PROFESSOR MARSHALL-HALL'S "HYMNs."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10900, 3 November 1898, Page 3

PROFESSOR MARSHALL-HALL'S "HYMNs."

The Melbourne University Council has como to a decision in reference to tho conduct of Professor Marshall-Hall in publishing certain poems, under the. title "Hymns: Ancient and Modern." while occupying the Ormond Chair ot Music Thp matter has been before the council in various forms for several months past. When the question was first raised the professor resigned, and the council accepted the resignation with certain conditions attached as to the professor severing his connection with the conservatqrium. To this Professor Marshall-Hall replied that if tho council was legally entitled to enforce its conditions lie had resigned iincloi a misapprehension, and withdrew his letter of resignation. In consequence of Professor MarshallHall having withdrawn his letter of resignation, the council passed the following resolution:—

" The council has considered (he books published by Professor Marshall-Hall, his address .at the Liederlafel, and his letters to the council. Professor Marshall-Hall has, by his books and address, endangered tho future of the School of Music and of the Conservatorium of Music. The libidinous character of liis poems and other writings, coupled with his ostentatious parade of disbelief in Christianity, or any form of theism, and of his contempt for those who hold such beliefs, have shocked the community, have infringed the principles of neutrality in religious matter which has so long induced to the usefulness of tho University, and tended to make many parents shrink from allowing their children to attend the teachings of the University. Having regard, however, to the very limited powers conferred upon the council in such cases by tho constitution of the Univcrsilj', the understanding that Professor MarshallHall now recognises the grave mistake he has marie,, and pledges himself to abstain from each conduct in tho future, the council does not see lit to attempt any further action. The council, while acknowledging the excellent work of Professor Marsliall-Hall in Ilia

conForvalorium and in the University, thinks it fair to intimate to him that, in the opinion of the eounail. it will bo impossible to reappoint him when his tenure of five years has como to an end in 1900." This means that, providing the professor meets the views of the council, he will continue to occupy the chair of music till the end of his tenure in 1900. The legal position of tho council, as Professor MarshallHall contends, was that ihn Act of Parliament constituting the University prohibited any religious test being applied to an officer of the University. Hence they could not dismiss Professor Marshall-Hull on Ihe grounds of his agnosticism. Secondly, he asserts that the realism in his writings was in harmony with the expressed views r,f a large school of artists, and it was doubtful whether the coun«l could justify th,. professor's dismissal belore a jury on the ground of his having pubwshod works or passages for which he could find parallels among accepted classical writers, and whose works were now text-bonks at the Linivpity The members of the council would, under the circumstances, themselves be "able to an action for damages if tho profesMV were dismissed on this ground, and the Difficulty was whether a jury would accept a™ tows of the character of tho works or taoEO of Professor Marshall-Hall.