THEOLOGICAL CHAIR

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 519, 23 November 1928, Page 1

THEOLOGICAL CHAIR

AUSTRALIAN APPOINTED GENERAL ASSEMBLY BALLOT The Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Hunter, M.A., B.D. (Glas.), D.D. (Melb.), minister of St. John’s Church, Essendon, Melbourne, was recommended to the chair of Old Testament Studies in the Theological College, by the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day. There were two othe ; r applications for the position, one from the Rev. D. C. Herron, M.C., M.A., of St. David’s Church, Auckland, and the other from the Rev. Alex. Moffatt, M.D., 8.D., of Anderston Parish Church, Glasgow, Scotland. The Chair was made vacant by the retirement of the Rev. Professor Cumming, M.A,, M.Sc., D.D., who had held the professorship for nine years; Dr. Hunter took his M.A. with second-elass honours on Semetic languages, and his B.D. at Glasgow University. At Melbourne College of Divinity he took his B.D. with . firstclass honours in Biblical and Historical Theology, and his D.D. by thesis. He won the James A. Paterson scholarship in Hebrew and Greek in 1904, the John Clark-Mile-End Scholarship for oost-graduate study of Semetics. and the Glasgow University Oriental Society’s prize for distinction in Arabic. At the conclusion of his course he was first man in the Glasgow Theological College, and he was offered the assistant professorship of Semetic languages at Glasgow. FORMERLY AT OAMARU Dr. Hunter was minister of St. Paul’s Church, Oaraaru, from August, 1915, to July, 1923, and is the present minister of one of the largest churches in Victoria. Both Dr. Hunter and Mr. Herron were proposed to Assembly and a ballot resulted, Dr. Hunter receiving 147 votes and Mr. Herron 110. Assembly then decided to accept Dr. Hunter by a unanimous vote. The election has practically been made by Assembly’s decision, but the nomination goes to the Synod of Otago and Southland for actual appointment. The Theological College Committee put forward the application of Dr. Hunter as the man for the position, both in scholarship and personality. Assembly also decided to appoint the first principal of the Theological Hall, Dunedin, his duties being to preside over the hall and the deliberations of the Senatus, and be the representative to church and community. MEN FOR MINISTRY “The tide has turned and the number of students for the ministry continues to increase,” said the Rev. E. J. Tipler, convener of the committee, in presenting the report. Fifteen students entered the University this year and it was expected that the number of hall entrants next session would be high, nine having made application already! A total of 66 stud-

ents were under the care of the committee and financial help had been extended to 63 of them. The year began with a deficit of £ 411, but this had been reduced to £B7. Altogether a total of £ 1,944 10s had been disbursed in financial help to students.

The committee put on record its appreciation of the excellent work which Professor Hewitson had done during the past 20 years as teacher of English Bible and Practical Training. “He brought to his duties physical vigour, fine culture, social influence, moral power and religious enthusiasm, together with a rich experience of the ministry,” said the report. Professor tlewitson also retires from the mastership of Knox College. The retirement of the Rev. Professor James Cumming, M.A,, M.Sc., D.D., from the chair of Old Testament Language and Literature was also Commented on, the professor being praised for his “sound scholarship, ripe judgment and practical sympathy which have won for him the high esteem and cordial affection of all members of his class.” ' Both TTofesfeor Hewitson and Professor Cunnhipg. thapked the Assembly for the. ••It was. decided to thank the Rev. J. Collie for liis long* and valued services as exit- - examiner. • • The Rev. R. G. McDovrall was apjDointed examiner in Greek NeW Testament. /BrQceeding.)