THEOLOGICAL TRAINING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 35

THEOLOGICAL TRAINING.

METHODIST COLLEGE OPENED. EPOCH-MAKING CEREMONY. AUCKLAND, .Tune 15. An epoch-making ceremony in the history of Methodism in New Zealand was performed when the foundation stone of the Trinity Methodist Theological College at the corner of Grafton and Carlton Gore roads was laid by the GovernorGeneral (Sir Charles Fergusson) in the presence of a large assemblage of ministers and prominent church workers. The chairman (Professor H. Ranston, president of the conference) addressed the gathering. “ Despite criticism, the Church retains a hold on men and women,” said Dr Ranston. “There remains true affection between the minister and his people, but he must more than ever before be a fully trained man." People quickly sensed a lack of depth of genuineness, said the speaker, and in this era authority reposed less in the office than in the man. The Rev. Principal (Mr 0. H. Laws), in a statement relative to the development of the theological instruction in Methodism- in Auckland, described the day's ceremony as epoch-making. “ The hopes of many men through the years are coming to fruition,”' he said, “and we may well believe that from this event new and important developments will arise to shape the after-policy of the Church.” “ I can sympathise with your satisfaction in seeing your dream of a great theological training centre about to be realised," said the Governor-General. He congratulated the promoters of the scheme on their success, and the contributors to its cost on their generosity in raising over £40,000 in 12 months. That more young men were offering for the ministry was pleasant hearing. Usually they were insufficient for the harvest, said Sir Charles, who proceeded to allude to the changing times in which we lived and the call for men with a knowledge of the world and a preparedness to meet a new era with a wider vision.

After his Excellency had laid the foundation stone, the Rev. D. C. Herron (president of the Council of Christian Congregations) delivered a brief address. It was not impossible, he said, that an arrangement might be arrived at whereby Methodist students in the south' should be trained at Knox College, and Presbyterian students in the north at Trinity College, provided that provision was made in the instruction for the theological differences in Presbyterian jsm and Methodism. He looked forward to the day when theology would be rightly regarded as a legitimate science in the universities.