NATIONAL SHAKESPEARIAN MOVEMENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 169, 28 April 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

NATIONAL SHAKESPEARIAN MOVEMENT.

This year is tho tercentenary of the death ci William Shakespeare, who wrote : "This England never did, nov never shall, Lio at the proud foot of i conqueror." To observe the memory and perpetuate tho inspiration of the greatest of all Englishmen, a National Tercentenary Committee, with the approval of His Majesty the King, was recently formed in London. It is now proposed to mako the tercentenary not merely commemorative, but productive of result such as will bo worthy of Shakepea re and of the race that speaks his language. On tho proposal if the British Empire Shakespeare Society, it has been decided to ask every man, woman and child in the British Empire to wear, from April 23rd to May 3rd, a medallion of Shakespeare. (The precise birth and death date—Old Style was April 23rd—New Style, May 3rd.) In a letter received from Mr. A. Acton Bond, tho Hon. Secretary of the Shakespeare Festival of Mercy, wo are informed that these medallions, at a price within the reach of tSe poorest, will shortly be on sale throughout the Shakespeare-speaking world. Those who wear them will oo homage to the immortal name that voiced or inspired almost every ideal to which we have pledged our national honour, and for which wo are to-day prepared! to sacrifice our "last shilling and our last man." This homage to Shakespeare will bo no empty tribute. The proceeds of the sale of the Shakespea-e medallions, of the Shakespeare festivals and performances, will be divided equally between the British Bed Cross Society, tha National Committee for Relief in Belgium, and the League of Mercy. In tho name of the man who, iiiree hundred years ago, wrote: — "The quality of mercy is not strain'd, "It blesseth him that gives, and 1 him that takes:

"It is an attribute to God himself"— tho organisers ask for the active support anci eo-operation of every Shakespearian throughout the Empire. The medallion will bo in two or three shades of sepia on still' cardboard, with a pin attached, so that it can b e worn either in a coat or a gown. In additi m to this general proposal, it has been decided to set aside May 3rd as a special day for children and students, so that all young people can feel that they are specially considered in this great tribute. It should prove a happy memory for them in yeart, to come, that on the occasion of the Tercentenary of Shakespeare they were able to do their part in tho commemoration, and the nfeJa'lion will sarre as a souvenior of the great event. Writing on February 24th, Mr. Acton Bond says: "This development has only just been'decided upon, and therefore, I can only give you the roughest outline to catch the mail, but, sooner than our Overseas Dominions should be without information as to the special School and College Day, I venture to nnke tho announcement through you' without full details." The organisers 1 ave communicated with a certain number of Shr.kespeara Societies in the Dominions but, obviously they have not in tho time at their disposal been able to secure the addi esses of all >uch societies, and wo have therefore It-en asked to appeal to the secretaries of all Shakespeare Societies on this coast to co-operato in the proposal, and in tliis way make tho movement a groat success. As the who'o proposal had l only lwcn inaugurated within two or three days of the closing of the mail, it was, of course, impossible for tho executive to send a supply of the mcdailiuns, but, in forwarding a copy for reproduction, Mr. Acton Bond—who is .issociatecl on the Council with tho Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of London, th? Earl 01 Plymouth, Sir Herbert Tree and Sir George Alexander —is good enough to express tho opinion that with the resources at our command we shall be ablo to reproduce them quite as well ns they will bo finshed in the Mother Country.