Farthing Sterling

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 4

Farthing Sterling

IF ever Father Alexander Farthing writes his autobiography, he should title the story of his life, "From Playhouse to Pulpit." For, it is a fact that the popular priest m charge of Waikiwi, Invercargill parish was at one time, an actor. He has played all kinds of parts with J. C. Williamson's dramatic companies and other organizations, from those characters known as "the sleeve links of the drama" to the more important bewigged and ringletted heroes of Shakespeare. It was m Reynolds' Dramatic Company that Father Farthing received his schooling as an actor and it was while acting and officiating as assistant stage-manager that he "studied Latin j and Greek, preparatory to entering a seminaryFather Farthing is naturally a man of many parts and his career as an actor gave" him an excellent insight into the foibles and weaknesses of human-kind. He still re.^ains an interest m the stage and whbn, some years ago, he produced the opera, "Maritana," for the Auckland amateurs, he proved himself an impressario of no mean ability, for one of his principals was Rosina Buckman, who afterwards attained world-wide success. To-day, Father Farthing takes a keen interest m stud horses, but his main hobby and mission is looking after the spiritual welfare of his parishioners. For this task he is most eminently suited.