THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 3407, 22 January 1874, Page 2

THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Wednesday, January 21.

UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE.

Mr Bi-B. Cargill moved the adoption of the commiteo s report, which was published by us on Tuesday. If had been - the, object of the committee to bring the whole matter as fully ns possible at once under discussion; so that if the general recommendation of the committee were adopted, the .whole arrangement might'be Completed without delay. Without intending to make, any unfavorable reflection upon minis; ters sent out here by the Free Church at Home, he might mtmiate, and as all were aware, it had been very difficult to obtain a proper supply of ministers from the Home country, and as the Church enlarged that difiiculty was likely to increase. If they wished the Church to take a proper position, they must hereafter look for ministers from among their own people. The state of The funds fully warranted the Synod taking the step suggested. i . Rev. Mr Bannerman, it was stated that the money in hand was L 717, and the present revenue about LBOO. The Rev. Dr Stuart said that fie knew a number of students who were looking forward to the ministry. » ' Tl i° proposed as an amendment That the Synod select and appoint one minister as a professor of theology, who should be released from his charge, and other two ministers as professors of who should retain their charges.” The point of alteration was the limitation of the selection of a minister connected with their Church. As regarded the point of importance, the selection of a professor, the Synod itself should exercise its own judgment instead of committing the selection to a, commission, who, however worthy of their confidence in everything, would, at the same ! “, imo ' be placed at a, disadvantage, inasmuch as they could not be supposed to be so well acquainted with their- special wants as they were themselves. It was unanimously felt by the committee that the work of the proposed institution should be by three ministers, those who had a practical experience in the work of the ministry, as distinguished from those who might possibly be elected for some theological chairs in the University at Home, who might be mere scholars, as distinguished from; those who had practical experience in the work It was also the unanimous opinion of the committee that the teachers in this hall should be men of proved experience and capacity, men having a proper knowlegde of the requirements of the work, and m whom the Synod had confidence as to their judgment and special fitnesss for the position alluded to.

, Tbe . ■ r . Christie also agreed that the selection should be made by the Synod, Thev e nnlS°l too Sm ? U , a , bod 7 . to do so, and they sb ™ dd » be repeated, do their own work. +nf q a M r Ba «nebman moved—“-That the Synod receive the report, approve of the diligence of the committee, and record the thanks of the Synod to the committee, and especially to its conveners-express its satisfaction at the reported progress of this Church’s bursars; adopt the recommendation of the m. porti anent Professor Mucgregor’s salary • mi further, considering the paucity of students to theology at present, and the little prospeS S the number increasing to any greater ivfar,/ the Synod continue the for the conduct of theological training • agree to the recommendation of the committee afto ™rk! m ?hT' V O . TtkS&S woras, ttte same to be distributed emiallv “J? Iferthe 1 ferthe ben,® rftS £ and oT +l,lf Dtß ;- t0 be carefully conserved, form /f’fß a ru“ of a theological hall to f % llbrar y Connected therewith.” Ho ?°^ lon nor the amendment should tkf because of the great extravagance that would result. They might estimate frmri f u . avera S e they would hare J. 1 , 01 ? ™ ur to six students, and they were weri y teV oßfc P 0 ? each. Arrangements were to be made for boarding, and much I ot tnaq responsibility must rest upon, ‘the 1

,Ohurob. It make arrangements Home rr-a economical, altogether bettef ’than the' proposal made. He also objected to theimotions, because it was . proposed to introduce the'sysCem of pluralities, pecause nqlman could satisfactorily fill the duties of minister and professor. ' A man could .not attend to ms people urfthe country and to students in the town. .Thirdly, he objected to the motions because, whilst they would not only result in extravagance, the course proposed would not.be sufficient to secure the object contemplated. They would not get a competent man to give his time and attention to merely five or six students ; and there would be none of that reciprocity between teacher and taught necessary to both. The Church could well conduct its business in regard to students of theology, and he instanced the cases of Messrs Fleming and Chisholm. ' ~ The Revs. Mr Watt and Dr Stuart supported the original motioiL 1 • L The Rev. Mr Stobo moved as a further amendment—“ That the.present arrangement be continued in the meantime; that L2OO bo sent Home for hooks, to be equally divided among the Presbyteries, and to be retained for the use of a hall when estftbHshfedj and filikt Presbyteries be instructed to where practicable, that theological students, during at least the first two years of their theological curriculum, bo boarded with some minister jov ministers : within their bounds, .who shifftake the oversight of the studies of such/students with which such ministers may v *be inore conversant, and introduce them to a braetical acquamtance with the different departments Of ministerial duty, siich remuneration to’be given ■to these mmisters as the Synod may -ftgree upon; and in .the meantime send down thesuggestions contained in the report to Presbyteries for consideration,” but it was not seconded. A vote was afterwards taken as follows For Dr Coplands motion, 28; for Mrßannerman’s, LaSl ongl * na l^ 0t i 011 “ “S ainßt &r CopMd’s was then put, the fbrtaer being carried by 22 against y, , ■ t j ' ‘ ’ ADDRESS," ' ' ; ‘ The Rev. Dr Cameron, the deputy from the SJSf 11 fv;? r t- by rt5 iail addressed the Synod, thanking them for his kindly retention ateehcoof liis hither v ld Y™ with great interest that he found himself m Dunedin, and in the ' Twenty-seven years ago wJuu}™ pnvi J ege Present afa medtmg arlnf a niiec r n first batch pfimmi- , grants who set sail from •Scotland toQtago. Such being the case,'the Synod would easily Tv^- e riV nkrest on h|s arrival tifn)°Ra-P v. a w’l j nd °? comin & up our benu!S b £ h n e< i beh S afl £y' de S™ oß « revealed itself, the City of Dunedin., They would also 1 b °'x? I ” c^ he was struck by the contrast between the old, and yet not old—the humble beginning and the noble outcome. He interested with the physical aspect t»f . and ? lso with the predominance of P..esbytenanimn here: not, of course, Scotch, as one upstart Bishop !had remarked. Regarded ?n™ Chm:ch,the phurch in Victoria was upited m . every sense of the word,-and they were making great progress in many respects The way in which their congregations dealt with ministers was worthy of a great measure of adat t . 11 . e ev - Mr Bannerman had that, subject was quite correct, and t°£ th i? g l was ® ven better than he be * Pferhaps what they wanted, afid was a generally, felt want, was 'greater spiritua! life aU over their bbrders. The rev. hj • ! d -’ pressing the hope that the rWr-n° f mam t^ ln i n y intercourse between the Churches would be continued. One of the ViSnri 0 w 6Ve +i,°f a ® n .4ing Representatives to Victoria was that of losmg them altogether, Mr B R^^ ere r?* e j sp i eecbe ? and sernfohs of Mr Bannerman hked, that there was a great .tl™ keep him 'amongst them. Any memher of the Synod going to Victoria "would-be sure to meet with a Very warm and cordial reception.—(Applause.) • On the motion of the Rev. Mt Stobo, the ri ex T rcSßed ,great gratification with'the Rev. DrDamerons admirable address, hndroquested him to convey to the Church' in Viotona an expression of the Synod’s warn’re-