THE RISE OF A LONDON STREET ARAB.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 456, 13 April 1912, Page 5

THE RISE OF A LONDON STREET ARAB.

LECTURE BY REV. W. READY

I The many who attended enjoyed, the many who refrained missed a rare treat of a unique character on the oc--1 casion of the recitai last Wednesday 1 evening by the Rev. W. Ready of his life story "From London Streets to 1 the Pulpit." To commence life as a waif on London streets, to know nothing of law and order save as represented and enforced by the archenemy of all boys-—the " Bobby' '--to retire at night without ceremony to the warm confines of a London ash box, to learn the mysteries of the alphabet and the art of books and pothooks at 13 years of age--this in truth is to commence at the foot of the ladder. From a Methodist standpoint the highest rung is the presidential chair —occupied this year by the subject of this report. How was this accomplished? From a gambler's life and a drunkard's misery, George Mueller rose to become th« friend of countless hundreds of London's, nay, England's waifs and strays. The lecturer pointed out that no children were received into these homes unless the marriage certificate of the parents and the baptismal certificate of the child were produced. Mr Ready received his first impressions for gond in the homes conducted by this reformer, and being apprenticed later on to a worthy miller turned his attentions to affairs religious, entered the ministry,proceeded to New Zealand and. by sheer grit, hard work and determination, has proved himself worthy of the high honour conferred upon him by the Methodist Church. The lecturer, in a forceful and convincing manner held the audience in his grip for over two hours, his sound common sense remarks on various current topics be.ing greeted with. repeated applause, his humorous illustrations and repartee received with hearty laughter by keen and appreciative listeners. Mr ffeady has the happy art of serving out deftly hidden home thrusts with all the quickness of the true Irish mind. At the conclusion a vote of thanks was proposed by the Rev. R. B. Gosnell to the Mayor of Te Kuiti for introducing the speaker and presiding, to Mi 1 Ready for his able, instructive and enthusiastic address, and to the King Country Chronicle for prominence given in. advertising the lecture, thus adding not a little tu the splendid success attending the evening. This was carried by hearty acclamation, and the Benediction pronounced, brought a pleasant and profitable evening to a close.