“DERELICTS!”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 274, 17 November 1914, Page 3

“DERELICTS!”

Tire Rev. R. ; B. S. Hammond, Rector' of St. Simon’s and St. Jude’s Sydney, addressed a fair meeting fast night in the Town Hall. The Rev; C. A. Howard, Vicar of Stratford, occupied the chair, and in introducing the speaker said that Mr Hammond was a worker among men. He controlled a parish of over 20,000 people, and • knew something' of the under life.

Mr Hammond, who is perhaps the fnos't brilliant speaker who has graced a platform in Stratford, was received with applause, and told his audience some of the work of a greqt jcity. One instance: A man whoso brother is the Governor of one of bur colonies and his sister a Countess and the man himself a great Oxford ■scholar, was picked up in the parks 'of Sydney by the speaker, and he (Mr Hammond) was told he had no hope —the man was utterly beyond redemption. To-day he is a pillar of the church, and the right-hand man of the slum mission. Hundreds of cases were brought under review, and out of the “drunks” of a. great city, Mr Hammond’s mision has and is doing a great work. Mr Hammond declines to quote any figures that are not absolutely correct and official. Mr Hammond is a great sport, athlete, and i ex-footballer, and says he will never forget the first time he played against the Maorilaud team. “Snowy” Baker, the great boxer, is a friend of his, and has' spoken on his (Mr Hammond’s) temperance platform. The lecturer proved that all the champion sportsmen were teetotallers, and the same was now applied, to all the great soldiers and sailors of the British army and navy. Ho gave details of his recent trip through the No-license areas, and said that where the convictions for 100,000 in No-license areas were only a little over 400 for a hundred thousand under license in similar districts they amounted to over 1800.

On the motion of Mr Bohinson, seconded by Mr Solo, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker.