” he said. “We will not accept the excuses of Nazi generals who protest that they were only carrying out orders, or that the man selling guns through the mail is only doing a job, but in every profession there is an escape hatch.” The time would come when the graduate must surrender his academic detachment and become committed to humanity. Mr Dawson said.

In fields such as social sciences, philosophy, architecture, engineering, and theology it was possible for the profession to become degraded into a matter of facts, statistics and cases. “We would not hobble the pure research scientists because his findings could be used against us.” he said, “although we would remind him of the notice outside one church which read: ‘Before you set out to explore the moon, do not forget to visit the lonely person next door.’ ” Limited Goals Mr Dawson said many might think it was better to set more limited personal goals, feeling that their efforts could not dent the world’s squalor and poverty. “However, you don’t have to be able to see the end of a job before you begin.” he said. The large congregation, of granduands and their relatives and friends, was welcomed by the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren). Members of the university council, the students’ association executive, and the Mayor (Mr G. Manning) also attended the service, which was conducted by the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. W. A. Pyatt). The call to worship was given by Bishop Warren, and Mr D. Botherway, president of the students’ association, and the Vice-Chancellor of the university (Dr. L. L. Pownall) read the lessons. The Rev. D R. Wilson, university chaplain gave the blessings. A feature of the service was the appearance of the university choir. It was the first time the choir has sung at a graduation ceremony. The organist was Mr C. Foster Browne.

Milk Vendors.—Officers elected at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Milk Vendors’ Association were: chairman. Mr P. A. Caithness; executive, Messrs T. Good, D. Alexander, I. M. Murray, R. J. Collins. B. E. Bean, K. R. Kane, N. R. Chalmers, and W. A. I. Hopewell.