KNOX COLLEGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2884, 30 June 1909, Page 17

KNOX COLLEGE.

• '— OFFICIAL OPENING. A SPLENDID GATHERING. ■ At , 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning there was v very large gathering of people of all classes and denominations in the- largo library" of the new Knox College.- when the .opening day celebrations were commenced with a dedication service. ' ,The master of the college ' (the Rev. Professor Hewitson) had issued a general invitation to any members of the public interested ■ to come and inspect the new institution, and this opportunity, so courteously given, .was availed of' to a surprising extent— a mar.k" of interest on tllfe part of the people of Dunedin that> augurs well, for the future of the college. • , ' The service was conducted by the Rev. James Chisholm, Moderator of the General Assembly, and" with him -on the platform wererthe Hon.'G. Fowlds (Minister of Education); Professor Hewitson, Rev. A.Cameron, and Mr. J. "Allen, M.P. ; and the hall /was crowded with representatives of all denominations. The- Rev. A. Cameron, as chairman of the .College Erection Committee, banded over- the key of- the college to the Rev. Mr Chisholm with these words: As chair»nan' J lff the Building Committee appointed by i;he Assembly to carry out' the erection of the buildinar, I have the privilege of pres9H"ting to you, as Moderator ' of the Assembly, the key of. the college. ijn dofng^TSO-'j "toF report 'that the fuxids" in hand' are sufficient to meet 'the expenses of the erection of the coil-age throughout. For £his happy issue we .have io thanfc, in the first, place,, the Giver of every procd and every perfect gift, - and under . Him those njembers of th-s Presbyterian Church , who considered it an honour and a Rrivilejje to contribute towards the funds. I hand to. you the key of- the college 'o keep in trust for the Church. — (Applause > . The Moderator "eaid : As representative' of the Churcn, I have very great pleasure in receiving . the key at your hands. I have to oongratidafe you on the completion of the work of which you have been the principal promoter. On behalf of the Church I have to thank you for tbe splendid service yqu .have rendered,' not only to our own, but to future generations, in building" the college. Professor Howitson, I have - much pleasure in placing^ this key in your hands as master of^the college. I do it with the greatest confidence. I .congratulate you on the responsible position to which yoa- have been called, and, on behalf of the Charch, hope that you will conduct your work as master of Knox 'College \yilh "as much honour and success as you liavo for 13 year.? carried out ther position of minister of Knox Church.— (Applause.) Professor Hewiteon- said: I thank you and the Church for tne trust reposed in me in handing me the keys of the college. By the help of God I will try to carry out the duties of my office, and carry on tho good work so well begun by my good friend Mr Cameron. Then followed the> prayer of dedication. at the conclusion of which all joined .in e'inginsr Psalm 100: "All peoDle i-fiat on earth do dwell." " The Moderator then read Ephesians, chapter iii. whicfi was followed by a. short nrayer and tha Bymn " O God of Bethel." " The" Moderator then delivered a short address, taking as his theme the motto of th© college, " Grace and Truth." He proceeded: The convenience and beauty of the site on whioh the college stands, the architectural, qualities of the building, tbe bodily comfort and &ocisl advantages of the students who reside within its walls are matters that will doubtless receive favourable notice' at a later stage of tho - opaning ceremonies. The college has many points in common, with other institutions of an educational and philanthropic kind." It is subject to influences from mundane sources that operate in purely natural ways. These, however, esca never qualify it for its distinctive work of traininsf a Chriefcan ministry. The modexn spirit is sufficiently averse to shabbkusn in dw-eiling-houses, in dress,- and- in morails to keep the j Chtirch and all -its institutions fairly respectable. Respectability, however, is but a mood of the hour. It can never elevate, but only . reflect, the pubffic opinion from which it ' springs. It cannot' be a substitute for the progressive forces of grace and" truth. Further,* we have ell the stimulus of the ecclesiastical traditions tha* jw© inherit from a glorious past.' We have already shown bur reverence fortnat pasf by* associatinK tne college with the illustrious and venerable name of Knox. His educational ideal,, as sketched in the "First Book of Discipline;" was scornfully regarded bj some pi his contemporaries as "a devout imagination." It has never ceased to charm the vision of succeeding ages as it rises in stately grandeur from the primary school in every Darish, through the college m every notable^ town, to the universities, with their triple crown of law. medicine,

and divinity, in the largest centres' of population. In th© recent biography of Stewart . of IVovedale, who -was for a while the com- ' panion of Livingstone, we .get a glimpse into the inner life b£ these two Great- ■ hearts. Livingstone's wife died, and> the great traveller, -who had faced 6o many deaths and braved so many dangers, was utterly broken down, and wept like a child: After "' they had laid the body of the loved one to rest on the- ',' brae face of Shupanga," the two men eat together in <the evenings, and had k>n£ conversations about ihe dwithless' life beyond the grave. Did the hope of a glorious hereafter lessen the ''courage of tireee heroes, make them less resolute in their determination to open up the Dark Ocati-nent and bring light and liberty to its dawn-trodden millions? Nay. verily. The hope of the glory that is yet to be revealed is one of the strongest motives to the diligent and faithful dis-. charge of present duty. Some -of out seers, with their faces to the •past, hav^' sung of "brave days of old within a limited area. Others of our soers, with their, faces to tne future, have eung of a golden .year eel within van- evev-widen* ing horizon. But to may rest assured that brave days will dawn,- and the golden year will run its course, arid £b& social and national rivalries that vex less happy times -will disappear, only when the grace and truth that have come by Jesns Christ are more widely diffused and "more generally possessed and utilised. With this end in view, the Church' gathers her young men within these walls, -and subjects them to a -'_ curriculum? of study on- dihes©. groat themes, 'in their deep msariin.srse.nd manifold applications, with the aid of the bsst ecliolarship &he can^ command. She, also encourages thi3m +o an abiding attitude of- prayer for • lire Holy Spirit, who alone can make fresh and radiant themes that have been - too often dimmed with the breath of worldHnees or soiled with the mire of unseemly controversy. As the crown of her efforts, she expects that her college shall radiate grace and truth throughout thf whole Dominion, or wherever the- feet of her eons, shod with the preparation of the Hostel of Peace may wander. What the Church expects, let her endeavour more abundantly to, «v>m-e iiy her sympathy and her prayers and hex^ generous benefactions. Now, unto -Him that is aH*» to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, accordine: to th-3 power that workefch in us, unto Him be glory in the Church nnd in Christ Jesus unto all g-saierations for ever and ever. Amen. -•-At^ the conclusion of the Moderator's •airWre.w? all ioined in singing Hymn ]98, " Glorious fhinass of Thco aro- spoken." The service concluded wkh the Moderator pronouncing the benediction. THE SPEECH-MARINO FUNCTION. Some hundreds of Dunedin's most prominent citizens gathered in the large library of Knox College on Wednesday morning to attend, the ceremony -following on that of officially declaring the college open, and tc listen to the nume-rous interesting soeeohes that were de,liveretl. The Rev. A. Cameron (chairman of the College Council) presided, and with him on the platform were me Hon. , G. Fowlds (Minister of Education), Mr John Ross. Rev. Canon Woodthorpe, Mv James Allen. M.P. (Vicechancellor of Ofra,«[O University), and th-a Ray. Professor Hewitson (master of the •college). Among the very large and representative "body of people in the body of the hall were the following : — The Mayor (Mr J. H. Walker), Professors Gilray, White, Shand, Marshall. Dr? Close. Falconer, Church, "Rev. Drs Watt oii-d Nisbet. Revs. P. W. Faircloueh, D. Borrie, Kil■Da.triek, Fadrmaid'. Mia-wson. Sutherland, Beighway. Don, Finlayson. Kinmont. Dutton, Lymburn, Erwin, and Smith, Messrs W. S. Fitzeerald. R. Chbholi.i, J. L. Salmond. R. W. , Richards, W. J. MorreU. D. Barron, C. F. Anderson, James Hutchison, and J. Campbell. Apologies for absence _ from the function were received from his Exeelloncv the Governor, the Hon. 'fhomas Mackenzie (Minister of Industries and Commerce), the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister of Railwave), his Honor Mr Justice Williams, Drs B*>nham. T M. Hocke-n. and Don. Rev. Drs 'Dunloo, Giblx and Waddell. D^an Fitehett. Archdeacon Gould, Revs. J. Cummin^. J. • -Ai'tken. H. B. Gray. J. Neave, J. Collie, W. Nichol. J. S- Po-n/tST. W. Wright. K. C. T-ennent. J. M'Cosh Smith. W. Slade, J. Steven, As Gray, James Baird. Mrs A. Gray, Messrs A. S. Adams, W. H. Rose, Daniel Stewart (BaJclutha). J. H. Chapman.. J, M. Davidson, G. A. Troup (Wellinsrton), Jam»s Bavne. Charles Young, S. M'Caw, and T. Arnold. RETROSPECTIVE AND OPTIMISTIC. Before referring direcfSy to the purpose of- the meeting, the Chairman made apology for the absence of his Excellency the Governor. Lord Plunkefc had written him several times on this matter, and had looked forward to being present on this .occasion, but he had subjiequently received a •wire' stating* that nis Excel-

lency's unavoidable absence at the Cook Islands ..psepluded. much "to his 'regret, the possibility of his- being^present afr't-be ©ere- ( mony. He-.-had also to apologise for the | absence \^of_ hie Lordship the- Primate j (Bishop Neyill), who had within the last ! few' hours received word .of itis- 1 death of : one who .was very near and de*jr to him, [ and who, therefore,>,asked- to be permitted i not _to take part in the official^ opening. 1 So ?ar as jfche purpose 'of this "gathering was concerned,, the^ Chairman went on to i say., ho thought the- predominant- feeling I amongst -them on that occasion was one of ; gladness — gladness that the work had pro- ', oeeded sd far with -so much success. It . was that feeling of relief that one experie nces when one had been travelling over f a weary country and had come to a rest- ! ing-place. _It was just seven years and I two days since the iirst steps were taken ; in th© direction of obtaining such' 'a, college ! as this fo"r the Presbyterian CJiurch. On I the 21st of April,"; 1902,- and had appeared in the Outlook appealing for , funds for -i;his purpose, and it was tlien suggested, that accommodation be provided for 20 students. This was afterwards in- ; creased to 30, and at the time 1 ■ there were 42 young men in ''the college. — j (Applause.) x For this they were indebted ! to the liberality of those who had interi ested themselves .in this movement, and | especially were ' they indebted to Mr John ' Ross for his princely'- gift. They had also been extremely fortunate in receiving j a handsome /bequest - under the will of the ! late Mr Samuel Wilson, of North Otago, j „ from whose. donation to the church £9000 j *haid J comje •to,,tbe'- <Sollegje.-. ,-^TEere had "-bfeen j other ' liberal gifts, all N of which had ; assisted" in ■ the founding of the college — which was a very important thing to the- j Church. There -were great and pressing problems rising every day, and people i turned to the minister for an answer : and j if the ministers were not qualified to sup- i ply the answers then the Church must j suffer grievous loss. And he pointed. out at -this stage that the training of 'a. minister ' was ■ not to be attained merely by means of lectures and books. , A knowledge of _me» was essential to . success — men of all kinds and ranks and degrees of learning. In order to secure that it was felt that rhe theological students should come into contact- with^ the students »o£ other faculties — an-d so in the college there were now students of law, medicine, arts, as well as theological 6tudents, rubbing snoulders and meeting each, other on/ a oasis of goodfellowship. It was a fair representation of the life of the university, and, in accordance with tbs original desire and aim, the door wa§ wide and the basis of the college broad . and catholic. It was the aim of the Church that 'by its means there should be a large contribution to the education of the community. The development of the college was to be literally for its own benefit, for any financial gain springing , therefrom was to be applied to the improvement.. and enlargement of th© institution. The-, building a 6 it stood was c fine one, and was a compliment to <Mr Gray Young, the architect, and Mr Salmond, who had exercised a. supervision over- the work of construction. As for " the library, in which they were gathered, there were as yet no books there, \but there were a number still unpacked, wnich would in due course be brought out. , The Assembly had voted £100 towards the library, and £20 a year would be granted towards its maintenance. But, much as they mierJifc congratulate themselves on past achievements, the college was not vet completed. It was all on one side of the tower — was lopsided. Only a part of the plan had so far been carried out. It wa3 hoped in the future to carry it away to the south, and build so as to .wake it three sides of a square. This was wanted to complete the building and make it- look better, but they would thereby ba allowed to extend the influence of the college itself. The building was already full, and he Relieved that if the whole building bad been completed it would have been full too, and that would also have permitted them to engage^ a larger number of tutors. They were also aiming at the creation of an endowment fund of £15,000, which would allow them to pay the salary of the master and tutors without jrointr to the Assembly ' for funds. Of thus £15,000 that they wanted they ha<J £1600 in hand. So there was much yet to ba done. Speaking of the chairs that they hoped to -have in the college, the 6neaker referred to the teaching of New Testament apologetics, and said that this was a more imnoir+ant subject than mi^iht be generally thought, for the problems connected with the New Testament were in the near future to bo the chief problems of the theological world, and a minister needed to go out into the world carrying special knowledge in that respect. THE MINISTER, OF EDUCATION. The Hon. George Fowlds (Minister of Education) was called upon to wish the rollege success.. The ioy of achievement," he said, was one of the greatest emotions of the human heart, and he was sure that

joy ~was beinjr ielt on "that .occasion by j Air Cameron, and by, their friends," Mr ; and Mrs Ross.' A.nd 'the Tfeople of OtagoJ ; and indeed of the ~whole J Givurch, might share with them -in -the satisfaction' of ; seeing this opening ceremony actually taking place. And clpsely^-allied with the joyv of achievement' was the; joy of ,kinship — tho gladness -'that ,canie with the knowledge, that they were connected with j some Qne s who had done some, noteworthy tliing.^arid , that was why he was , pleased I that' be was a Scotchman. He "felt even j more glad to >fchink that he was of'.Ayr-X shire^r-the native place of tho great ■ Scottish poet, and --the- native plac& r of"^tha.t Th(:)ria'6 Burns who had come to New*; Zealand; and Ofcago with. "those early settlers, to whom t they now owed., so- much. . Tho woi-k^bf -.Thomas Burns /mist "always be held in/loving remembrance by the people of Ota,go,,.and associated with the memories • of that gentleman and ,'rriost always *be tßoughts r p£ another" jrreab man, D.r | Stuart. These' men, imbued • with a «reat i faith and high ideals, came to' Otago and found-ed the Presbyterian Church hase, and* in establishing this college they of the present generation were giving embodiment to the ..ideals of those early workers. They believed that education, secular as well as theolosrfoaJ. was the handmaiden of religion, and that to provide such education was •to Jay the basis of good citizenship. TBeir ids9als of citizenship were perhaps lofty, but we fou,nd that the people of to-day were inclining more and more to the same "ooinion, and -tliat. the. ■Chur.ohr, oft this, eoxintry was more and more trying to liye up to th© "ideals of the parent Church in tho land from which their forefathers. came. The highest standard of education in any ohurcb was' to be found in the Free Church of Scotland— which worthily, strove to uphold th.o ideals of its great founder, Knox. Thirty years ago Dr Salmond ■ haH become the first professor of theology, and vn& S°°d work so well commenced by him, and had cone- op stead ilv ever since, and from the Theological Hall many good and able men" had bsen distributed all over the Dominion. Going on to 6peak of how much members o£ the Presbyterian Church of- Otago of t<he present day were indebted to the founders of' th*< Church here, the Minister referred to tha endowments and tie manner in which the- Presbyterian Churoh liad endowed various chairs— physics, English, : menf-al science, — showing that the Church | had always stood for education, carrying | out the- ideals of John Knox, and embody- ; in.g the ideas of the fathers .of the Church. Rpsakiner. of tho education provided by ttie' State, Mr Fowlds remarked . that the whole educational I-adder was not absolutely free to everyone — for that \va,s' impracticable,— but provision was made whereby anyone who showed the necessary capacity -for edu?' cation might pass free from the kindergarten -t<f the "University, and rnisrht go Tight through practical] v without the payment of any fee. The State had even gone beyond that, for it had -^now, granted scholarships for post-graduate research. , He was glad to -know that the broad catholic spirit of the Old^Dand had bean maintained in this college, and t2iat £he dcor was open to any student for whom accommodation might bs> found. He made a number of i jc-c-nlar references to the old Scotch super>=+it.''oi aboi'f " Canrjerop's dream " sr-1 hoped that his friend the Rev. Mr Cameron would so on dreamim? in the- sam£> effectual wav that be had done" in the pact. He hoped that the buiidinsr would be added to, that the en<k>wme.nt fund required would become- an actual fact, and that provision •vvoukl bo made for a more or less limited i number of nrofes«ors and students.'' He j hoped that t'bp college would prove a bond of true fellowship and a. soiiroe of true culture to the students of the different faculties who were eiven the privilege of associating within its walls. TESTIMONY BY A STUDENT. The Rev. D. Borrio. the first student to pass through the Theological Hall, and now convener of the Theological Hall Committee, was also asked to wish the college success. Ho was responsible for an address that brisUed with, humour, and he greatly <-; mused his audience with his reminiscences' of the caj^y days of tlie Theological Hail. Ha congratulated the members of the ', Church on the sueces&ful establishment of . the collejra but felt more inclined to con- < gratulate liimself, for was he not the very first student to enter the Theological Hall? He felt sure that their late beloved ' theo- , < logical professor (Dr Dunlop) would have < "rejoiced in that ceremony, and he was' sure, : too, that one. whom he would call a' father -• cf the Church— the Rev.- Mr Will— (ap- | plause), — was, if not present with them, at i Least with th<yn in spirit. He (the < speaker) would like to ccc the building ex- ' tended as suggested, and he would like to : see in it_ a gymnasium and a 6wimmin# ' bath, whioh were, he assured them, very ' necessary adjuncts to -tho learning of theology. They had done much 1 : there was ! much yet to be achieved. He congratu-

j lated the Rev. Mr Cameron on the 6uccesf-' ful issue of all his hard work and hardf thinking, a.nd ho particularly congratulated Jhim on the 'act that his dream came true. r IIe. congratulated tho' professors on T.hs work they had done. The first Theological Hall was", h-e -believed, Dr fialmorwf'a study, where good work was done. He congrafcu- .• lated the" donors who had done a |?reafc_ and jjen.e«rous thing. Their money ljtad 1 " been pitt into a" wonderful investment, and! would have a wonderful return — a returafliat would 'bo seen in 'days to come, when' generation after generation of young ministers would 'go ..Oiit'r among the people. Tta wished he could congratulate the Church % on the college, il ut he could not. ; TK« Chiureh had .not) -given, of its means ..as^ili should, .but he hoped ' $iat.. she would be grateful -for *this princely .gift, and would make amends for past neglect'»i-ight through New Zealand, and properly, support it. THE PRINCIPAL -DONOR SPEAKS - rMr John Ross was called upon' to repjy. Ho spoke as 'follows (after being--- greeted? with a storm of - cheers and applause) : — I "beg to thank the Hon. Mr Fowlots and? the Rev. Mr Bprrie , for the remark?' they . have' made in referenoe^to the college. W<» are especially 'indebted to the "Minister '-6? Education for the" great interest "he Ks& taken in' the matter, anfl for f ayouririg jus a second time* witji Kis. - presence. ' Mr "Fowldsj"is/mqpe'tha'p"'welcoine i for his own' sake, 'but 'we', feel that 'Jhis' coming here tq.day is expressive "i.in s»me ..decree of approval by the Department of Education of tho work Jbhat has been done in establishing .'this college: k )fThis as W' it. should -be, for we arm at making Knox College the "handmaid of higher education, both here and .throughout the Dominion. One of tho contributors to our iunds, after inspecting 1 the building, - declared himself delighted with everything he had seen but gave as his greatest ground for satisfaction thefact that the college is beginning its career with every room occupied. _Tka presence of "so many students at the very openinp: of the institution is especially encouraging when it is remembered that in the case of some of the Australian colleges, many, years elapsed before they attained to tb<r numbers with which our first session has commenced, I taka.thjs as a happy aue;urj> of a future of ever-increasing usefulness for the college. ~I -think you will all experience pleasure in seeing what a commanding site we have for our college' and what 'a fine -and well-appointed buiidinsr i'"< is, but I feel that we should be thankful 1 most of all that in these halls we have v. home to which troops of students may oom«. for the quickening of their intellectual' life, and the -development of their character. As you are probably aware, this institution is a cosmopolitan one, opening its doors to students jyrrespective of their religious denomination, or of their future, purposa in life, The primary object o? the founders of the collepe, .however, is to set the loftiest possible ideals before -those, students especially who come here with the* view of entering upon the Christian ministry. On these points I think we shall l agree, that in" this sphere-'Of activity; a.<* much as in any of the professions, it is oft supreme ' importance that there should b» men ..'possessed of the keenest spiritual! vision, of the- highest mental equipment I and culture, and of a wide, sympathetic.. I and practical view of 'the varied and complex problems of daily life. In the first master of the college I think we have tho fineat possible example of the type oB minister required by the Church to-day.! and I am sure that the men who have the; privilege of sitting at his feet could fmdß I no more capable preceptor. In my humble- | judgment, one and all of us should be- ; thankful that the work of the college has commenced under such auspicious conditions, and my last word is "to express th© hope that in the days to come, the studentstrained here may be a power for good? that shall be felt throughout the lengthand breadth of our land. In conclusion. T/ may say that when this college was initiated! my hope and wish was that I might live to see this day, and now I feel thankful* that my hopes have been thus' realised. A FACULTY OF THEOLOGY. Canon Woodthorpe, warden of Selwyn College, was asked to speak on "The 1 Christian Ministry and Theological Education." He first explained the absence of" Bishop Nevill, who had just received a" cablegram from England announcing the death of his brother,- apd Dean Fitchetfc was also prevented, by illness, from being 1 , present. The - speaker yraa glad" to bavt^ an opportunity of conveying to them his congratulations on the founding of such a. fijie college, and he commented on the^faeb ' -that it stood for very high ideals 'held by the Presbyterian Church. Personally," hei felt tbe deepest- reverence for the traditions of the Presbyterian Church, with which, he became well acquainted' thorough coming frequently into - contact with leading Presbyterians in different parte of the -world 1 . ' T-ha great problems which faced the Christian Church had often been- discussed by Profee3or Hewitson and himself, and cadb 1 - realised the great responsbility he .bo-re ;'„

They were there- to train men for t-ej highest .places in the community. VChristian minister, by reason of his office, •was respected and trusted by the people, end in order to uphold his position, as it had been upheld in the past, and because the standard of education was ' steadily becoming higher,, he should- be a man ot the highest academical' attainments and should have a thorough ©rasp on the greatest problems of -this generation. "And in addition to his theological and academical training, he -ehould g6 about tha world and study men, and in the great centres should strive to learn from the anen who held' the highest places in ' his profession. He went on to speak of the early" history of hie colles* .(Sehryn), and told how his college had had to refuse etudents for the same reason that Knox College had" to refuse -them — l&ckof accommodation. And Tie ur^ed thafe' J if there was one thing- now required inDunedin in tho interests of education it .was a>-Lady Margaret -College — a house- for the accommodation of young ladies" Romp: through their university course. Oanon Woodthcrpe went on to refer to the necessity there was for greater facilities being provided in .New Zealand for the study of theology, and he hoped that ' presently this would be given effect to by the Anglican Church.' It was very necessary, for at rths "present time a theological student, although, his cojlecre was affiliated with ',the British -universities, mig-ht* go through the B.D. or D.D. course, . and yet was not entitled to anything more than a certificate. That . meant that np matter what the nature of the -facilities provided in the college here were,' tho, local authorities had still to depend on outaide cc-Heees, and the scope of the student was limited. Not only, the canoh urgfed, should we here hav-e the faculty of . thpologv in our 'colleges : we 6hould'also have the power to confer the degrees, just aa distinctions w&re conferred in the other arts and sciences. The Presbyterian and Anglican Ch-u.rches could very well combine and establish a chair of theolcgy, and this combined- body might have power to duly confer, after examina-" tion, tho recognised decrees. By this means there mijrht be built up in tlhie country a school of 'learning and a school of philosophy that would be, second" to none. Ho urged those uresent 'to- consider thia suggestion, and ssg whether such a. eebsm.? could- not be worked out.—(Applause.) A MINISTER'S QUALIFICATIONSThe Rev. P. \V. Faircloujrh spoke on the same subjects. " With great pleasure," h>o said, " I join in the- felicitations of. to-day .- You have founded a citadel and an ars&r.al of tli<2 Church militant. I believe that the Free Chxtrch is the sail of society. It produces the temper and spirit of a country rather than it's institutions. It ie "the Jbrick-maker rather than the architect. Statesmen twist the ropo, - but the Church produces the Jibre. I therefore regard this college, which aims at training and equipping- zealous, and self-sacrificing men for the minisfcrv, &s an institution full of promise to New Zealand. - You have recognised the necessity of , growing your own ministry an-d of finding scope for men of ouir country. You also recognise theabsolute ne-cd of giving them the very bast equipment possible. There were ages when an effective minist-er might be almost a man of one book: but those days are gone. The Bible Js still the centre and pore, hart the effective man of to-day must be many-sided. It is not enough for him to to Ponderously read "With loads cf learned lumb-et in his head, or that he should' Hi? ceaseless vigils k-cep, Sleepless himself to give his hearers sleep. You ha\e no demand for dulness, and you cannot afford, by preaching what does not arrest, to recruit the -armies of indifference. We want live men. capable and wise, candid mkl not afraid. The foes of the Church in i'his a-re do not come on in the ruvty armour of the Crusader, out with the magazine rifle and smokeless nowder. They must bo met with modern weapon*. The times are ipeculiarly trying to the Christian minister. The conditions of life require us to be Janus-headed. Those who outrun the twentieth century and those who lag in the eighteenth keep •us looking both ways. . On the one hand we have a gross literalism that regards' even the cleansing by the blood' of the Cross almost .as a matter of physical contact, and on tho other an insidious superrefinemenit tihat whittles down the very Godhead to a shadow. We have ascetics who a.ro ready to legislate for God. enJoining what He has not enjoined, and forbidding what Ho has not forbidden. We have also tihe exponents of an appalling laxity that wouicf strike the negative syllable jut of the necaJogju©. We have consuming »eal evaporating in fads, and in making Moles in the wind; and we have indifference ihat would not be roused to interest though j>na rose from the dead. We have those •frho fall down before evea-y suggestion and sneeulation of sotostzfic men. and also those

j who reject ascertained facts and stake reve1 ia-tion on. an ancient v:<2w of the- age s& the world or, a very modern one of tho number of the beasts. We have those who bslieve ardently not only in tlie .verbal inspiration of the Bible, but also in the inspiration of the Great Pyramid, and we have those who class the Scriptures with the Vedas and the Avesta. We have the young domanding new- '>ethodts and measures, and we hove the old tigh6anine the purse-strings, because we can't catch fUes with vinegar. We have the worldly rich who .have no tim-e for the restraints of Church and religion, and the worldly poor who say that fehe Church worships the golden calf. We have those who demand culture, refinement, and taste, and we have the rougher fibre that hates the womanish parson and loves hard hitting at other people's sine. Thus we stand with 'the foe behind and the deep before,' a/ eituation which I hay© heard described less religiously in the Scotch vernacular. To grapple with these and a thousand" other contradictory positions I wish you an- unfailing supply of brainy men, men ot heart and 1 human nature, men of zeal and piety. May you be blest with -prophets now and th-en — troublesome men, but. men who will keep you from stagnating; and becoming like a rock in a river, that shows how Fast the stream is gomg J d.v. ..To complete your outfit..* wish .that you do not fai^of youx -eontincjemV to the noble army of theological martyrs." - ' DR. WATT'S ADDRESS. The R=v Dr Watt' was received with cheers, tie spate of the very early history of the Church, and the establishment' of the TheologieaTHall. He referred to the Rev. Dr Stuart and the Rev/ Mr Will; the Rey. Dr Barmexmen, the Rev. Mr Stobo. ami the Rev. Mr Johnson, to whom was due thecommencement of the movement that had now ended in the college being founded. He asked to be allowed- to convey the. good wishes of the meeting to Mr Will, a request that- was granted with loud cheers. He went on to cay that the men who had done, the greatest amount ol good in the world -were the men who had gone out from the colleges with their minds , highly trained. It had been truly said that at no time in the history of the Church was there a greater need for men of bieh mental attainments than there was now. The standard of education was much higher. A man could not go out now -to the Western American States and, as had been doncwhen the people there- were more or less uneducated, bring about a, great revival by the mere force of hie language and the strength of his belief, for the people now v.ould not fcolieve so readily, and would be more critical. Their attention would be osntred on the speaker's solecisms and on lv's grammatical errors, where before they thought hniv of his message. The difficulty that faced the Church lay in the linking up of the old with the new. Theologians had to keep pace with modern thought, amd modern thought and investigations showed certain errors in the Bihlo to which the old "minister pinned hhoi o faith. But the great central truths of the Book remained untouched. Concluding, ' Dr Watt said that he was glad indeed to «>.y with all of those -who had preceded him that the college' vas a great triumph for those who had worked so hard for it, and a tremendous- weapon for good in tho -hands of the Rev. Professor Hewitson. THE CIVIC SIDE. The Mayor (Mr J. 11. Walker), called upon to wish " Success to the University, spoke thus: I vory much appreciate the opportunity of being present at the opsuing c£ Knox College, and especially to be honoured with the privilege of addressing this large and intellectual assemblage. JNot having had the good fortune to have acquired a college training, I am sure you will not expect an academic speech; but, even co, I am .none the less aware of the important part played by collegiate institutions, the building up ot cities and, indeed, nations to that position that can only be attained and preb-arved by intellectual culture. As Mayor of this City of Dunedin I am filled with pride- at the majesty of this college. Its curriculum is in keeping with its magnificence, and to-day we are inaugurating, its K<stery tl.-at I trust will, as timo goes on, fully jistify its existence with no uncertain evid-enc-o in the City of Dunedin, tho Province of Otago— yea, and even beyond the Dominion. Education is an inexhaustible subject, its ramifications thread the whole univoree, a-nd its effect in all that makes for good is ever present in the great causes that, combined, make the lives of people free, happy, and contented. My remarks are intended to be. practical. The students of this institution are in the youth of their manhood, and to them I say: "Seize this opportunity of fitting yourselves both in mind and. body to. enter the arena of life welL equipped with a sound and liberal education morally and intellectu- j ally. Remember that the mind, like the •body, has a course of evolutions. It unfolds spontaneously, "and is ever alert in its desires to acquire this dr that informa- • tion ; and, that being so, the mental pabulum in boy oa* man is always dependent j upon aduk aid. Embrace the opportunities

that* a-re yours; your preceptors will provide you with the right kind of -facts that will i>o from day to day imported in a proper manner.'.' The system of education must noeds- be interesting to the- students, and 6uch element, I am bound to say, will ever permeate the tuition of your learned professors. lam incdinfid to think it well within the province cf the City Council io exercise itself in the cause of education, a.nd indeed, if it be possible, to have direct representatives not only on the Board of Control of this institution, but also in all scholastic concerns that are directly connected and conducted within the City of Dunedin for t!he youne of the community. Mr James Allen, M.P., vice-chancellor of the Otago University, said that the question of representation of the City Counqil had been brought before the University' Council by. Mr Hewitson, who was leading a movement to amend the composition of the University Council, and as part of that amendment it was proposed —to give representation -to Mayor or some other member of the City Council. Nearly every member of the University Council was in favour of that amending scheme, and as the Minister of Education was present he should ba asked to further their desires bje seeing that a bill was put through. — (Professor Hewiteonr "He has told me that he is keeping it in view.") .They wanted iff on the' SStatue't c' Book. He did not know of-xany country- in the world -that, _in proportion. to its population, hod • • founchso ~much money for the purposes of higher education. And' hero the Government might do something. A pound for ■pounds subsidy was given by fhe Govern- ■ ment in coiineetion^with various donations, but there was subsidy given in the case of certain donations made tc^ th& University. • And there was no doubt that before Ipng the University would be , appealing to the Government for funds" to , build the two or three extra lecture-rooms that wero urgently required. "He hoped that when that time came the council's application would ba looked upon with a. favourable eye. He went on to refer to the broad basis upon which the new collego was to be governed, and the tremendous influence for good it might have. From the students they expected much. They looked to them to rise and build up a new nation, and make this country the groat country of the Pacific. They were looking to the students to develop the very best that was in them, and to take the lead in whatever kind of work they were engaged in. He hoped there were among them some who in future years would come to the front in the Houses of Parliament, end assist in solving some of the great questions that now troubled legislators. SOMETHING MORE ABOUT EDUCATION Professor Gilray, chairman of the Professorial Board, addressed the gathering thus: I have much pleasure in being hero to-day, and in expressing on behalf of my colleagues on the teaching staff of Otago University our hearty congratulations to the master and' council of Knox College on the successful accomplishment of a great scheme for the benefit of students. The connection existing between the University of Otago and Knox College is already.intfmat©;_ and I trust it will become even more intimate as the years roll on. Three of our University councillors are also members of the Knox College Council ; two highly-respected members of our staff are residents in the college; and a large number of our students have found a horn© here. Otago University is one of the four New Zealand colleges affiliated to the University of New Zealand. The chief peculiarity of our New Zealand colleges is that their work in arts and science ie annually tested by examination conducted by British experts in the various departments of learning. This arrangement, which we owe, I Believe, to one who was for many years a prominent figure in our academic life, Emeritus Professor Sale, is sometimes subjected to hostile criticism. Its main disadvantage is that our students have to wait for several months before they can know the results of the examinations. But the advantages greatly out.weigh this one serious disadvantage. The Home examiners keep both teachers and students up to a high, standard of work ; and they also keep professors and etudents in touch with the latest developments in the various departments of study. As our students are examined under code words, the Home examiners do not know what college they come from ; and this secures absolute impartiality, which is a matter of the utmost importance, more especially in awarding scholarships. As our degrees are conferred on the reports of the Home examiners, and as they are the only gblonial degrees so awarded, the New Zealand* University "degrees have a value that no other colonial degrees possess. I think it may be fairly claimed for our University Colleges that they 'have done, and are doing, a- great work for the young people of our beautiful country. Many of our graduates are now occupying prominent positions, not only in New Zealand, but in other countries. Some of them

are doing meritorious work in v the Indian Civil Service. A Canterbury College * graduate, Professor Rutherford, is now a man of world-wide fame. Two' of our Otag-0 graduates, Mr M'Nab and Dr Findlay, have reached Cabinet rank. Another of our Otago graduates, Dr Mellor. has recently published a book on the higher mathematics, which has been recognised by the leading Home journals as a work of altogether exceptional merit. A few months ago an old Otago student, Dr Herring, was appointed Professor of Physio-. • logy in the ancient University of St. Andrews. It seems to me to be a striking testimony to the essential unity of the Empire that ono of the youngest of tho ' British colonies should supply a professor , to the oldest'of tho Scottish Universities*. Owing to the enlightened policy of our Education Department, so', ably presided over by the Hon. George Fowlds, whom wo are all proud to have—with us to-day, our University Colleges have been called upon in recent _ years to discharge a most .important function— I namely,' > to assist in, the training of our teachers. This ha 3 'brought us into intimate connection wi.th the Training Colleges, and has proved cf great benefit to our future- teachers by bringing- them into contact, not 'only with the teaching in our class-rooms, but with the varioiTs social and athletic organisations connected with our colleges. By giving our future, teachers, a wider - physical, intellectual,^ moral, and social' culture than would "otherwise have been possible to them," this con--ncction cannot fail to be ultimately an immense blessing to the young people of the Dominion. With characteristic generosity .and catholicity in air matters where, education is concerned, of which the endowment' of three important chairs in Otago sity is a signal proof, the Presbyterian Church" of New Zealand has opened this college to students" df ' all "'denominations, and has also welcomed as residents without distinction students from the various faculties that constitute our University Colleges. Tho name and motto chosen for the college are singularly happy and appropriate. Wo all know that John Knox .was a great Protestant reformer; but it is not so well known as it ought to' be that he was also an enlightened and far-seeing ■educationist. The Scottish system of edu- ■ cation is. to a large extent, his work; and, to this day, some of his jnost valuable suggestions have • not been " carried out. If they had been carried out, Scottish education would have been even a greater success than it has been. We ought to congratulate the authorities of Knox College on the noble structure in which, we are met. which is generally recognised to be one of the architectural glories of our beautiful : city. And we should be deeply grateful to the donors to the building fund, and more especially to Mr John Ross, whose princely "generosity has made such a noble ■ building possible. We all rejoice that, by ' the appointment as master of such an able " administrator and such- an ardent lover of:young men as Professor Hewitson, the success of the college is assured.- No one acquainted with the biographies of leading men in the Home Country can have failed to recognise how much stress they lay on the residential principle in schools, colleges,, and universities. This has always been _a marked feature of the" English public schools, and of the ancient English Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; and it is insisted on. with special emphasis, by Mr Rhodes in his famous will. Tho realisation of this principle in Dunedin has been a passion with our dear friend, the Rev. , Andrew Cameron, for many years; and the | thought, that is uppermost in all our hearts to-day is that we are profoundly indebted to Mr Ca.meron, to whose safajaritv. untiring: zeal. unselfish labours, and beautiful Christian optimism Knox College will be a lasting monument. OTHER FUNCTIONS AND CEREMONIES. The Rev. Mr Oameron, on behalf of the council, then handed to the Rev. J. Chisholm a gold key as a memento of the occasion, and the Moderator replied. Professor Hewitison acknowledged all the kind things that had been sadd about the college, and said that they all owed a great debt to the Rev. A. Cameron. It was one of the greatest blessings that he (Mr Hewitson) had to possess the friendship of Mr Cameron — a gentleman who certainly was a visionary and at the same time eminently practical, and one with a wide experience in educational matters. On behalf of tlhe students in and out of residence, the councillors, and himself,, he (the professor) had much pleasure in handing to Mr Cameron a gold shield engraved! -with the college crest. Mr J. H. Lang, M.A., on behalf of the etudante of the d«llege, expxeesed thanks to Mr Cameron for. the work he had done in connection with the college. Mr Lang_ then called upon' the students present to (give three cheers for Mr Oameron, and the call was heartily responded to. Mr Cameron briefly responded l , thanking the students and teachers for their handsome present. At the conclusion of this meeting, the whole company was entertained at lunch

by the mastex of the, college. In the after1 noon Professor Hewrtson held a reception, - and, as the. public availed itself largely of his" general invitation ito tho function, t.here was a oonsta.nt stream of visitors to the collage, from" half-past 2 o'clock until dusk. The students gave a series of concerts during fhe afternoon and evening, which wero _vory largely attended. The proceeds were "devoted to the piano fimd.