GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20113, 26 November 1928, Page 11

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

MASTER OF KNOX COLLEGE

DR. MERRINGTON APPOINTED. The master of Knox College, Dunedin, since its foundation 20 years ago, tlie Rev. Professor W, Hewitson, is now retiring and the Presbyterian General Assembly was faced on Saturday with the task of appointing a successor. The choice fell upon the Rev. Dr. E. N. Merrington, of First Churchj Dunedin, who received 132 votes, ns against 82 for the Rev. W. Bower Black, of St. Paul's, Christchurch, and 35 for the Rev. E. J. 'J'ipler, of Roslyn, Dunedin. The choice was subsequently made unanimous.

The committee recommended in order of preference Dr. Merrington, Mr. Tipler and Mr. Bower Black. The Rev. It. H. Barton, reporting on its behalf, stated Professor J. W. Hinton, of tho University of Ceylon, had cabled definitely withdrawing, and Dr. John Kirk, of Canton, had attached certain conditions which could not be guaranteed to him. Dr. Merrington, who has been minister of First Church, Dunedin, since 1923, had a distinguished scholastic career at Sydney University, Edinburgh University and New College, Edinburgh, and at Harvard University, where lie specialised in philosophical studies. Ho received tho degree of Ph.D. for a thesis submitted at Harvard in 1905. Ho acted as examiner in Christian Philosophy and Apologetics in the Australian Church until ho accepted a lectureship in the 'llieological Hall, Brisbane. Ho has had extensive ministerial experience in Scotland, Kiama, New South Wales, Sydney, Brisbane and Dunedin and also varied teaching experience. Ho saw war service at Gallipoli and in Franco and Belgium, and was senior chaplain to tho New Zealand and Australian Division. Ho is tho author of several books on philosophical subjects and since coming to New Zealand lias served on many important committees of the Church.

lii acknowledging tho nppoiiitmciit Dr. Merrington expressed a deep desire to serve tlio college to the utmost tlmt was in him. Ho hoped the whole Church would take the opportunity given l>y this inevitable change to show that the college had a very high place in its affection. A motion in favour of cabling to Dr. Kirk offering him tho appointment at £IOOO a year was rejected as incompetent. Tho salary fixed is £BOO. It was agreed to fix tho retiring age of the master of Knox College at 65. Reference to tho retirement of Professor Hewitson was prominent in the report of tho Knox College Council. The master's report reviewed the progress of tho collego sirco its inception in 1909 and stated that during the year the assistant master and 108 students had been in residence. .Every year, with tho exception of tho second year of the war, tho collego had had more applications than it could grant. The Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian Churches had all been represented in tho presidentship.

The report was presented by the Rev. H. 11. Barton in the absence of the convener, Professor T. D. Adams. Consideration of recommendations attached to the report was not completed when the hour of adjournment arrived.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY.

The fire insurance report presented to the Presbyterian General Assembly on Saturday by Mr. A. D. Thomson stated that in August last insurances were in force amounting to £832,679, an increase of £66,866 for the year. Grants of £SOO had been made to the beneficiary fund and of £125 to Scholarships. The result of the year's working was that a sum of £BOO was added to the capital fund. The report was adopted. The report of the Church Board of Education on the various colleges and tho treasurer's financial statement will be among the business to be considered this morning. There will be an afternoon business session, and in the evening at 7.30 a foreign, home, and Maori mission demonstrations will be held in the lown Hall. Among the chief speakers at this gathering will be tho moderator, Professor Ilewitson, the Rev. G. Budd, home mission superintendent, tho Rev. J. G. Langtou, of tho Maori Mission, and the Rev. J. M. Mclvenzie, of Canton. Monday'is usually the silent night for broadcasting, but arrangements have been made for IYA to broadcast the proceedings at this gathering. On Saturday afternoon several hundred delegates to tho assembly and to the Women's Missionary Conference were taken in 70 motor-cars to view some of tho surrounding beauties of tho city, Inc cars were arranged into five groups, which each followed a different, route, leading to- a terminus where afternoon tea was provided.

THE NEXT MODERATOR.

REV. G. BUDD, OF DEVONPORT

The Presbyterian General Assembly 011 Saturday agreed to nominate the Rev. G. Budd, of Devonport, superintendent of the Ilomo Missions of the Church, as moderator for tho year 1929-30. Mr. Budd received 132 votes, and 114 were cast for the Rev. A. B. Todd, of Wellington. The nomination was afterwards made unanimous, and Mr. Budd was most cordially welcomed by tho moderator, the Rev. Professor Ilewitson, and by the assembly. Mr. Budd said ho felt the honour was being done not to himself, but to the men in the home mission field, whom he had been seeking to servo. The honour had been won by these and others to whom he owed very much, but he had the privilege of wearing the decoration. With great humility he took up the taskthat was put into his hands, and trusted ho might discharge it to their satisfaction and to the glory of God. Since the union of the northern and southern Presbyterian churches in 1901. only one moderator has been drawn from the Auckland Presbytery, this being the late Rev. G. B. Munro. The nominations of the Revs. J. Collie, D. D. Scott, D. Mclvor and W. Trotter and of the Hon. J. B. Gow were withdrawn at the request of tho nominees.