THE REV. JAMES BARR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20190, 30 August 1927, Page 13

THE REV. JAMES BARR.

GUEST OF DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY. LECTURE ON PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY. | Yesterday the Dunedin Presbytery entertained the Rev, James Barr, 8.D., M.P. for Motherwell, Scotland, at luncheon. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick presided, and expressed the pleasure of the Dunedin ministers at the visit of the Rev. Mr Barr and at the success that had attended his tour of the Dominion. The Rev. Hector Maclean supported the chairman’s ■welcome. Mr Barr, in the course of a short address, dealt principally with church topics, his remarks proving most interesting to his audience. The Rev. Dr Herrington proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker, and this having been carried the gathering was closed with the singing of the National Anthem. In the afternoon the Rev. -Mr Barr paid a visit to Knox College. . Last night, in the Early Settlers’ Hall, Dr Barr gave a lecture on “The Parliamentary History of Great Britain/’ Mr W. B. Taverner, Mayor of Dunedin, occupied the chair. There was a packed attendance, who fully appreciated the lecturer’s remarks, and rewarded him with numerous rounds of applause. Mr Barr gave a history of the growth of the Parliament of Great Britain. He touched on many figures prominent in history and on events which are important landmarks in the government not only of England, but of , Scotland and Ireland, fie sketched briefly the lives of leaders in the parliamentary movement in England, and gave quotations from the speeches of the Earl of Chatham, Charles James Fox, Edmund Burke, Samuel Plimsoll, Gladstone,' and others. Every picture thrown on the screen was interesting, but special attention was paid to those members of the Labour Party at Home —Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Mr David Kirkwood, Mr Snowden, and others —and a warm applause greeted the presentation of Mr Kmr Hardy. The speaker also touched on the parliamentary institutions of Scotland and Ireland. In referring to. the former, he said that the movement in favour of Home Rule for Scotland was accentuated by the memory that Scotland had had a parliament of her own up till 1707 —a parliament which had been taken from her by unworthy means.. When the last meeting of parliament was held, Earl Seafield said: “This is the end of an auld sang. However, there was nothing better for a good old Scottish song than that it should be sung again, and so the people were desirous of an encore. Mr Charles Todd proposed a vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr Barr for his address, and expressed the hope that he would return next year to assist in the fight against the liquor traffic. The vote was carried wP heart! unanimity. ■ , _i In replying, the Rev, Mr Barr expressed his appreciation of the kindness of the audience and of the citizens or Dunedin since he had come among them only a few days ago. He was afraid he would not be able to return next year—he might be fighting his own election about the skme time —but he hoped he would be able to send a radiogram congratulating the New Zealand Alliance on its victory. , , , ... Votes of thanks were also accorded Mayor for presiding and Mr Simpson foi the expeditious manner in which the lantern slides were screened. - The meeting closed with the Nations Anthem.