KNOX COLLEGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26285, 17 October 1946, Page 6

KNOX COLLEGE

THEOLOGICAL HALL RETIREMENT OF PRINCIPAL Warm tributes to the energy devoted to the interests of the Presbyterian Theological Hall by the retiring principal, Professor S. F. Hunter, paid by various speakers at a gathering in Knox College yesterday. Occasion was also taken to express appreciation of the services given to the college by Mr G. W. Johnstone, lecturer in voice production and expression, who has retired. The convener of the Theological Hall Committee, the Rev. R. S. Watson, said that everyone connected with the college—colleagues of Professor Hunter and Mr Johnstone, and students who had passed through their hands—appreciated in full the services they had given. Referring to Mr Johnstone, Mr Watson said that because of illness he was unable to be present at the function, but his daughter, Miss Margaret Johnstone. was deputising for him. A

minute setting on record his noteworthy services to the Theological Hall and to the Presbyterian Church had been prepared, and this would be submitted to the General Assembly. Mr Watson thereupon handed to Miss Johnstone a monetary gift from a fund subscribed by the past and present students of the college in recognition of her father’s work. A minute eulogising Professor Hunter’s services, to be presented to the General Assembly, was read by Mr Watson. Professor Hunter had been principal of the Theological Hall since 1942,'Mr Watson said, and he was also the first dean of the faculy of theology at Otago University. On behalf of the students he presented the professor with a monetary gift. The retiring principal had made a real contribution to theological education in New Zealand, said Professor J. A. Allan. He had played an impartant part in drawing up proposals for the provision of a degree of divinity in the University of New Zealand, and again had assisted greatly in putting the proposals into practice. His appointment as the first dean of the faculty had been in keeping with his labours, Professor Allan made presentations to Professor Hunter and to Mrs Hunter on behalf of his colleagues in the Theological Hall. Other speakers were the Rev. Dr J. D. Salmond, Mr G. L. Lynds, president of the Theological Hall Students’ Union, the Rev. W. G. Slade, president of the Otago branch of the National Council of Churches, and the Rev. Dr John Henderson. In replying, Professor Hunter said that he had derived great satisfaction from the services he had been able to give, and returned thanks for the speakers’ generous tributes.