LICENSING OF STUDENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3035, 15 May 1912, Page 9

LICENSING OF STUDENTS.

PRESBYTERIAL PROCEDURE. Dio-NITY OR TRAVESTY? The vexed question of whether Presbyterian theological students who are being taken on trial for license should or should not be made to give a taste of their quality by reading or declaiming a portion of their examination exercises before the ''fathers and brethren" again before the Dunedin Presbytery on the 17th, and it brought to light a very sharp and interesting division of opinion. The Rev. J. Aitken submitted a very full and candid report on the exercises sent in by Mr S. C. Harbison to the committee on the licensing of students, and concluded by moving that the various exercises be sustained. The Moderator (the Rev. A. Whyte) armed with the Book of Order, indicated that it was therein made mandatory that after the report had been heard the student deliver portions of his lecturo' and his popular sermon, and read a portion of the Bible to the Presbytery. The Rev. A. W. Kinmont said that the Presbytery wass amply satisfied with the very full report it had received, and he moved that the Presbytery proceed to the next step. He knew the regulations to which the Moderator referred, but it had never been given effect to in the Presbytery of Dunedin. The Clork (the Rev. A. M. Finlayson) seconded the motion, and said it was always a matter for the judgment of Presbytery whether the student should be called on or not. The»Moderator again read from the Book of Order, and Mr Kinmont rose to remark that he thought the Presbytery was so abundantly satisfied with the report that it was quite prepared to forego its power to call upon Mr Harbison. He again moved that the Presbytery proceed. The Moderator ruled that this was not competent in view of the regulation. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick supported the Moderator, and said he thought it was a pity that Mr Kinmont should go so in the face of the request of the Moderator. — (Laughter.) Professor Dickie: I move that Mr Harbison read the first sentence of his popular lecture and sermon. Members: "Hear, hear." I second that. The Rev. D. Dutton opposed, asking Mr Harbison to deliver a portion of his exercises. ' - The Rev. A. Cameron supported Mr Kinmont, and asserted that the regulation had been put through practically without the knowledge and attention of the Assembly. That was a greater sin against law and order than it would be to depart from it now. If they Were going to ignore it in spirit let them ignore it altogether. Mr Kinmonti I would like to ask the Moderator if any student 'has ever been called on before to read a portion of his exercises to the Presbytery? The Moderator (severely): I never happened to be in the chair before on such an occasion.—(Laughter.) By this time Mr Harbison had oomo forward by direction of the Moderator, and he commenced to read a lecture on the parable of the Prodigal Son. After a minute or two the Rev. R > Fairmaid interposed with, " I think that is quite sufficient,'' and the Moderator announced, " Mr Harbison will now read a portion of his popular sermon." The candidate, whose position was by no means an enviable one, was reading with an evident determination that his congregation should not bo kept late for dinner, and. the Rev. W. Soorgie broke in with, " I think that we are satisfied." "Goon," commanded the Moderator sternly, and the candidate proceeded to the close of 'his exorcise. Then the Moderator announced that Mr Harbison would read from the 40th chapter of Isaiah. The Rev. Mr Cameron: I suggest that he read the 119th Psalm! A Member: I second that I The Rev. Mr Soorgie said that the Moderator knew, or ought to know, what they all knew, that this was not being taken seriously. The Moderator told Mr Scorgio it was not competent for him to interpose at that stage. Mr Soorgie: It is competent for me to say that this thing is being made a travesty. The Moderator asserted that this was a most important procedure. The reason for the law had been amply manifest in the proceedings of the last five minutes. After Mr Harbison had read the passage indicated, the Presbytery decided to sustain all the exercises he had submitted. A committee consisting of Professor Dickie, the Moderator, the Revs. R. E. Davies, W. Gray Dixon, and Messrs R. Chisholm and P. G. Pryde were appointed a commission of Presbytery to license Mr Harbison. Tho Rev. Mr Kilpatrick said he wished to make it clear that the Presbytery had asked the exercises to bo rea£ not because it had the slightest doubt as to their suitability, but because of their very excellence.