AMERICA AND CANADA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11255, 6 July 1922, Page 4

AMERICA AND CANADA

SOME EXPERIENCES LECTURE BY THE REV. W. S. •HEATHCOTE. “TWO BROTHERS MEET.” The Rev. Wyndham Heathcote, at the Unitarian Church, Vivian street, the other night, delivered a delightfully humorous and original lecture on his recent experiences in the United States and Canada. The church was filled by a large and enthusiastic audience, which Showed their keen appreciation of the lecturer’s remarks by applause and ripples of amusement. Among several good stories told by the lecturer was the following;.—An Australian Anzae and his friend wore smoking in a railway carriage in America, and a stranger sitting opposite objected. On the offending Anzac continuing to smoke, the stranger 6aid: “I shall report you to the guard for smoking in this carriage.” The Anzae replied: “And I shall report you for travelling in a first-class carriage with a third-class ticket." When the guard came round, the Anzac was as good as his word, and the objector was hustled by the guard out of the carriage. The friend said: “But how did you know he-had a third-class ticket?” The Anzao replied: “I saw it was the same colour as my own.” A MEETING AND AN INTERVIEW. The lecturer spoke of his meeting his brother (manager of the Canadian Branch of Commerce in San Francisco) after a separation of thirty years. “The Press,” remarked the lecturer, “is a peculiar thing—it will never say what you want it to eay. After" interviewing me on my arrival, it published nothing at all of my remarks to the Press representatives. The ’Frisco papers next day published instead a ‘beautiful’ picture of me, and, underneath, the heading: “ ‘Two brothers meet after thirty years.’—‘Bruce said to Wyndham so-and-so, and Wyndham said to Bruce ’ ’’ The lecturer preached at the Alameda Church in San Francisco, and though at first anxious to know how he would get on with an American audience, he found not the slightest prejudice against him as an Englishman, and the audiences were most enthusiastic. In Boston, the Rev. Heathcote was the guest- of the Unitarian Association. “Boston,” said the lecturer, “is a magnificent city. Nothing Wat courtesy, generosity, and kindness were shown me there. The Unitarian Church in Boston ranks almost as an Established Church —there are 125 churches in a radius of 25 miles—and it has a prestige and dignity of its own.” OTTAWA—AND WELLINGTON. From Boston, the lecturer then went to Ottawa, where he stayed for four months. The cold there was intense, but the houses and churches were very warm. “In Ottawa,” said Mr Heathcote, “I was thoroughly warm indoors; in Wellington, I am never warm, either indoors or out.” Snow and ice, ice and snow, varied by an occasional snowstorm, lasted in Ottawa, not for a day or two, but week after week. The children, masses of wool and clothes, are warm and happy in the snow. Yet, in Ottawa, the people ate ice-cream, even in winter with a temperature below zero.

The Unitarian Church in Ottawa is email, but vigorous. Everyone goes to church in Ottawa, so Unitarianism does not get on so well. Just as doctors can’t get on if no one is sick, so Unitarianism can’t succeed when everyone goes to church. 1

The psychology of the Canadians is strongly individualised. Each man has his own views, and each is intensely in earnest, “All our church meetings,” said the lecturer, “had suppers in connection with them. The church there is like an army. Napoleon said an army moved on its stomach, and this church moved on its stomach also."

The lecturer heard Margot Asquith, but found her a failure as a lecturer. He also had the pleasure of meeting Senator Pearce, from Australia. The lecturer returned to Los Angeles by the Santa Fe route. At the road-houses en route, about the best meals on this planet can be had for one dollar. THE' VASTNESS OF AMERICA. The Rev. Heathcote remarked on the difficulty of realising the vastness of America. There are 110 million inhabitants in America, and it is not so much one country as a number of countries. Californians differ vastly from the Northerners, and one wonders if the unity of the country can be maintained. “America is a great country,” said the speaker, “but 1 regret to say that politics there are as corrupt as they can be, and the Press is corrupt also. It is my firm conviction that I would rather be under a limited monarchy than under such a Republic as they have there. It is said the English are not popular in America, but this is mainly a matter of Press suggestion. England and America must stand shoulder-to-shoulder, even if the political heavens fall. 1 shall always feel kindly towards the Americans, for they are a great people, and deserve admiration. ’