CHAIR OF HEBREW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 15

CHAIR OF HEBREW.

ASSEMBLY NOMINATION.

DR. HUNTER SUCCESSFUL.

DISTINGUISHED QUALIFICATIONS

The Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday nominated the Rev. S. F. Hunter, M.A., D.D., of Essendon, Mel bourne, for appointment by the Synod of Otago and Southland to fdl the chair of Old Testament studies at the Theological Hall, Dunedin. The appointment roused the keenest interest \n the assembly. The. two candidates who went to ballot were the Rev. Dr. Hiittfpr and the Rev. I). C. Ilerron. M.C.. M.A., of St. David's Church, Auckland. Dr. Hunter's nomination was put forward by

tho Rev. E. J. Tipler and Mr. W 11. Rose, and Mr. Hcrron's by the Rev. G. T Brown and the Hon. J. B. Gow. It was announced that 147 votes had been cast for Dr. Hunter and 110 for Mr. Ilerron. Dr. Hunter's nomination was thereupon made unanimous. The Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Hunter, tho successful candidate,, has a very distinguished scholastic record. From 1915 to 1923 ho was minister of St. Paul's Church, Oarnaru, and is well known to tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. At Glasgow University he gained his M.A. degree with second-class honours in Semitic languages, and his 8.D., and is also a B.D. of Melbourne with first-class honours in Biblical and historical theology. Ho is by thesis D.D. of Melbourne. lie entered Glasgow University in 1903, where he won a scholarship in Hebrew and Greek and did three years* special work in Semitic languages. Two further years were spent in reading honours semitics alone, and ho was awarded the John Clark Mile-end scholarship for four years' post-graduate study of Semitics and the Glasgow University Oriental Society's prize for distinction in Arabic.

As a student of tho United Free College, Glasgow, he studied Old Testament language and litcraturo for threo years, being practically first man each year, and in his fourth year was assistant to Professor J. E. McFadyen. He was first man in tho exit examinations over the three United Free Church Colleges in Scotland, and received tho honours diploma with high distinction in the general curriculum and special distinction in Hebrew. During his university and college courses he won over £7OO in bursaries. During several busy pastoratss ho has continued his Old Testament studies and won fresh degrees from the Melbourne Collego of Divinity, for which ho is now examiner in Hebrew and Old Testament.

Dr. Hunter has had considerable teaching experience both in Queensland and in Scotland, and has done a considerable amount of literary work on Old Testament subjects. His ministerial experience includes Glasgow slum work, an assistantship in Toronto, Canada, and the pastorates of St. Stephen's, Brisbane, St. Paul's. Oamaru, and St. John's, Essendon. Melbourne.