FAMOUS PRESBYTERIAN

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 25 May 1932, Page 7

FAMOUS PRESBYTERIAN

DRi. L. Ma cLEAN AY ATT VISITOR TO AUCKLAND One of the best known figures in Scottish Presbyterianism, Dr. Laiichlan .Mac-Lean Watt, minister of the historic Gl.is.o-ow Cathedral, is at present visiting Auckland. Dr. Watt recently concluded a three months’ preaching 'Ugaoement at Scots Church, M.eli. in lie. under the Turnbull Trust, wh :h was founded for the purpose ol enabling one distinguished preacher ■ ,'oui oversea to be heard at Melbourne 'verv year. Dr. Watt arrived at Wellington by -.To Mnuuganiii last week, and there : o,aided the Mataroa, on which he had hooked iv passage to London. Being m need of rest lie journeyed quietly up the east coast in the vessel, spending two days at Napier, where he found much of interest in the after-effects of the earthquake and the progress of restoration. The visitor, who preached at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Devon!>ort, on Sunday morning, is not only a famous pulpit orator, but is known as the author of over 30 books on religious and other subjects, and of several popular hymns, says the “New Zealand Herald.” A, native of Skye, he is a, leading authority upon Celtic folklore, mythology and literature, on which he has written much, and bardic rank has been conferred upon him in Wales. AUSTRALIA’S BRIGHT FUTURE His experience in Australia had been most pleasant, although he had had a strenuous time, said Dr. Watt in the course of an interview. He had not only preached twice every Sunday but had been called upon to address meetings of every kind in all parts of Melbourne. He had been greatly impressed by the Victorian countryside, and particularly by tlie country children, who were' straight-forward,' frank and splendid, and the finest he had seen anywhere. There were signs that many Australians were tiring of the noise, the poverty and all the other drawback's of city life, and were looking again to a simpler and less artificial I if" nearer to Mother Elarth. Ho had been much struck by the people's response to the appeal of religious ideals. With them it was true that “an empty pocket- fills the l heart.” The younger generation inspired him with the greatest faith and hope in Australia’s f utu re.

Asked about the effects of the great j union of Presbyterian churches in Scot-| land, Dr. Wattl said thev had been excellent and the future wa.s full of promise. “Of course, we have our cliffi— • eulties still,” he remarked, “for there ere always some foolish people. In i some for places in the Highlands some-' congregations have not got used to the; new order of things, but one cannot have everything all at once. I had the honour of being the first Moderator of the great Presbytery of Glasgow, with •°ver 700 members, and I have lectured much to students in pastoral theology. ATv own experience convinces me that the full benefit of union will be found when the second generation of students has passed through the colleges and aIL •our ministry has .been trained upon the same footing. I

DEGREES IN DIVINITY “Rv the wav, I was very much surprised to learn that your University ~ does not confer degrees in divinity.” remarked Dr. Watt. “It seems very strange that in a Dominion founded by men so. strong in the; traditions ■°.f the Old Land theology should he excluded from the University. Tt would ' o a great encouragement to students ■’or the ministries of nearlv all denominations if thev could obtain the Iml I mark of a. R.D. degree in their own country. All could meet upon the common ground of theology and no sectarian differences would he involved. “Tt would be a splendid thing, teo. if von in this remote country could have something like Rhodes Scholarshins for theological students. It is a great advantage to a young man to msit the older lands before beginning his ministry. He has opportunities for study and observation, he is brought into the atmosphere of the past—in Glasgow Cathedral we have the tomb of St. Mungo, who lived 1300 years ago—and he is given the chance to see conditions of life and social problems such as he might never meet in Now Zealand.”