MISS MAUDE ROYDEN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 April 1928, Page 8

MISS MAUDE ROYDEN.

A CENTRE OF CONTROVERSY. HER WORK IN ENGLAND. Travelling under tic auspices o±‘ the British Commonwealth League, Miss Maude Royden, the distinguished preacher, Avriter and lecturer, will arrive in Ncav Zealand for a brief -tour on May 7. Miss Royden has long 'been a champion of women’s cause, an-d -the Commonwealth League is an orgamsation which has for its object the furtherance of women's- work in the world. Arriving at AN’ oiling ton, she avill go south to Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin, returning to- Auckland on- May-o. Two days is the extent of her visit to Auckland -before her departure for Australia. , , Perhaps more controversy has raged around the person of Miss Royden than about any other woman (says the Auckland "Herald”). She has been described as a "fighting my-stie’ ami a practical idealist, } 3 and, as a leading citizen of London, she is constantly approaching from a new angle problemsl which vex the twentieth century world. She has sacrificed a life of-con-siderable ease and luxury for her principles, and -even now a large portion of her small salary at the Guildhouse goes to the poor. SERVICES AT GUILDHOUSE. To -this famous woman preacher religion is the living of life in all its phases. In the Guildhouse all kinds of subjects: are discussed- —-sometimes she takes what is topical, a grave industrial crisis, a national catastrophe, a decision -of the League of Nations, or the deeper meanings of religion. "I have so often wanted to contradict tne pax* son, ’ 3 says Miss Hoyden, 61 tbaf I wish to give my congregation an opportunity .of questioning or contradicting me. * 7 So she conies down from her high pulpit and takes her place upon a loav platform. All who wish may ask-ques-tions, end each question is patiently, painstakingly and thoroughly answered. The evening meeting at -the Guildhouse is definitely re-ligious in character. .It is an attempt to present the Christian religion, not only to -believers, ‘but to unbelievers, with freedom and sincerity, so that -those who come need not feel committed to an -acceptance of a creed they cannot hold. EDUCATION AND TRAINING. Her education and training -have fitted Miss Royden for the great work which she has undertaken in spite of prejudices -and almost insurmountable difficulties. Studying first at Cheltenham and then at Lady Margaret Hall, she has- had the -best that England can offer. She is- widely and- deeply read in literature and history, and is considered one of the most learned Shakespearean scholars. From Oxford Miss Roy-d-on Avent to the slums of Liverpool in connection with the university settlement movement. Her health gave way under the strain, and she avos forced to seek a -less strenuous field of work. For some years she served as assistant curate in a village, and -later was appointed extension lecturer for Oxford. She also threw -herself into the women’s suffrage cause with great enthusiasm. During -the war Miss Royden was one of the most -popular -speakers- in England, and it was then that she attracted the notice of the famous- American the- Rev. .Toscpli Fort Newton, Avho had been called to the City Temple, London, as assistant pastor. On Sunday evenings, before a congregation. -of over 300 CL -people, Miss Royden preached for two hours. Her work led to the founding of the Fellowship of Service and the establishment of tlie Guildhouse.