Wand v. the Word

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 10

Wand v. the Word

If the Christchurch [City Council is to grant an official title to the Wizard, Mrs Renee Stanton wants one, too.

Mrs Stanton is affection-; ately known to some as the Bible Lady, a title coined by the former' radio talk-back! host, John Blumsky. She has been preaching for years, and has been stung by the application of her archrival. the Wizard, for civic recognition as Arch Wizard.

Mrs Stanton returned to preaching when the Wizard ! (lan Brackenbury Channell)

began drawing the crowds in Cathedral Square. The Wizard, says Mrs Stanton, is a man to be watched. Gn days when she would rather be at the beach ■ she comes into the Square i just late enough for the [Wizard to have gathered a [crowd for her.

Greetings have become rather stylised. The Wizard, she says, jumps down from his apple case, or in these, more affluent times, a stepladder, saying, “Oh, here’s our dear little Bible Lady,” and planting an affectionate kiss. Attention won. and after a

few evangelical airs on her fiddle, it becomes a contest of thrust and counter-thrust. “Look here, Jack,” she says, setting the record straight. “HARD WORKER”

The Wizard works harder than any man she has met, but all in an effort to avoid work, she says. She is concerned that a man who preaches the avoidance of work, education and women (though he has a girl-friend himself, she says) should be granted official recognition. Her title, “Bible Lady, of Canterbury,” is sought on principle, not from pride, and she hopes that both applications, which will be heard by the Christchurch City Council cultural committee on; January 24, will be dis-j allowed.

Mrs Stanton might gain; her title, in spite of her wishes. On telling the Wizard that if he were to apply for a title she would seek to be “the Bible Lady,” she was told: “My dear lady, I will see that this will come to pass.”