EVENING SEDERUNT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4029, 16 January 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

EVENING SEDERUNT.

The minutes of the afternoon's sederunt were erafirmed.

THEOLOGICAL TUTOKR. The Returns for the appgintment of Theological The Key" Or Stuart moved—?f That tjiere bs no theological Tutors dppointed this yeaiv Ho must acknowledge that it was not with very ereat pleasure that he rose to make this motion. years there were two tbVngs extremely dear tonim^asettler in New eala"d' 4 . Tfc e °. np was the establishment oi an WstjfcßUon for gjySr the proposed course for their fUluro mm - w 3 Many besides him «et their hearta upon establishing a University in fact for imparting n,C knowledge to their students. Ho Ud I

he was delighted when he saw this object coming near attainment. He confessed-last year ! that when the report of the Theological Hall Com: mittee was adopted, he was delighted above measure. He thought he -would see an able man as Professor, and two of their own ministers as tutors, givinginstructionto their future ministers in the noble sacred sciences. Through the death of Professor Fairdon, whose colleagues did' not see their way clear to nominate ariother.delegate,: the matter was delayed. But that was nothing' to the action-of the Synoa itself. It was. the characteristic of the Presbyterian Church to have a good instructed ministry. They did not see their way clear to send their young imen only partially furnished for the woik. He did not see in the works of Divine Providence any signs of haste. Their Lord Himself was not ia a hurry to enter upon his great work. There were many ways in which young men could be employed than in preaching the Gospel. He had known men Again and again, through demand upon their intellectual nature, compelled to resort to stimulants before being prepared for • the woik. He was desirous of seeing the Gospel carried to every part of Otago. It seemed to. him that the rfynod this year had taken up a wrong position with regard to theological students. The fact was that the arguments used in Mr Boyd's. case could be applied to any other case. It was a wrong principle to adopt to say that one's place could not be supplied at Alexandra or elsewhere. He looked forward to six theological students, and now there was a prospect for only two or three. He would use no arguments for the appointment of a tutor this year. He would not say that they should not elect a tutor yet, but make the appointment without opening the classes till next year. He would move the resolution—that tutors be not appointed this year. The Rev. Mr Watt seconded the motion. Speaking ss Dido, he would not make others m:s-ii-able because he had been miserable himself. He thought it would be wrong to appoint a tutor for only two theological students Before sitting down he would say that lie had not found-in theological halls the knowledge that the students under him had manifested, and it reflected considerable credit upon the University, which had only been recently established.

The Key. Mr STOBO was in favour of having a theological tutor appointed at once. The Rev. W. Gillies had felt somewhat inclined to agree with tho proposal made by Dr Stuart, but after reflection he thought they would regret doing this hasty act by upsetting their former resolutions. He thought they should take steps towards forming their Theological Hall They should remember that tho Rev. Mr Spurgeon started his Theological College in 1856 with one student and one solitary tutor, the Key. George Rogers. That state of affairs continued till ISGI, but in 1863 there were no less than G6 students. Though they might not advance to so great an extent as that, they should commence their Theological Hall. They would probably commence with two students, and he thought it would be a wrong priuciple to disregard their labours up to the present. They had led many in their Church to look forward to the Synod's fulfilling what they had publicly made known. It would be wrong to disappoint those expectations. He moved—"That this Synod goes on to make arrangements for the conducting of classes in Theology, in Dunedin, for first and second years' students."

Mr BOURIE seconded the amendment, and said the examination before the Presbytery annually was a mere farce. It would only take a fortnight to prepare for those examinations. The Rev. W. Will suggested that the words in Mr Gillies's motion should be altered to "first, second, and third years' students." It was a positive benefit to prepare these classes for students, and they were arranged at considerable expense. There was no injury done by requiring students to attend these classes, which were a positive boon.

The Rev. Mr Wateus seconded Mr Will's amendment.

The Rev. W. Bannerman was glad that Dr. Stuart took the view of the matter that he (Mr Bannerman) advocated twelve months ago. They had been unsuccessful in obtaining a Professor, and ho thought the time had not arrived for tho establishment of a Theological Hall. If it were a farce for the students to be under the Presbytery, he would support the appointment of a tutor. He held last year that this matter was premature. Jt was thrown upon them suddenly from the Theological Hall Committee, and they were then called upon to appoint Professors. If ever there was hasty legislation by any Church, it was upon that occasion. He would say that the students under the Clutha Presbytery were placed under an excellent Committee—he was not on that Committee.—(Laughter.) It would take four weeks to prepare for the examinations under that Committee. He heartily concurred in tho motion proposed by Dr Stuart, and he was not surprised to find that he was forced to that motion.

The Rev. Mr Clahk thought it would ho wise for the Synod to delay for another year the appointment of tutors-

The Rev. Dr Stuart said that the statement made by Mr Borrie had shaken his faith in his own motion. In his (Dr Stuart's) humble judgment, Mr Borrie's opinion of the Presbytery was entirely incorrect. ■ With the permission of his seconder and the house, he begged leave to withdraw his motion.—(No, no.) The Rev. Dr Copland explained that the Theological Hall Committee had not thrust their suggestion to appoint a Professor hastily upon the Synod. To overthrow thoir position would be to stultify themselves before the Church arid the country. They should not only furnish money, but young men from their own pious homes for the ministry. It would put a damper upon many of their young men who might be looking forward to give themselves to this work. It was their duty to make provision for these student* for the first, second, and third years' course.

Tho Rev. Mr Todp would support Dr Stuart's motion.

The R,ev. L Mackie thought that they should progress in the work of establishing the Theological Hall and appointing tutors. The Revs. Messrs Johnstone and Sutherland supported the amendment. The latter spoke strongly in favour of private tuition. The Rev. Air Rosa asked whether students wore likely to come forward.

The Rev. Dr Stuart theught there would be tivo students.

The Rev. W. Gillies's amendment was lost,

The Rev. W. Will's amendment was carried by 32 votes to 8. The Rev. Dr Stuart voted for the amendment.

STUDIES OP STUDENTS.

The Rev. L. Mackie moved—" Th.it tho ques? tion of studies for students for the first, second, and third years ba romjtted to a large committee to bring up a report." The motion was withdrawn. ArPOINTMjRNT OF TUTORS, ETC.

The Rev. W. Gjllies moved—"That the subjects to be adopted by the tutors be (1) Biblical Criticism and Sacred Languages, and (2) Church History and Historical Theology.'' The Rev. L. Mackie said that the appoint? ments of tutors at the Presbyterian Theological Hall, Melbourne, were made yearly. The Rev. W. Baxnerman moved— " That the tuj;or3 be appointed to hold their office until the Synod ohall tee ifr necessary to make other or further provision for the training of theological students."

The motion was cariied nein,. eon

The Rev. Dr. Stuabt said that the sessions in the English and American Presbyterian Theological Halls lasted eight months yearly. Here the session would last five or six months.

The Rev. W. Will moved, and Dr. Stuaut seconded—"That tho Rev. M. Watt be appointed TliQGlogip&l Tutor in the subjects of Biblical Criticism and gaor^/1 Jyanguages." The speakers paid a high compliment to the jjljiljties of Mr Watt.

The motion was carried new. con,

The Rev. Mr Todd moved, and Mr Gillies seconded—*' That the Rev. Dr Stuart be appoinfefj sepond Theological Tutor." The Rep. JHf SrPfiQ proposed the Rev. W. Bannerman, who depljned to bp nominated. The Rev. Mr Chisholm proposed the Rev. Mr Am tt

The Key. Donald Ross proposed the Rev. Mr Stobo.

The Bey. Mr Stobo distinctly declined. After discussion, The Rev. Mr Chibholm withdrew his nomination of the Rev. Mr Arnott, from the little support he saw it had obtained.

The Key. Dr Stuakt was appointed second Theological Tutor.