TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2575, 12 January 1889, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Li'.cn;iti: in t tiii: Wesi.eyax Church.— I The R"v. Mr Carr gave an excellent lecture in this Church on Monday evening, the subject being "Canon Kingsley." The Rev. S. (Iritliths occupied I lie chair. "All people that on earth do dwell" being sung, the Rev. chairman engaged in prayer. Mr Carr played a number of airs on the violin, accompanied by Mrs Andrew on the organ. The chairman then, in a brief speech, introduced the lecturer, who gave a short account of the biith and parentage of Charles Kingsley. Kingsley was a wonderfully precocious child, and lie carried his cleverness and ability with him into his maturer years. He excelled nut oniy in mental but in physical exercise-', his powers of endurance, being very great. His capacity for hard work was something very wonderful, so much so that at the University he did as much work in six months as the other students did in three years. After his ordination he displayed the same energy in his work as he did at college. His parish, which was in a, very deplorable condition when he took it over, was soon, under his able management, brought to a flourishing condition. He was a thorough reformer, and brought all his energies to bear upon the work of sanitary reform in the parish, greatly to the benefit of the health of his parishioner?, for the death rate was greatly reduced ; but hisrcfomis did not cease here, for lie used his splendid talents in the cause of sanitary science at large. He took a keen interest in the condition of his fellow men, and was the uncompromising foe of starvation wages, and the infamous sweating system, to expose which he wrote "Alton Loch," a book which was received with scorn and derision by the newspaper critics, but thinking men and women of the better classes and intelligent artisans received it with very different feelings to the reviewers. They recognised that it had b eh written by one who was the friend of all who were imposed upon. and who, in the tidiness of his sympathy, wrote the book to draw public attention to the suffering. His capacity for literary work was enormous, and he wrote many books, letters and essays. His books were written with an object, not for the. mere acquisition of gain, but for the elevation and instruction of his readers. His winks were productive, of incalculable g..od, and letters from all parts of the world came to him, thanking him for the benefits which had been derived from the perusal of his works. The lecturer then sketched Mr lung-ley's travels in America, the enthusiastic receptions he met with there, his feelings and emotions upon viewing the wonders of that mighty continent. His domestic hie, which was of the happi est, was touched upon, as was also flis intense love for animals, several instances being quoted in illustration of this trait in his character. His me.de of treating his children was thorongly successful. He believed that much 'jf the temper and griefs of little children were the result of certain physical conditions, which could be modified or cured without the free use of the rod. He treated each child according to his or her temperament, and succeeded with all. King-ley was a scientist, litterateur, reformer, and an eminently Christian man, the teachings of Christ ianity were the underlying prin ciples which governed all his life and actions. To such an extent was he beloved not only by his own d- nomination, but by others also, that after his death funeral sermons were preached m the non-conformist churches as well as in his own. He was held in the highest esteem by the Queen and the Bishops as well as by the general public, and Iter Maje-ty Riivo freq'eiit token of her ad mitation for him, and when appointed to the Oauonry of Westminster, letters of congratulat ion pouted ill from the dignitaries of the Church. After his death the Dean telegraphed to his family to say the Abbey was open to them, but lvingslev's own request was that he should be buried at Kverdy, and there ae ©ordiugly the remain ;of one of Kugland's most honoured and honourable sons were laid to rest. The lecture showed gicit care and attention were bestowed upon its preparation, and Mr Can- deserves the highest credit for Inning wiitlen a most inteiestiug and able account of the life ol "Canon Kingsley.'' At intervals during the evening. some songs were song, the Rev. Mr Carr singing "Three Fisher* Wont Sailing" and "Til') Sands (.)' Dee," both by Kingsley. Mr and Mrs Burgess sang " What are the Wild Waves Saving." Mis Andrews played the accompani meuts.