OSCAR WILDE

NZ Truth, Issue 168, 5 September 1908, Page 3

OSCAR WILDE

And His Hymns.

The appearance of two poems by Oscar < Wilde ia the "Church Messenger," the organ of the Berkeley Church Federation, has caused a discussion among several of tiie college town divines as to the propriety of their publication, according to the ?F/risco "Examiner." The Rev. 1. N. McCash, pastor of the First Christian Church, condemns the publication, while the VRev. A. J. Kennedy, of Shattuckavehue Methodist Church, and the Rev. Ai S. Coates, of ifie Evangel Baptist, are fervid 1 m the .defence. THE OFFENDING POEMS.The poems which have caused the trouble .are as follows :— Nay, Lord, not thus ! White lillies m ■ the spring. '■, Sad olive groves, or silver breasted dove ■;Teach us more clearly of Thy. life and love '■ . r Than terrors of red flame and thundering. The hillside vines dear memories of Thee bring; A' bird .at- evening Hying to its nest Tells me .'oil "-One wno had no place ot ; rest.- ' ■ . , . • I think it- is of, Thee the sparrows sing. Come rather on some autumn afternoon, Whim red and brown are burnished on the ; leaves, And the .fields echo to the gleaner's -■•••■•. song ;■ ■■• ■■■'■ . ■:, ' '•? Come when , the splendid fulness of the' v moon, ;Looks doTJir&Yupon the rows of golden 1 . sheaves} • . (And ieap Thy harvest ; we have waited 'Wag.. •-....-.... Haply, one., day these songs pi mine . Some world-^orn, mortal shall console With savor of; the bitter wine ;Of. tears crushed out from .a man's dole ; And he shall say, tears m his eyes, \ There was great love jn this man's soul. MINISTERS,' OPINIONS DIFFER* } m condemning the publicatioa the Rev.' Dr. : McCash < says. :— "I have read, the poems and find no intrinsic fajult with them. As a Christian and "the pastor of a church, how-' ever, I cannot bring myself to countsn- ( arice their prublicaiion m the "Church Messenger.'/ We cannot consider merely uhlan's thoughts and the product of his :braih. and ignore his 'life and personality. No matter how lofty are Wilde's concepts and poems, there are otter places better adapted to their spread than the columns, of a religious publication. The "man Wilde, as lie was known, is still inseparable, from 'them." The Rev. Mr Coates says: "I think- it is perfectly proper that a creditable ' poem by Wilde or. any otherman Should appear- in the "Church Mes*- . senger." It.. .is -. "the poem and the thaugKts it. expresses and the manner "of their, treatment to which we should pay attention, and not the personality of their writer.'? Oscar will, get into the book of Com-, nton Prayer yet. „..'■'