A POPULAR LECTURESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2150, 5 August 1907, Page 2

A POPULAR LECTURESS.

ARRIVAL OR MISS MURCUTT. PUBLIC ■RECEPTION. Of fine prasonce, charming personality ami winning manner Miss A. L. A. Murcutt, tho popular and much-travel lod locturess who arrived from tho Soul'll on Saturday, is likely 1 to take tho public heart by storm. 1 Tho lady was mot on arrival by tho Roy. E. Grillin, Messrs. F. C. Long, ill. McLeod, C. l’alk and A. Graham, on behalf of the No-Liconsc League, and other friends. A public reception was tendered to t'ho visitor during tho aftornoon, at the Presbyterian Schoolroom, whore there was a ropresontutivo gathering, including tho Mayor and Mayoress. Tho Rev. Mr. Cliatterton presided, and in his introductory remarks referred to tho enthusiasm with which Miss Murcutt’s series of lectures had boon grooted in this colony, as well as abroad. Ho was dolightod to find that Gisborno was favored with a visit, and predicted that a treat was in store for tho citizens. Hia Worship tho Mayor, in a felicitous speech, oxtonded a cordial welcomo to Miss Murcutt, on behalf of tho peoplo of Gisborno. Tho good work in which she was engaged was known to many of them, and they could not but admire her talents and indomitable courage. Miss Murcutt, in a gracious and oloquont response, gave evidence of tho natural gifts which have carried her through many a lecturing campaign, and was quickly established as a favorite with her hearers. A fluent, forcible speaker, she has a fund of interesting information on numerous topics, gleajicd from personal observation, and is imbued with earnestness in the cause, of humanity and a wide sympathy with the poor and afflicted. Moreover, she is a fino raconteur, has a. bright and vivacious manner, and interpolates so much wit and humor into her dis--courscs that there is not a dul. rnomont. In tho course of hor remarks Miss Murcutt confided that she was a very bad sailor. “I am seasick tho moment I buy the ticket,” she declared amidst laughter. Dealing with hor mission she learned with pleasure that there was a strong moral sentiment in this town ana district, and remarked that the peoplo thus had a reputation to live up to. Touching on temperance work and social reform the lecturess gave an outline of what was being done abroad, and the progress being made in this colony. A brief sketch of her impressions in New Zealand followed, she was delighted to visit what, to her mind, was one of the most progressive countries in the world. It was leading the world in its legislation. She thought either the Dominion of Canada or .the Dominion of New Zealand would ho tho first country in the world to prohibit the liquor traffic. Miss Murcutt presented a sad picture of some of the conditions prevailing in the old land, where thousands were born into the world “without a chance,” and contrasted this with the happy condition of the workers in this colony. Incidentally Miss Murcutt gave some of her experiences in other lands. In conclusion tho visitor gratefully acknowledged the welcome extended, and expressed her pleasure at seeing such a beautiful and fertile district.

Mr. C. A. Do Lautour added some words of welcome. It was, he said, a pleasure and gratification to see a talented lady embarked on such an enterprise as Miss Murcutt had before her. Mr. Somervell, Mrs. Palk (on behalf of the W.C.T.U.), the Rev Daw-son-Tliomas, the Rev. C. Griffin, Mr. Palk and the Rev. Grant also made appropriate speeches. • At the conclusion of the speeches the ladies of the W.C.T.U. entertained the gathering at afternoon tea, and the proceedings were in the nature of a conversazione. LECTURE AT THE THEATRE. At a quarter past 8 last night Miss Murcutt delivered a lecture in His Majesty’s Theatre, the subject being “National Righteousness.” The Mayor presided, and there were also on tho stage the Rev. C. Griffin and Mr. C. Palk, secretary of tho No-License League. The matter of last night’s lecture was presented in excellent form, and all tho points were cleverly worked up. . Tho lecturer remarked that it was generally alleged that Britain was a great nation because of her Christianity; but she held that if tho nation were really Christian the drink traffic would not lie allowed to exist. It was bad enough to have the traffic at home, but when liquor was used as an evangelising agent tho case was much worse. When the United States aunexod the Philippine Islands the first export to the country was fourteen train-loads of alcohol. In India tho terms “Christian” and “drunkard” wore synonymous. It was Christian Britain who forced the opium traffic on China. "Westerners did not impress the heathen with the blessings of Christianity, and wer e too prone to preach without practice. It was shameful that heathens could boast or national greatness superior to _ Christian nations. Until the drink traffic at Home and tho opium traffic in China had been swept out of existence Britain could not hope for that “righteousness that oxaltetli a nation.”

Yesterday mornim? Miss Murcutt delivered a lecture in the Methodist Church, and in the afternoon addressed a meeting of from the various Sunday schools at His Majesty’s Theatre. Mr. J. Somervell presided. Miss Murcutt told the lesson of Temperance in -an ingenious and interesting fairy tale. The subject for this evening's lecture is “Japan and the Japanese.”