Life from the pulpit

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 19

Life from the pulpit

Dumdbi Jte! SOB pp. MuMndona. $9895 (Reviewed by Angus Roas) This book gives a good, straightforward account of an exceptionally full life. In his very useful “foreword,” Sir John Marshall gives the main facts of the author's life, but without the personal and sometimes entertaining details given by the author himself, which make the book worth while reading. The Very Rev. John Spenser Somerville, CMG, MC, MA, Hon. DD (St Andrew’s), Hon LL.D. (Otago), burn in 1910 and still going strong, has been active in many ways both inside and outside the church where he has been since his war service in the 19th Armoured Regiment, an outstanding leader.

Educated in Dunedin at secondary school, university, and theological ban, he topped off his training with a period at Westminister College, Cambridge. His parish ministry at Tapanui was interrupted by four years in the Army during which his courage in going out to rescue wounded under fire led to the award of a Military Cross.

But it was his ministry at St Andrew’s Church, Wellington, just along the street from Parliament, that brought him into the national limelight As convenor of the Public Questions Committee and later, as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, he secured the opportunity to apply Christian principles to the solution of a wide range of political and social problems. With various politicians as parishioners or as acquaintances, he was able to play a part in influencing decisions on capital punishment the 1951 industrial relations crisis, “No Maoris No Tour” issues, and, after the events of 1954 in Lower Hutt, in the “special committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents.” Close relations with such political leaders as Ralph Hanan, Bill Sullivan, Keith Holyoake, John Marshall, and Walter Nash helped Somerville to make his mark. From 1964 till 1978 Dr. Somerville was Master of Knox College, the Dunedin residential college for divinity and other students. In that office, he not only influenced many by his leadership and lectures in the

Theological Hall, but also through the highly important offices ae came ui occupy. In 1974 he was appointed to the University Council and later he became Chancellor. In 1974 he became president of the University Club and a member of the committee of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association, a body of which he became president in 1979, an office which he still holds. The list of offices held could be extended, but the essential thing to remember is that this broadly but, genuinely liberal minister has continued to exercise his Christian beliefs in a variety of ways. “Jack in the Pulpit” is called alter an American flower the black stamen of which, standing erect in the centre of green petals, has been responsible for its name. Somerville comments in support of his selection of the title for his book: "That certainly is me—- — in the Pulpit It’s where I belong and where I like being.” More than once he stresses the importance of preaching or spreading the Christian message. His book should add to what he has already done in this field, and might well be made “strongly recommended” or even “compulsory” reading for those contemplating entering the ministry: In view of his many activities, it should also appeal to general readers; especially to those interested in our political history around and after midcentury.