LECTURES FAIL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20284, 28 August 1937, Page 25 (Supplement)

LECTURES FAIL

REV. A. JARDINE. TOUR IN UNITED STATESLOSS OF £BOO ON PROJECT (From a Correspondent.) LONDON, July 21. *' The Duke of Windsor Is being caused distress by the lectures now being delivered In America by the Rev. Anderson Jardlne, who conducted a religious service at the Duke’s weddmg,” stated the diplomatic correspondent of the Dally Express last Saturday. “ I understand,” he added, “ that while the Duke has no authority over Mr Jardlne, he would prefer that his lectures should deal with theological matters, as originally proposed, rather than with the constitutional crlsTs of last December.” A representative of the same Journal, telegraphing from New York last Tuesday, said: The Rev. Anderson Jardlne to-day admitted that his United States lecture tour has been a failure. He replied to charges that his attacks on the Archbishop of Canterbury and Earl Baldwin were distressing and embarrassing the Duke of Windsor by declaring that the same forces that caused the abdication were working against his lecture tour in America. Enthusiasm Disappears. Mr Jardine’s tour, loudly heralded, began five days after his arrival In New' York on July 5. Now the enthusiasm which greeted him has disappeared, adds (the correspondent. Mr Jardlne, epeaklng from Niagara Falls, «&ld: “I don't think for a moment that what I have said ’oan-have caused the Duke embarrassment or pain. I believe I am doing the right thing In attacking the heads of the Church of England, and that the Duke doesn't see the position as I see it. “ I follow the dlotates of my conscience. lam abundantly slnoere. 1 have aoted from the best of motives. I am the Duke's champion. He is an exile; so am I. My tour has been a failure, I know, because the opposition here, the Episcopal Churoh, Is fighting me.” Charities Get Nothing. There is certainly not much left of the enthusiasm whloh greeted Mr Jardine’s arrival, states the correspondent. The ipfubllo iseerns little interested in the ambitious tour planned by Mr Hugo Ernst, who is handling the ‘clergyman’s affairs. Five days after his arrival in New York, Mr Jardine faced the American public for the first time in Atlantic City. To hold the expected crowd Mr Ernst booked a hall seating 4500, and charged 4s 6d to Is. Seventy-ono people attended. Mr Jardine blamed the hot weather, the withdrawal of support by various associations who objected to advance advertising featuring him as “ The Man Who Married the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.” The vicar went to Baltimore, hometown of the Duohess, to leoture at the Lyric Theatre, which holds 3000 people. This time 882 people paid from one to two shillings to hear him. His last appearance as a lecturer was on Sunday at Rochester in a hall capable of seating 4000. Fewer than 100 paid to go in. The loss on the tour was £BOO, and the charities which were to benefit from the tour have received nothing.