DISTINGUISHED VISITORS TO PALMERSTON NORTH.

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6634, 13 June 1928, Page 6

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS TO PALMERSTON NORTH.

DB, W. C. POOLE AND SIR EDWARD SHARPE. Distinguished visitors to Palmerston North yesterday were Dx. W. C. Poole, Ph. D., D.D. and Sir Edward Sharpe. These two gentlemen are at present on their way to the World Sunday School Conference shortly to be held in Los Angeles. Dr. Poole holds the eminent position of president of tho World Sunday School Association which represents a total of approximately 33,000,000 children. Sir Edward Sharpe, managing director of Sharpes Ltd., London, the great confectionery manufacturers, is president of the British unit of the Association, and represents approximately 10,000,000 children. Dr. Poole is the minister of Christ Church, Westminster Bridge Road, London. The doctor is an Australian, Tasmanian born, and received his education at Pacific and Boston Universities. For some years he was a distinguished minister of tho Methodist Episcopal Church of America, but when the war broke out, he was appointed Religious Work Director for the American Y.M.C.A., and went across to Europe to carry out his duties. In England he was soon in great demand as a preacher, and when the news was made public that he had been invited to succeed Dr. F. B. Meyer, as minister of Christ Church, Westminster, it was recognised that a very popular choice had been made. He has been in his present pastorate more than seven years, and, during that time, the British people have testified to their appreciation of his great gifts by electing him President of tho Christian Endeavour Union of Great Britain and Ireland, and also President of the World's Sunday School Association. Dr. Poole is a most eloquent preacher, and a very convincing and popular speaker on the public platform. He took a groat part in the fight for Prohibition in America, and has always used his outstanding gifts to forward tho cause of prohibition in the British Empire. Dr. Poole has a personal interest in tho Dominion, which he has not visited since 1914. He has three brothers residing in New Zealand, two in Gisborne and one in Wellington. The two gentlemen proceeded south to Wellington yesterday afternoon. They will journey as far as Dunedin where Dr. Poole will lecture before returning to the capital, from whence they will sail for Los Angeles by the Maunganui on June 19th.