FAMOUS CANADIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 131, 15 March 1935, Page 2

FAMOUS CANADIAN.

RALPH CONNOR TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. WILL REMAIN SEVERAL WEEKS. (Special to the “Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, March 14. Best known as Ralph Connor, the novelist, yet a man who is interesting for several other reasons, also the Rev. Charles W. Gordon, D.D., will arrive at Auckland by the Aorangi next Sunday. The Rev. W. Gilmour, BA., of the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church, Wellington, at whose invitation Mr Gordon is coming to New Zealand, said yesterday he hoped his friend would be able to spend several weeks in the Dominion. Arrangements will probably he made for him to preach at some of the churches. Born of Scottish parents in Glengarry, County, Canada, his father, the Rev. Donald Gordon, was a famous Free Church minister of disruption times. It was in his congregation that occurred the great Glengarry revival referred to in “The Man from Glengarry” and in “Torches Through the Bush.” Ralph Connor was educated in Toronto and in Edinburgh. He travelled over Europe on a bicycle with a group of Canadian students.. He acted as missionary in the Rocky Mountains from 1896 to 1893, and it was no doubt m that locality that he obtained, a lot of the material for bis books. For many years he was tile pastor at St. Stephen Church, Winnipeg. He served the Presbyterian Church in Canada as convener of various conference committees, notably social service and evangelism, and he became Moderatoi oi the General Assembly in 1921. With something of a reputation m the study of sociology and economics Ralph Connor was invited by the Gov 'eminent of Canada to act as arbitiator during industrial strikes. In tin connection lie had a wonderful recoid. dealing with 117 cases and registering success in each instance, something unparalleled in the history of labour legislation in that Dominion. He went to the war as chaplain ot the 43id Cameron Highlanders in 1W *nd was chosen by the Imperial and Canadian Governments for a special mission to the United States, where he came into ■contact with President Wilson and bther American statesmen. During the period of his mission America entered the war on the side of the Allies. Ralph Connor has published something like 21 books, and some have attained circulation of many- millions £ the English language, and have been translated into most foieign tongues. No books of the last halfcentury have had the circulation of the “Black Rock” and “The Sky Pilot.”