DEGREES IN DIVINITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 16

DEGREES IN DIVINITY.

Sir, —I read a letter under the above heading in your issue of July 24. It is true that the University of New Zealand has no degrees in divinity. The matter has been discussed on several occasions, but the authorities have not favoured the institution of these degrees. They may feel that that would be inconsistent with the entirely secular character of the present national system of education. They may dread the bogey of sectarianism. They may hesitate to adopt the policy of examining on subjects which are not taught in the constituent university colleges. It is possible, however, as "Disciple" says,, for a New Zealand student to obtain a degree in divinity from other sources. The Education Department has made arrangements several times for students to sit . for the London B.D. examinations. The regulations must have been altered within recent years if what your correspondent states is correct. The New Zealand B.A. would exempt from the London matriculation examination. Exemption from examination in classical Greek and Latin in the" intermediate used to bo granted only to candidates who had taken these subjects for their degree in arts here. A. student would probably find the B.A. pf;ss examination in classics here easier than the London B.D. intermediate. The prescription is much alike, but a higher percentage of. marks is demanded fcr the latter than for the former.' Greater facilities exist for obtaining the B.D. degree from the Melbourne College of Divinity—i.e., for a New Zealand graduate. The percentage for a pass is the same as in London,, but the course, in my judgment, pursues more practical lines. Hebrew is essential for the first examination along .with four other subjects. For the second examination the Latin and Greek scriptures may be substituted for the Hebrew Bible. There are some options in the second examination, London and Melbourne, but in both cases five subjects must be taken. All fiv® subjects must be taken and passed at one time for the London degree, while they may be taken in sections for the Melbourne degree. There are post-examinations for tbo latter, so that an unsuccessful candidate has a second chance of appearing for a test on the same work. The fees for ithe London examination, entry and supervision, are larger than, for the Melbourne one. Arrangements can be made for sitting for either at any of our centres. Some universities, like Durham, send out papers for colonial candidates, but restrict entry to members of the Church of England. Some American and Canadian colleges also send out papers for external candidates, but I have no personal knowledge of these. J.C.