DEAN INGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 82, 5 March 1938, Page 2

DEAN INGE

A MODERN PHILOSOPHER. LUNCH CLUB ADDRESS. “A Modern Philosopher” was the subject selected by Mr S. C. son at yesterday’s meeting of tile raimerston North Citizens 1 Lunch Club, the person to whom the title was given being Dean Inge, who, Mr Lawrenson considered, was one typical or modern philosophy. Mr A. M. Lascelles presided over a large attendance and welcomed as a visitor Mr Learning, of Rata. Mr Laurenson opened his remarks by referring to tho great learning ot Dean Inge, stating that he had one of the most scholarly minds in England. After describing the personal appearance of tho Dean the speaker remarked that it could well be understood how the title “the gloomy Dean” originated. Yet, said Mr Laurenson, he was a man with a great, sense of humour and displayed strength, courage, and power. Although a devout churchman he had always been opposed to excesses in emotionalism and had always argued that reason should never give way to impulse. The Dean of earlier years and the Dean of to-day were two different men. Life had broadened Ins outlook, and had, according to the speaker, made him a better man. Dean Inge had always admired that trait in English character which treated life as a game, and the speaker quoted at length from the Dean s book, “Gentlemen v. Players.” The game of life, he had maintained, should be played vigorously but always fairly. The Dean was not a pacifist; he said that on occasions war had been inevitable. War found its origin in hatred, and the duty of the world, he had stated, was not so much to stop war but to turn hatred into love. Mr Laurenson quoted extensively from writings by and about Dean Inge and told many of the Dean s humoi ous stories.