CHARLES BRIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21405, 5 August 1931, Page 10

CHARLES BRIGHT

10 THE EDITOR ' Sir, — I must thank Mr R. Rae for his remembrances of Charles Bright, but, after having made many inquiries, among old identities, looked through early files of your paper, and been able to procure a copy of the Bright and Green • debate, I am afraid I am in possession of evidence , that upsets some of Mr Rae’s memories. Bright was advertised in the Daily Times of February 24, 1876, to lecture in the marque of Wilson’s Palace Circus (then on the southern market reserve) on. Sun day evening, February 27. Mr Walter, the Mayor, prohibited the lecture which was upon “ Christianity.” Bright’s Com : mittee petitioned the council, which held a special meeting on the 25th, and the council reversed the Mayor’s prohibition and gave permission. It caused some considerable public interest, the Daily Times having an editorial on the matter _ and roundly criticising the intolerant attitude of the Mayor. Bright gave a series of lectures and was in Dunedin off and on until his debate with Mr Green, which was on January 21, 22, 23, and 25, 1879, in the Queen’s Theatre, not the Garrison Hall. Whether Bright came originally from America I do not know, 'but prior to coming to Dunedin he was in Australia. With regard to Mr Rae’s description of the termination of the debate, the published verbatim report does not shpport Mr Rae. Mr Green made no such appeal to Bright, and, as Green spoke last, it would nave been most uncalled for to do so when Bright could not reply if he wished. As for Bright sitting with his head in his hands, he appears to have been a man of a type far asunder 1 from that attitude. The report of the debate and some of the reports of his lectures in the Daily Times indicate him to be of a fighting disposition, and, in conversationonly yesterday with an old identity,.! was told that the impression of him was that he was “ a second edition of Charles Bradlaugh.” If that was the case, he would not sit with his head in his hands. I thank Mr Rae however, for -*is reply, and what I have been able to bring to light in the above may stimulate the memory of some to put on record some further information, for which I would be verypleased.— I am, etc., Profanum Vulqds.