TO THE EDITOR OF "THE DAILY TELEGRAPH."

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3592, 16 January 1883, Page 4

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE DAILY TELEGRAPH."

Siii—As no doubt au incident that occurred to-night at the Globe Theatre will find its way into some of the daily papers, T trust that you will allow me to make a few remarks in explanation of what actually 1 ook place in reference to myself, as othervise my motive may be utterly misconstrued not only by those who were present in the theatre' at the time, but by others of the public outside who may hear any report not quite correctly stated of what actually did occur. This evening I went to hear the new piece by I\lr Tennyson as represented at the Globe Theatre,' "The Promise of ]\Tay." Towards the close of the first act, when the gentleman representing the character of Edgar appeared on the stage I instantly became deeply interested when I perceived the character he, Edgar, had come to represent, or rather as I took it. most grossly to misrepresent. After listening ti few minutes to the .sentiments expressed by this gentleman freethinker and atheist of Mr Tennyson's imagination I became so horrified and indignant that, rising in ray stall, I simply, in a loud voice, made the following remarks (/ propos of Edgar's comments upon

" Marriage , ': "These are the sentiments that a professing Christian (meaning , Mr Tennyson) has put into the mouth of his imaginary freethinker, and it is not the truth." 'This is all I said and I sat down.

"When the curtain fell at the end of the iir.st act, there were several good-natured erics and calls upon myself from different parts of the theatre, to explain myself. 1 rose, and endeavoured to do so, as I was naturally most anxious that the motives of ?>iy interruption .should not be miscontnied cither by those in the theatre or by the public who might hear of it outside. 1 was forcibly but kindly removed while endeavouring to explain myself and prote-Hng against Mr Tennyson's" misrepresentations of the sentiments' of the secularists and freethinkers and .so-called atheists of England. My .statement of the facts will, I jjresiime, explain my motives. I am t<. secularist and a freethinker, and, though I repudiate it, a so-called atheist, and as President of the 'British Secular Union I protest against Mr Tennyson's abominable caricature of an individual whom, I presume, lie would have us believe represents some body of people, which, thanks to the good of humanity, most certainly docs not exist amongst Freethinkers. —Faithfully yours, QUEESSBEIiEY.

Tuesday Night