FIFTH DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1418, 25 January 1879, Page 8

FIFTH DAY.

The Synod resumed its transactions in the Literary Hall adjoining the First Church, at 1 p.m. THE NEW CHAIR. The Rev. J. Ryley Jaid on the table a document, of which the following is a copy, being answers to reasons of dissent from and protest against the motion carried by the Synod instituting a second professorship in the University of Otago, to be designated the Chair of Moral and Political Economy :— First reason—" Because the Synod has already made provision for the teaching of mental and moral science in the University of Otago." Answer to first reason : The state of this question is hore incorrectly represented, inasmuch as (I) Tho Synod does not interfere with the subject of mental science ; and, although it is truo that the toaching of moral science has beon provided for in tho Chair previously endowed by the t>ynod, it is not true that it is adequately provided for Inasmuch as mental science includes psychology, ontology, the history of philosophy and logic -subjects for which a t-vo year*' course is assigned in tho University of Edinburgh. (2) A main put of tho subject-matter of the proposed Chair just instituted has bean onlirely lost sight of, viz., Political Economy, for wh ! ch no Chair has as yet be-in appointed in thu University., tho increasing importance of which has now bceu forced on the attention of every civilised country in the world. Moreover, when both the subjects of the new Chair— Moial Philosophy and Political Economy— are taught in tho hnme University, they ate cither taught from th.o uamo Chair, or, in a few exceptional cased,

each has a (separate character devoted to itst If. Second reason : " Because tbetru-teen, whose concurrence is .required by Act ot Puliament, are unanimous m their approval of a Chair of English Lan^u ge and literature ; and further, that the University Council also unanimously recommended, a Chair of English language and Lheriture." Answer to second reaso» : TChe concurrence of the trustees is not by Act tl Parliament required for the institution of any Chair, bur, only in the bpp.nntment of the Professor who .3 to flu the Chair when instituted by the Synod, in wh»m alone the power of institution rests. The recommendations of the University Council and trustee , while coming too late to exorcise the amount of h fluence which they might otherwise have done— a fact f»r which these bodies are alone responsible— yet received full and fair consideration and h .d due weight as Jgned to them m the determination to which <he Synod came. The Synod, hi duiy and respeclfu ly coi sid« ring the sfwrosaid recommendations, and havng the 4uty cast upou them of determining on their own responsibility the Chair that should be appointed, Tiare fallowed the only course which they could waeon&fcly have been expected to follow. Third reason : " Because we are convinced that the Chair of English Language and Literature would be most in accordance with the purpose lor which the fond was originally set aside, and would benefit the largest number." Answer to third reason: It would *« wronjr not to Rive the dissentients credit for the «incerity of their convictions, but as they do not state the grounds on which these convictions rest, this reason admits of no reply. On the other hai.d the Synod is as strongly convinced that a Chair of M-ral Philosophy and Political Economy would be as much In accordance with the purpose for which the fund wa3 originally aelj aside as a Chair of English Language, literature, and Ehotoric, because the fund w*s originally designed for elementary schools ; but, m- . stead of so applying it, the Synod sought for and I obtained an Act of Parliament, under which the I destination of the fund was changed to the extent of I Applying it tolely to the endowment of a Literary c£»br or Chairs ; so that any closer approach to the -original des'.ination than is allowed by such power of endowment is ultra viret of the Synod, and, therefore, it is irrelevant to suggest that the establishment of any one Chair is closer to such original destination than is another. THB POPOTUNOA CASE. The case of the Eev. Charles Connor was ■-then introduced to the notice of the Synod. It having been resolved to sustain the reference of the matter to the Synod by the Clutha Pres tysery,,th!J Eev. Mr Chisholm and Rev. Mr Uorrie were heard in support of it ; after which ftJiellev. Mr Connor followed with an exhausUave statement of the matter from his point of yi&w. A number of documents relative to the ■case were also read. It appeared that the Eev. Mr Connor has been minister of the Popotunoa charge from the year 1868. Dissatisfaction liaving been expressed with him, the Clutha Presbytery, .on the 2nd January, 1878, gave an opportunity to those who were dissatisfied of btating their grievances. The following month several of the officebearer's of the Presbyterian Church at Clinton petitioned the Presbytery to s suggest : to Mr Connor the propriety of resigning his charge, as they believed that there was no prospect of there ever being a united congregation, in the district under bis ministry. At a snooting pf the Presbytery, held on the 20th 'cfi. March, it was decided to advise Mr Connor to resign his charge, but this Ise refused to do, believing, under the circumstances, that he would be "sacrificing not «nly his own interests, but the interests of tonth and righteousness.'' Upon this the Presbytery appointed a Commission to visic the districts and collect evidence. The Commissioners presented their report to the Presbytery on the 18th September. The report was endorsed, and the Presbytery resolved to recommend Mr Connor to resign his charge. Sefusing a second time to resign, the Presbytery decided to refer the case to the Synod. Mr Connor alleged that the Presbytery had acted in a high - handed and tyrannical manner ; that they had acted in gros3 violation of the most elementary principles of the rules of evidence; and that they had pursued a .course eminently fitted to heap indignity upon A minister of the Church of Christ, and to hurt the cause of religion in the district. The Comjnission alluded to concluded that the best coarse Mr Connor could pursue under the circumstances was to resign. They were confident Jie would never outlive the dissatisfaction, and that the congregation would never be harmonious and prosperous under his ministry. The cause of the existing dissatisfation they did not inquire into minutely, " but it was stated by a lew that Mr Connor laboured assiduouslylaboured as few men would have done— and sc it was not from a want of zeal. or euergj that the dissatisfaction arose." The hour of adjournment having arrived, ■the further consideration of the matter was •postponed. In thi; Evening The Synod held their usual annual public meeting in the First Church. There was a very large attendance, and the Eev. Dr Copland presided.