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Evening Star, Issue 14531, 6 December 1910, Page 4

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OF DIVINITY STUDENTS. "ALMOST A~~BU'ILESQUE.'' These- used to be a caying in Scotland (in the <lays when every 'household held a <;hild horn to preach) that there were two things a Scot oilman need fear : the Day of Judgment and the examination by. the Presbytery. However, times hav-j changed, as was demonstrated at tha meeting of the Duuodin Presbytery this morning. Five divinity students appeared, for examination. These were Messrs G. | W. T. Kerens, F. 11. Jeffreys. W. M'Lean,' F. VV. Robcrtoon, nr.d A.' Wrisrht. Tho examiners weTe tha Revs. R. E. Davies (Greek and lcv.-tir.ej, J. Erwin (thesis), J. J. Canney (Hebrew exegesis), and W. Gray Dixon (sermon). The last-named reported in detail on the work of each student ; the ol her examiners reported on the work of the students as a whole. The report were favorable, and tho combined recommendations were that the examina- - tions be sustained. _The Rev. R. K. Davies. acting convener of the Hximination Committee, moved ac-j eordingly, and ako that the licensing of' tho students be proceeded with at the ad-{ journed meeting of Presbytery tonight. > It seemed about the time to congratulate ; the students. j The Rev. A. Whyte expresed his belief j that it would bo well to hear the students, j He recounted what u.sed fo be done by thstj Edinburgh Presbytery. From the tenor of! Mr Why tee remarks it was cle;ir that hej bclievod thai such a tost would bring out' what- Shakespeare would have called tha.' mettle of the men. j The Rev. Mr Kinmont recollected his experience in Edinburgh, and the cxaminaw tion of students there was a. sheer weari-i new; of (lie flesh, although the Presbytery eei'ined to like it. \ Tho Rev. Mr Scorgie drew attention io, the waste of time and the undignified drift' of the proceedings. ; The Rev. Mr Chishohn spoke in the' same strain. Rev. Mx Whyte proposed that each candidate be called upon to read an extract froai his exercises, and that the first one read on until he is told to stop.—(Loud: laughter.) The Rev. A. Cameron contended that tho Presbytery alone could vote to have. that carried out. The Rev. Mr Kinmont said that ha would settle everything. "If Mr Whyte insists on hairing n part of each candidate's e-xcrcif.es, I shall insist on hearing all the exercises." The Rev. Gray Dixon, .supported Mr Whyte. He was surprised that here in this great stronghold of Presbyterianisin they were giving up piecemeal one after another of their ancient Presbyterian customs. Tho Rev. D. Borne quietly rebuked tha examiners for their procedure in the mattel of reporting, s|M>ke. a word in praise of tho students and their work, and reminded the Presbytery that they wer« going near to turning the whole thing info n. burlesque. ; .After further discussion it was resolved,! by 15 votes to 9, to sustain the reports! ;ind to proceed with nir-angenients for the licensinj of the students in First- Church I Hall to-night.