Third Day.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 237, 24 January 1879, Page 3

Third Day.

Devotional exercises having been en-<r!\n-t (1 ill, ;l letter 1!1 IvferPTlCtt to THK NUW PHOFRSSOKIAL CIIAIK, enclosing 1 a resolution of the University | Council thereanent was r<»ad. The J letter was as follows : — " University of Otaii'O, 30th September, 1878. — Sir, T have the honour to inform you Mint, at a meeting- of Uie, Professorial Board, held on the 27th insfc , the following resolutions wen-i passed unanimously : That with reference to the proposal made at the hist meeting of the Synod of" the Otago Presbyterian Church to found a CKiir of Moral Philosophy and Political Euonotnv in the University, it. be represented to the Council. (1) That. Moral Philosophy is now taught in. the University as a leading subject in the department of mental science, to which a two years' course has been allotted in the curriculum of study ; (2) that Political Economy is aUo tan^ht as a separate subject in the University, the course occupying three hours per week ; ('■]) that, the provision which has thus been already made foe instruction in Moral Philosophy and Political Economy is sufficient for existing- requirements ; and that it would not be i possible to afford longer time for these, subjects than is now allotted to them without extending for another year the duration of the period of study ; (4) that, in view of the fact that, the patronage would he in the hands ot sin ecclesiastical body, the institution in present circumstances o f a ohnii 1 of Moral Philosophy could not fail to »-ive vise to an impression throughout the Colony that it, \vn c - intended to subserve sectarian or ecclesiastical purposes ; -an<l that such tin impression, even although unfounded, would he highlv injurious to the present welfare :ind future prospects of the Universiry ; (o) that in the interests of higher education, anil in order to make.tlie course of instruction in the Arts Faculty reasonably complete, and thereby enable students to pass successfully the examinations of the-New -Zealand University, the chairs

which are really »nd indeed urgently needed are a Chair of Physical Science, and a Chair of English Language and Literature ; and also that the foundation of a second Professorship in the Department of Mental Science, while no provision was made for instruction in Physical Science, which is the basis of all sciences, and while only an inadequate provision was made for the study of the English language which — to our students — is the most important of all the languages, would weaken public confidence in. the wise conduce ol the affairs of the University. — Resolved, unanimouslv — 'hat on ' the grounds above specified, the Council be earnestly r'oom mended to refuse, its consent to tln« founding of die proposed chair of Moral Philosophy, and Political Economy, which, in the opinion of the Board, would not merely be superfluous but would even be prejudicial to thf best interests of the University. — I have, etc., "James G. Black, Chairman." v The resolution, of the University Council, which was enclosed, expressed its gratification at the prospect of a new chair, and also its opinion that a chair of English language and literature and history ot the same, together with constitutional history, in the present circumstances, of the University, would be ot the greatest- service to the higher education. The following- motions of which notice had been previously given came up for consideration, viz. : — Mr Will : " That when the proposed new chair comes up for the consideration of the Synod, I will move that English Literature and Rhetoric shall be assigned to this chair, as recommended by the Kirk Session of East Taieri." By Mr Bannerman : " That with the view of furthering the interests of education throughout the bounds, and securing more fulls' the. original purpose of the. education fund belonging to this Church, (he Synod delay the institution of a new chair and take the necessary steps towards obtaining an amendment of the Presbyterian Church Lands Act, 1866, to the effect that the Synod may be relieved from applving said fund towards indicating and S'lpporti'isr a second chair in the University of Otago, and ha empowered to devote said fund for the payment of bursaries, n^ far as it will allow, to pupils, of either sex, from 'he High and Disfict Schools of the Otati-o and Southland Education Districts wiio shall enter the University of 'Hugo, having p-j^ei'l the matriculation examination of said University ; and, further that power be obtained, in the event of rhf 1 chair, presently endowed by the Svnod becoming vacant, and the University Council nut acfi'ding to its continuance, that the portion ol rhe fund now applied towards its support he. devoted to the increase of the number of bursaru-s, and the U'H'i'r;" ot a bmius to such teachers \v!ims-> pu'vJs «h-»ll be H>h successful wirin-'-; Q\ '■he bursaries."' By Mr ilviev : ' Unit tV regulations passed as an Interim ; \ot. of S>. um] on t-b" Kith day of January, 1858. b<j nou- finaliv passed and adapted bv-thrt .Svnod, wifh the Jilf u r:uion that the words contained in the second line of "he first regulation — namely, wor such other professor ' — lie omitted." The Kev. Mr Rvley, in moving hi-i motion, entered fully" into the whole history of the matter, and characterised the communication from the Professorial Board as marked by the greatest and most revolting materialism, for it took no c >gnisam-.e of that moral and spiritual nature of man which linked him wi f h heaven. Or Stuart took exception to such lan«ruao-e, and explanations unsued. The motion was seconded by AJr M. Begg. Rev. Mr Will, in moving his morion, animadverted verv strongly upon Mr Stout's speech at the theatre. The Rev. Mr Johnstone seconded Mr Will's motion. The He.v. Mr Bannerman then moved the motion standing in his name. In reviewing the speech of the Hon. Mr Stout, he accused him of being either the imxt ignorant or the, most, unprincipled of men. He seemed to be, ignorant of the fact that General Assembly Acts override Provincial ; Acts, and if aware of it he had calculated upon the gullibility of his audience. I Other statements made bv the Attorney--General were called in question. The Rev. Mr Kirkland moved the following amendment: — " Rescind the T'nterim A « • r, with a view of conferring with the University Council as to the, allocation of the subjects presently allocated to the professors of moral philosophy and English literature." On the question being put there voted : For the amendments of Mr Rirkland, 21 ; Mr Bannerman's 82. «lr Biuinprrn'.in's then became the substantive motion, and being pu*; as against Mr Will's amendment, there voted" for the- former 20, and for the letter 24. Mr Will's was accordingly dropped. Messrs Bannerman's and. Rvley's were afterwards put. For Mr Ry ley's 31 -voted, and for Mr Bannerman's 11 ; about fifteen did not record thoir votes on this. Mr R.yley's motion- was therefore declared amid applause,. Rev. Mr Will wrotfi -out a pro'psf against the decision, which was signedby- himself and D. M. Stuart, Win, Johnstone, A. B. Todd, Michael "Watt, .J. M. Sutherland*, W-. =■& -Fitzgerald,

W. Thomson, J. Runciman, J. Steven, David Borrie, J. M'Ar'a, and Robert Ewen. " On the overture from the Dunedin Presbytery re Bible reading in schools, the Rev. Mr Will said that the present system had bften given a fair trial, and the Synod were alKiid'that unless some voice— and a loud' one too — was raised against that system, many of our young would grow up utterly ignorant of the. Bible — aye, wirh a positive dislike to it. They did not come forward to advocate denominationalism — they were strongly opposed to that. What they wanted was a national unsectarian svstera, providing that the Bible should be read in schools at certain hours, but wirh a conscience that the. children of those parents who objected need not attend. The Rev. L. Mackie-secon.ded, saying this was the time for them to speak out their minds and take action. The debate was adjourned.