WELCOME TO PROFESSOR HEWITSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 89

WELCOME TO PROFESSOR HEWITSON.

AN INTERESTING FUNCTION.

A large and representative gathering was held in the Knox College Library on the 10th inst. for the purpose of welcoming back Professor and Airs Hewitson, who have been travelling abroad for some six months. Those present comprised members of the Knox College Council, of the Theological Committee, and of the Dunedin Presbytery, who, with their friends, numbered over 100 persons. The large room had been prettily decorated for the occasion, and couches and chairs disposed about the room for the convenience of the visitors. The gathering was a most pleasant one, and was marked by unusual freedom and friendly social intercourse, all being given an opportunity of renewing their acquaintance with Professor and Mrs Hewitson. The Rev. A. Cameron (chairman of the Knox College Council), who presided, in announcing the object of the gathering said they were met there that afternoon with the double object of welcoming back Professor and Mrs Hewitson from their recent trip to the Old World and of unveiling the portraits of two gentlemen who, by their princely gifts, had made the building of Knpx College possible. He would call upon the Moderator of the General Assembly (the Rev. G. Lindsay) to welome their guests in the name of the Church. Mr Lindsay, in a brief and kindly speech, welcomed Professor and Mrs Hewitson back to the college, and to the work connected with it, and to their friends. He had no doubt that during the six months the professor had been absent he had acquired a large store of information which would be of great value tio him. He was sure Professor Hewitson would have made the best use of his time, and he (the speaker) knew that from the methods he adopted he would elicit a great deal of information on every subject, and this would be of very great assistance tb him in carrying out his work here. On behalf of the Church he extended a very hearty welcome to Professor Hewitson and Mrs Hewitson. The Rev. Jas. Chisholm, convener of the Theological Committee of the College, in prefacing his remarks, made passing reference to his predecessor in the office of convener of that committee, the Rev. D. Rorrie. Without wishing in any way to cast a shadow on the proceedings that afternoon, he said he felt quite sure that they would all miss Mr Borrie from their midst On behalf of the committee he represented he then extended a very hearty welcome home to Professor Hewitson and his wife. They all knew something of the professor's work in connection With the college. They had felt when he left Knox Church to take up his work there without any special preparation that he wp.3 undertaking a very difficult and responsible task. It was a work requiring very special gifts and aptitude, and they all knew the measure of success that had crowned Priofessor Hewitson's efforts. He had overcome all the initial difficulties, and had already acquired a reputation for the manner in which he had carried out his duties. In his travels in other lands the speaker was sure the professor had always had Knox College in view, and had endeavoured to acquire knowledge which would make it one of the best institutions in the Dominion. He desired heartily to re-echo the welcome extended to him by the Moderator.

Professor Hewitson, who was received with applause, gave an interesting discourse in which he dealt in condensed form with the principal incidents of his trip as they were likely to affect his wjork at Knox College. He stated that both Mrs Hewitson and himself felt greatly indebted to the College Council and committee for the opportunity those bodies had given them of visiting the Old Land, and for the hearty welcome that had been extended to them on their return to their home, their friends, and their work. Referring to the death of Mr Borrie. he said that Dunediri had been distinctly impoverished thereby. He himself had lost a true friend, and one who had been of great service to him. The late Mr Borrie was one of the most faithful, courageous, and unselfish men that had ever been connected with the Church in New Zealand. Continuing, the Professor said Mr Chiaholm had. referred to the change from manse life to life at the college. " In some respects the latter work was very much easier, and he believed that there was not nearly the same emotional strain entailed upon the professoriate as there was upon the pastorate. The church work was heavier than he had found the work in the college. The pulpit was also higher than the professorial chair and engaged the attention more deeply. It was the highest a ■ mest satisfying, but also the most exhausting work in which a man could be engaged. For some considerable time aftt .• he was transferred to his present position he had not been sure whether be had been put in the right place and whether the work would be congenial. However, he was glad to say that after three years' experience of it he had grown to love the. work, and was now looking forward 1o some years of happy and not unuseful service.—(Applause.) In thanking them for their welcome that afternoon he said he would like to acknowledge his great indebtedness to those who had been doing the work of the college during Us absence —namely, Mr T. Adams and Miss MolHson. —(Applause.) They had. been his loval helpers < er since he had come to the college. Referring to his trip, the professor said it had not been altogether a holiday, «s the constant travelling and constant' observation entailed a certain amount of strain. There had, however, been a great deal of enjoyment in going over the old ground once again, and also in seeing new places. Many interesting people had also been met, and they had come across a largo number of New Zealanders in many places. He had seen something of Church movement, had made

inquiries about missions, and had also met some missionaries whose names and fame were known thro»fthout the whole of th« churches. One of the most interesting things he had witnessed was a conference of students in Liverpool at which there were present er 2000 students from many parts of i British Empire and also from foreign countries. It was especially interesting from the fact that it was a student missionary conference, taking up the social problems of poverty, unemployment, and unrest at Home. It was most stirring to see these 2000 young men and women, who had been drawn together, dealing with these problems and feeling that unless the (l-urch exercised itself on behalf of the people at Home it would not be possible for it to let the light shine in the darkness. of the heathen world. Another movement he had taken a great interest in had been a conference of Bible teachers at Westminster Chapel. He had visited a large number of colleges and had talked with Principal Forsyth, of Hackney College, and others about the course of study, and he did not think that New Zealand was altogether belated in these matters. He had seen a great many college buildings in , the Old Country and there was something possessed by these which a new college did not have—the atmosphere of historical associations. This was particularly noticeable in the case of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. So far as accommodation was concerned he did not consider that Knox College would be put out of countenance. Referring to students personally, the Professor said they were the same in all parts of the world—in England, in Scotland, in Germany, or in New Zealand. After having made inquiries about student life elsewhere he could say he was not ashamed of the college spirit she n by the men with whom he had been associated during the last three years. He had not found anywhere a body of men who took more genuine interest in the work of the college or who had done more for the betterment of their own lives in all branches of learning. This concluded the official part of the ceremony, and after afternoon tea had been partaken of the gathering broke up.