REV. W. S, HEATHCOTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11246, 26 June 1922, Page 3

REV. W. S, HEATHCOTE

BASK FROM AMERICA CORRUPT GOVERNMENT AND PRESS. EXPERIENCES IN THE STATES. « Tile Rev. Wyndham S. 1 Icithrnte arrived by the s.h Maiama on Saturday to take charge of the ministry of the Unitarian Church, Vivian street, ft will bo remembered that he temporarily filled the position prior to the arrival of the Rev. J. Shaw Brown from England. The latter resigned the ministry some few weeks ago, and the trustees immediately cabled an invitation to Mr Heathcote, who was then in Ottawa, to accept the ministry: \ few days later a reply cable was received accepting the invitation and the rev. gentleman reached Wellington again on Saturday. He was met by trustees and members of tho church, who gave him a most corral welcome. In the course of an houf* or two, 'he took charge of the church, and was at work in the vestry when interviewed by a “Times” reporter, to “whom he gave 4 most interesting narrative of his ex periences since he left New Zealand last year. HIS MINISTERIAL CAREER. The Rev. VVyndham. S. Heathcote was ordained a clergyman of the Church of England, and held a living at Home. He became a military chaplain and served with the Imperial force* in tho South African war. After a severe illness, he wa6 sent to Australia, where he became rector of Bundaberg, Queensland. Here his religious and political views brought him into tremble with the ecclesiastical authorities, and led to his retirement from the church. He stood as Labour candidate for the Senate, but was narrowly defeated. He was offered several seats by representatives who had beon returned, but declined to accept any of them. AS UNITARIAN MINISTER,. He then became Unitarian minister at Melbourne for five years, where he took a prominent part in the conscription and recruiting campaign. He then spent a couple of years in Adelaide, after which he came to New 'Zealand, accepting temporary charge of the Unitarian Church efter the Rev. A. G. Hale went to Adelaide. For six months he conducted the affairs of the church and the congregation in a manner that won him the love and esteem of membera and son-members, and he was not allowed to depart for Canada without a tangible expression of those feelings. He was educated at Clifton College, where he was school mate with lau Haig and Birdwood, -and at Trinity College, Oxon. ’ About two years-ago Mr Heathcoie's brother, Mr Bruce Heathcote,’ manager of the Canadian Bank of Commerce in ban Francisco, visited Australia and New Zealand to conduct financial business with the Governments of both countries. IMPRESSIONS OF CHICAGO. Speaking to the “Times” representntire, Mr Heathcote said he was much in-pressed by America, its vastness, its variety and its wealth. “Although there is no one American type which you can call American and no other, yet all the various types I found from east west were very courteous and gracious, in spite of the fact that I am an Englishman, for undoubtedly there ia i prejudice against Englishmen. The cities of America are wonderful, and f havo seldom been impressed with any city so much as I was with Chicago. Through reading Upton Sinclair’s book 1 had always associated Chicago with streets running with the blood of the sheep and other animals. It is a magnificent city, with wonderful parks and streets. It has 60 miles of underground railways for commercial purposes, delivering goods. The passenger traffic is carried overhead. Yet it is in many respects like London.

“NOT CUTTING MUCH ICE.” ”1 went to Boston, New England, which if quite different to the rest of An.erica. I saw the Unitarian Church there in its strength, 125 churches in a radius of 25 miles, ranking almost as an established church, very dignified with very beautiful music, but rot cutting much ice. It was quits the most respectable of churches. “I went to Ottawa, the capital of Canada, a beautiful city in the summer ; but I saw it in winter under snow, with a temperature generally 20 degrees below zero. It is a very churchgoing city, something I have never seen equalled. Everybody goes to church. The Unitarian Church there is small, hut vigorous; and the Press give the obuTches more publicity than anywhere in Canada. AHEAD OF US, BUT "On the whole America is ahead of us in many things. Tho people aTe better dressed, the standard of living is higher, and the restaurants and the food are excellent. “But there are seamy sides to American life. The Government is corrupt and tho Press is unhealthy. On the whole the American people are much better than their Government. I love the American people. They were very nice to me; full of. courtesy and kindness! Wherever I went in America 1 used to say, ‘England is the first country in the world,’ and the reply invariably came, ‘We have heard that.’ ” The Rev. W. S. Heathcote opened his ministry by conducting the service at the Unitarian Church last evening '