Miss Maud Royden

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7111, 8 January 1930, Page 11

Miss Maud Royden

A MODEBN HYPATIA. Miss Maud Eoyden, assistant preacher at the City Temple, London ,who was one of the recipients of New Year honours, will be remembered by many of the people who heard her lectures when she was visiting New Zealand about two years ago. She has been called the Hypatia of the twentieth century” by those who know her best, and her many-sidedness has made her friend to all classes of society, saint and sinner as well. Writing of her in an overseas paper, one who knows her well, describes her as a woman with a strong hatred of cant or anything like that, and a flaming love ef righteousness for its own sake. There is a fine sensitiveness, which understands the difficulties of the small people as well as of the large; which cares for children and knows something of their dreams. There is the dreamer who sees the world illuminated by a great love and a great sacrifice. Then there is the Maud Boyden who likes and appreciates courage; the daring motorist driving the car which was a gift from friends; the woman who, though lame, enjoys swimming.

Her private life is spent in a quiet home in Hampstead—a delightful restored 17th. century house. The first impression is of a charming wall and an attractive small paved garden at the side. There are glimpses everywhere of that love of beauty which is so essential a port of the woman herself. A carved box to hold logs for the fire done by the workers in the guildhouse ant group; window boxes whoso blooms peep through study windows; low, comfortable chairs. The whole of one side of the study is taken up by an enormous desk, at which, if you are lucky, you may so the slim figure of the owner hard at work. To this quiot home come many famous men and women. Much that is finest in the life of London and a wide intellectual circle finds its way to this Hampstead Home. You may find there on the same day men and women from ! all countries who seek her with affection and friendship. Such is the power of sincerity, of intellect, and of a sense of humour. Her lameness, which has been her lot since birth, does not in the least seem to detract from the almost majestic set of the head with its strong mouth and slightly greying hair. It is the eyes which hold and attract. They are so luminous, so clear and so compelling. On Saturday afternoons a time is set aside when people may seek her with their special difficulties. The claims of the members of her own Fellowship, of course, come first, but there is room for many others. It is interesting to notice that when the Women’s Missionary Society and the Methodist Episcopal Church cancelled her lecture dates on the grounds of her occasional cigarette, the Church Press Club of Boston, composed of editors and executives of church papers of many denominations, immediately invited Miss Boyden to speak, and the meeting was packed. The famous “Gentleman with a Duster” said of her:—“Miss Boyden*B memoirs, if thoy ?L.arej ever., written,, wetdd 1 thienfca the uftit&pi sum 6

of pleasing both saints and sinners—the saints by the depth and beauty of her spiritual experiences; the sinners by her freedom from every shade *of cant and by her strong, almost masculine sympathy with the difficulties of out human nature. One may affirm of Miss Hoyden that she,is at once a true gtoroaiju-an<L.a 3ia Atoia Baxdea—ifchg warns*