DIVINITY DEGREES WANTED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 21 September 1938, Page 10

DIVINITY DEGREES WANTED

Deputation to Council Of Otago University

RECOMMENDATION TO BE MADE TO SENATE

ITHE PRESS Special Service.]

DUNEDIN, September 20,

The Rev. Dr. John Dickie (Principal of Theological Hall in Knox College), representing the Dunedin Presbytery, and Archdeacon L. G. Whitehead, representing the Church of England, waited as a deputation on the Council of the University of Otago to discuss with the. council the institution of degrees of divinity in New Zealand. Dr. Dickie stated during his remarks that New Zealand was the only civilised country in the world which did not grant degrees in divinity. t It would be quite easy for the churches to work harmoniously together, Dr. Dickie said. So far as the Roman Catholic Church was concerned they had an assurance that so long as •it was not attached in any way—and there was no suggestion that the Catholic Church would be attached —and so long as "other churches did not wish to apply public money in any way to the scheme, the Catholic Church would not oppose the proposal. Bishop Whyte and Archbishop O'Shea had, indeed, expressed general sympathy with the aim which the other churches were seeking to pursue. Archdeacon Whitehead said that theirs was quite a modest request and would not entail any expense on the university. . , The Chancellor (Mr W. J. Mqrrell) outlined what the Senate had done in the past regarding the proposal and said that the great difficulty'which presented itself was in obtaining the necessary power from the legislature. _ On the motion of the Rev. D. C. Herron it was unanimously decided that the council should recommend the Senate to take steps necessary to enable degrees in divinity to be conferred. ■ \ .