The Globe. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1541, 27 January 1879, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1879.

Quarrels between religious and educational bodies are of no unfrequent occurrence. When they meet on the common ground of education the air becomes charged with controversial electricity, and an explosion is too often the result. The old question of religious versus secular education crops up, and, nolens volens, the two parties find themselves by the ears, A contest, which, in reality, has much of the religious versus secular question in it, is at the present time going on in Dunedin. The Presbyterian Synod is in session, and the relations between that body and the University Council are becoming, in diplomatic language, somewhat “strained.” The history of the disagreement is, as wo understand it, much as follows: —There exists a certain fund, formed under the Presbyterian Church of Otago Land Act, 1866, and intended to bo used for the purpose of endowing chairs in the Otago University, the appointments being made by the University Council under the recommendation of the Presbyterian Synod. Some years ago this fund had so increased that the latter body thought itself justified in recommending the appointment of a Professor for Mental and Moral Science. The University quite agreed that such a chair was needed. Professor McGregor was nominated, and has been teaching these brandies ever since with much success. The fund having further increased, the Synod saw its way to the foundation of a second chair, and this time they rec-'mmended that the chair should be one for Moral Philosophy and Political Economy. Wa

have all some ideas as to what the more or less dreary science of Political Economy treais of, and some of us have possibly, at the expense of much brain power, endeavoured to arrive at tho outcome of tho various ideas that have been started on tho subject from tho days of Sir Walter Raleigh to those of John Mill, but few would, we imagine, be able to distinguish Moral Philosophy, one of tho subjects to bo taken up by the proposed now Profossc r from Moral Science, the subject already taught by M r McGregor. Tho difference would appear to bo much of the nature that exists between tweedledum and tweedlodee. Anyhow', the proposition of the Synod was not favorably received by tho University Council, who pointed out to the former body that Moral Philosophy was already taught as a leading subject in tho department of Moral Science, and that oven Political Economy was included in tho existing syllabus of University instruction, as far as the time of the students would allow them to study tho subject. Another objection was also raised by tho Council. They felt that the foundation of two Chairs in succession by an ecclesiastical body, both bearing on moral and mental training, would give rise to the impression that sectarian purposes were intended to bo subserved, an impression which would be highly injurious to the welfare of tho University. The Council stated it as its opinion therefore, that in place of the proposed Chair, one for English Language and Literature should be founded, tho latter being urgently needed in order that the University course in the Arts Faculty might bo made reasonably complete. But tho Synod were not inclined to give ■way in tho matter. They indeed quite gave up all idea of attempting to accurately define the difference that might exist between Moral Science and Moral Philosophy, but none the loss did they hold that the now Chair should be formed as they proposed. Tho debate on the subject was signalized by a considerable amount of acrimiuous discussion. One leading member of the Synod inveighed in no measured terms against tho Board of University Professors, and described their arguments as tinged with “ gross materialism,” and as characteristic of an age when all that is noble and ornamental is in danger of being swallowed up by what is ignoble and useful. Finally the Synod, it would appear, resolved that, as the University refused its offer, the Chair of Moral Philosophy and Political Economy should bo endowed in the College of the Presbyterian Church.

Whether the Synod have legal powers to carry their resolution into effect remains to bo proved One thing they certainly have done, as the Otago Daily News points out. They have strongly reinforced tho arguments of those who consider that tho power of appointment to Chairs in tho Otago University should bo taken out of the hands of a sect and vested in the University Council. For looking at tho subject broadly it seems evident that the proper function of the University is to give a good, all-round, education to its students, and it seems preposterous that two Chairs should be devoted to the teaching of subjects, which can hardly bo separated by any known definition, more particularly when those best qualified to pass a judgment give it as their decided opinion that there are other subjects which ought positively jto be seen to, in order that the curriculum may bo* placed on a satisfactory basis. Perhaps, however. it is a now Professor and not a new Chair, that the Synod are yearning after. Tho present Professor of Moral Science may possibly not accommodate his teaching sufficiently to meet their views. But, whatever may bo the real views of the Synod, it is a great pity that the two bodies have fallen out, and that there exists a danger of money, which is intended for the purposes of education, being frittered hopelessly away.