Lecture.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7683, 20 October 1903, Page 5

Lecture.

There was a very full house at the Theatre Royal last night when the Rev. G. H. Cole delivered a lecture on " The Lights and Shadows of Melbourne," in connection with his mission in aid of rescue work now being carried on by the Metihodist Central Mission in that city. The chair was occupied by Mr T. 11. Hodder, and .several clergymen had seats on the platform. The lecture was, as stated by the liov. I. Jolly at its conclusion, "an entrancingly interesting one:" withal tempered by the regret felt for the sad and awful experiences of the many who had been ultimately benefited l'.y the great work the mission is v-ngaged upon. The rev. gentleman, by the agency of fully one hundred limelight slides, showed the greater part of Melbourne to the audience, particularly the portion of the city in which the mission labours are carried on. He told in plain but convincing language the story of the lives of the majority of the outcaste, detailing the lack of parental control, absolute llCglCCt aild starvation from which the homes provided by the mission were the only refuge. Views were shown of the- slums visited and graphic tales told of the experiences there, disclosing an amount of sickness, depravity and poverty that could hardly be believed existed in- so young a town, comparatively, as Melbourne, the misery met with rivalling that of the cities, of the Old World, and which, the lecturer asserted, could only show there was something radically wrong with a . country so young and buoyant as Australia. He expressed the opinion that having seen some of the results of their work, also its nature, there would be'few who would "look upon it as a piece of cold sentiment or of religious demonstration," but rather what it was, an endeavour to help those upon whom indeed the shadows of the great city -had fallen ; helpless children, move sinned against than sinning. Several views wore shown of the farm where the street arabs are sent, comprising, with a recent addition, 90 acres, 30 of which have been converted into an orchard, and from which a return of £250 was received last year.

During the evening Mr A. Bennett sang " The Holy City," and Mrs H. Mowlem " The Last Milestone." Hymns were also sung by the audience, accompaniments being played by the Misses Mowlem and Hopwood.

The proceedings terminated with a yote of thanks to, the lecturer, moved by the Rev. I. Jolly and seconded by the Rev. S. Lawry, to the chairman and to the operator of the lantern, Mr Pallant.