DISTINGUISHED BIBLICAL SCHOLAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19960, 19 November 1934, Page 8

DISTINGUISHED BIBLICAL SCHOLAR

DR. MOFFATT ARRIVE & By releaiapA - Pips* Association AUCKLAND, November 17. “New Zealand has always been Atmous to me through its Maoris, its Rugby and its trout. I don’t know about its theology,” said Dr James Moffatt, the distinguished Biblical scholar, who arrived by the Monterey to-day. He told an interviewer that he r referred not to discuss “heavy” subjects so early in the morning. He said the professors during their Sabbatical year were supposed to j travel and improve their minds. That I was why he left America and came to New Zealand. He wanted to catch | some trout, re something of Dunedin, and meet former students and acquaintances. Dr. Moffatt said that one result of the depression in the United States had been to drive the churches back to the central realities of faith, starting with the stuuy of the Bible, and to cause the search to be for the meat and not the trimmings of life. In Britain there was outstanding evidence of vitality on the part of both the Church of Scotland and the Church of { England. The latter had shown great vitality in the lead it had given in I theological and Christian teaching. Dr Moffatt remarked that he felt that the United States had turned the corner of the depression. Mr Roosevelt had three great assets—he was a first-class politician; he was absol' -ely honest; and 1 e had no rival. Dr Moffatt will leave for the south on Monday, and will 1-ave the Dominion on December 13. He said that the repeal of prohibition in America had done a great deal for temperance. Americans were not abusing their liberty, and the country was never more sober than now. He thought that he detected evidence of more temperance in other countries also.