KNOX COLLEGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 15

KNOX COLLEGE.

THEOLOGICAL HALL. ANNUAL OPENING ADDRESS. On Wednesday afternoon at Knox College the annual ceremony of opening the Theological Hall took place, and the first, address of the year was delivered by Dr J. R. Elder, professor of history at the Otago University. Despite the inclement weather, the attendance was a,large one, and the function was carried Jut successfully under the guidance of the Rev. E. J. Tipler, who presided. After the opening hymn, Dr Merrington led in prayer and another hymn was followed by a reading from the Scriptures by Mr S. Francis. After leading a number of apologies the Chairman said that the college and its welfare lay very near the hearts of the citizens of Dunedin. He took it that the large gathering which had a.seinblcd was an indication of a renewed interest in the Theological Hall on the part of the general public. It was exceedingly pleasant to note that the hall was still extending >ts roll, and this year nine men had come in as against eight last year. In his opinion, ease and confidence were not conspicuous at the beginning ot a man's career in the ministry, but to move with a sure step in the regions he had set himself to capture depended on his sense of mastery and his self-possession. As the time of training was only three years, only the door of learning was opened, and he would urge all students to acquire a real mastery in some branch of study. He specially recommended a mastery of the Scriptures in the mother tongue. In conclusion, Mr Tipler referred to the resignation of Professors W. Hewitson and J. Cumming. It was a matter for hearty congratulation that Professor Hewitson s career should be crowned with a moderatorship of the General Assembly. Professor Cumming was comparatively a newcomer, but he had become known as a man ot fine and sound judgment. He, too. had been honoured with a turn in tne moderator's chair. , Mr Tipler then introduced Dr Liner, the principal speaker of the afternoon. In opening his address—” The Ministry and Higher Education Dr Elder satd that the presence of a layman as a speaker upon such an occasion was somewhat away from precedent. In Scotland the training for the ministry demanded a long course of study, and the youtn who entered the university at the age of IS was at least 24 years of age before his course was completed. To-day few of the young medical men were qualified in arts as well as in medicine, but at one time in Scotland it was customary for medical men to take'the arts course first. To-day it was necessary that students for the ministry should have bad full training in certain directions —in literature, education, and general culture. The public schools and the newspapers had made young people keen . critics of speakers and preachers, and it was necessary for a modern preacher to be able to argue as well as to impart. Students for the ministry should be trained to the highest possible pitch of efficiency. Every feature of the present age emphasised the need for men in the pulpit who could think clearly and rapidly; men who could gauge and assimilate fresh ideas as quickly as they came along. It was true that the fundamentals of religion remained unchanged, but the manner, of approaching them had altered. Dr Elder touched upon the fact that the medical and other professions jealously guarded the interests of their fully trained and qualified men, whereas students for the ministry who took their full’ course were not so well protected. This, to a layman, was difficult to understand. and it was to be hoped that the present position would not always exist. The first step in securing a constant supply of candidates for training should be the putting of bursaries and stipends upon a satisfactory scale, for, as far as he was aware, no allowance had been made up to the present for post-war conditions. At the conclusion of the address Dr Elder was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and the ceremony closed with a hymn and the benediction.