PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18544, 3 May 1922, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGY

SHORTER CATECHISM ATTACKED.. RESIGNATION FOLLOWS PRESBYTERY’S VOLTE FACE. At its monthly meeting yesterday the Dunedin Presbytery resumed its debate on the admission of the new Scottish School Catechism to the Sunday schools. The Rev. J. C. Jamieson, on behalf of the Youth of the Church Committee, renewed his motion that the Presbytery approve of the Assembly’s remit substituting the new Catechism for that known as the Shorter Catechism. He stressed the point that the question was not which was the better catechism, but which was the better one for children. The Rev. A. M. Finlayson seconded the motion. The Rev. J. M. Simpson proposed an amendment providing for the' use of the School Catechism up to Standard IV, and' the Shorter Catechism thereafter. The Rev. W. Trotter expressed his willingness to approve of the use of the New Catechism in addition to the other, and moved an amendment to that effect. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick seconded the amendment. He drew the Presbytery’s attention to the fact that about a year ago it had approved of the substitution of the Shorter Catechism by the other. The Rev. R. Fairmaid pointed out that a' difficulty plight arise with regard to, the examinations. The Rev. G. H. Balfour described it as ridiculous that children of eight years should be concerned with long words which they (the ministers) found it hard to explain' to themselves, and which it was quite impossible for these children to understand. Mr W. Henderson seconded Mr Simpson’s amendment. The Rev. Hector Maclean said he could not understand the attitude of the Presbytery, which had approved of the substitution of the Shorter Cathecism a year ago. He expressed the opinion that it would be a good thing if the Shorter Catechism were ousted from the Sunday schools. Mr Jamieson, in reply, said the debate had made him feel the hopelessness of the position. Fancy children of seven or eight years stumbling through questions in. the Shorter Catechism which would arouse any amount of debate in any theological hall! The voting resulted in nine in favour of Mr Jamieson’s motion, four jn favour of Mr Simpson’s amendment, and. seven in favour of Mr Trotter’s amendment. The Moderator (the Rev. W. Fairlie Evans) then put Mr Jamieson’s motion and Mr Trotter’s amendment, the voting being B—l2. Mr Trotter’s amendment, providing for the admission of both catechisms was then declared carried. The Rev. H. Maclean then rose and tendered his resignation from the committee. The Presbytery had' put the committee in a false position. If It had come to that conclusion a year ago, the committee would never have sent on the recommendation. He considered it revealed a want of confidence in the committee. The Rev. J. C. Jamieson hoped Mr Maclean, who was an invaluable member of the committee, would reconsider the matter. At the same time ho could not understand how the Presbytery, which had passed the recommendation unanimously before, now rejected it. Members had a habit of not listening when the committee’s business was before them. _ • . ... The Clerk (the Rev. J. Kipatnck) replied that the decision had been reached when there was a thin house.-and that Mr Jamieson’s business was never in before the order paper was made up. This Mr Jamieson denied. . It was resolved, on the motion of the Rev. H. H. Barton, that consideration of Mr Maclean’s resignation be deferred for a month.