METHODIST CHURCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1938, Page 10

METHODIST CHURCH

LADIES’ GUILD MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Methodist Ladies’ Guild wgs held at the Parsonage, Lincoln Road, the Rev F. Parker presiding over a large attendance of members. Guild business and social work was discussed. Mrs A. Thomas was accorded a welcome back to the Guild, regret being expressed that her departure to Nelson is shortly to take place. A social hour was arranged to take place on Sunday evening next after church when opportunity to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs Thomas will be given. • The speaker for the afternoon, Miss O. R. Sutherland, M.A., was introduced by Mr Parker. Her subject was “The Beginnings of English Drama,” which was both instructive and entertaining. Commencing at the 10th Century she traced drama from its crude stages, when the clergy of the day, after protesting vainly as to its degrading influence, attempted to raise its standard, and became actors themselves. They chose Biblical subjects for their plays, and endeavoured to carry them out in as life-like a manner as possible. In the 12th century outdoor pl4ys were instituted and were staged in village market places, or in consecutive pageant form on large lorries. Four English towns, York, Wakefield, Coventry and Chester, preserved cycles of the plays used in these past centuries. Miss Sutherland was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for her excellent address.