NEW TRINITY COLLEGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 607, 8 March 1929, Page 11

NEW TRINITY COLLEGE

METHODIST CELEBRATION FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE A high tea was held last evening in the dining room of the new Trinity College and Hostel which was opened recently by the Methodist Church of New' Zealand. The purpose of the tea was to celebrate the opening of the college. Among those present were the president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. J. F. Goldie, the Hon. L. M. Isitt. M.L.C.. the lion. A. J. Stallworthy. M.P.. the Rev. Principal C. H. Haws, and Mr. Kenneth MacKenzie. vicepresident of the Auckland Universi’y College Council. Proposing the toast of “Trinity c llege,” the Hon. L. M. Isitt recalled the memory of Mr. A. C. Caughey. who, before his death, did so much for the Methodist Church in Auckland, and said that it had been Mr. Caughty’s fixed opinion that the foundation and building of the college was the crowning achievement in the ministry f the Rev. Hr. C. H. Haws. STRONG MEN NEEDED “It has always seemed to me." continued Mr. Isitt. “that the position of the instructors at a theological college is a dual one. They must instruct the student and yet they must no-, destroy his faith. We want strong men -to go into our pulpits, for never has there been such a time in this land when strong men believing in Christ were more urgently needed. "I am proposing this toast in all joy and confidence,” he concluded. "1 am a strong Methodist andl I believe that in this college we have something more than a fine building—we have Hr. Haws and Professor Ranston, whom we expect to teach the young men in their work and their duty so that in time we may see this college the mightiest in the country.” AIM OF THE COLLEGE Dr. Haws, in reply, thanked Mr. Isitt for his remarks and described tlx; work that the college hoped to do. The

chief aim of the college, he said, was to produce men who should take an influential place in the community and act as steadying and improving influThere were one or two things that the college would speciallv represent: Firstly, it was evidence of the fundamental position of worship in the public life. “Apart from all sects and schisms, we believe that there Is a religious instinct which must be satislied. We believe religion worth teaching and worth thinking about.” RELIGIOUS INTERPRETATION ‘•Secondly, it will stand for an interpretation of religion in terms of advancing knowledge. Religion is not a static thing and it needs reinterpretation to each successive generation, because every successive addition to our knowledge is providing a new support for religion. “I would to God I could be a minister and a teacher 100 years hence, for I am positive that the world is moving toward a great spiritual revelation.” The third aim. continued Dr. Laws, was a thorough education. Me did not think that a theological education should be specialised. The broader the training the better. He considered all forms of teaching a failure, no mat tea how many examinations were passed, if the student could not receive something that would last him when he went out into the world. Other speakers were the Rev. W. .7. Elliott, who traced the aistory of the theological colleges of Auckland in proposing the toast of ‘’Past Colleges and Principals”; the Rev. J. H. Simmonds. who replied to that toast; Mr. A. C. A. Sexton, who proposed the toast of | “The University of New Zealand”; and Mr. Kenneth MacKenzie, who replied; the Rev. Professor Ranston, who proposed the toast of “Sister Divinity Colleges,” and Hr. .T. .T. North, the Rev. D. C. Herron, and Mr. J. F. Ewen, who replied. During the evening the Rev. A. Mitchell and Mr. R. Errington sang several songs.