AUTHOR WELCOMED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22546, 13 April 1935, Page 10

AUTHOR WELCOMED

RALPH CONNOR'S VISIT A WELL-INFORMED DISCOURSE AFFINITY OF BRITISH PEOPLE " I am glad to think that no one has been hurt by any book I ever wrote. I was bred in an atmosphere of reverence and love for women, and I also eorne of a race that honours man." With these words, the Rev. Dr Charles W. Gordon, better known as the author Ralph Connor, explained the underlyi .g spirit of his writings to a large number of Duncdin citizens who were present at the civic reception tendered to him in the City Council Chambers yesterday. Tall, white-haired, and of distinguished appearance, Dr Gordon held the close attention of those present while he discussed various vital questions of the day, and proved to be just as interesting a speaker as he is a writer. Welcoming Dr Gordon, the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) said he was well known through his stories of the backwoodsmen of Canada. Those stories had a high moral tone and convoyed a deep spiritual message which made them particularly valuable. The people of Duncdin, therefore, were proud to welcome the author of such refreshing works, while they also greeted him for his world-wide mission to abolish war. Short addresses of welcome were also given bv Mr J. L. Salmond, president of the Y.M.C.A., and the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse, representing the Council of Christian Congregations, both of whom expressed the opinion that Dr Gordon vould thoroughly enjoy his visit to New Zealand. LOYALTY TO EMPIRE

"M I have travelled through New Zealand," said Di- Gordon, when replying, " 1 have become more and more aware, not of the differences between

this country and its sister Dominion, Canada —because there arc many differences—but of the many things in which they are one. In Canada, in addition to the British population, we have 3,000,000 French people, while in the western States there are a great many people who have not sprung from English, Scottish, or Irish blood. Still, they are all Canadians, and no matter what the language of their grandfathers might have been they are all very loyal to the Empire." Referring to his books, Dr Gordon said he had always tried to hold np for esteem and confidence the men of the Western country who' had largely been the subject of his writings. They were a hardy race, perhaps not so good or so smooth as they might be desired, but after all lie thought the things in which they differed from other people were but minor, and it was the worth while things that united them. "I have never found a man in the foothills or the mining camps," Dr Gordon continued, "who did not have in his heart a vein of gold,, a distinct sense of justice, and a genuine sympathy for the man who was down and out." THE COMMON MAN Dr Gordon showed himself a fervent admirer of Burns, and he impressed on Ins hearers the essential truth of the line, " A man's a man for a' that." " All my experience in life," he said, "has served but to deepen my interest in the common man, and all my social and industrial studies and dealings have deepened the conviction that, the only thing worth while in the world is man. We are too apt to judge a man by his trappings—the things he' wears, the place he lives in—but Scotsmen should not be overcome by any such tendencies. Persons nurtured on the great lyric poet should not forget the real worth of humanity if they know their Burns. As I grow older I realise the real greatness of that line, 'A man's a man for a' that.'" People were struggling with great problems to-day, Dr Gordon continued. The world was wandering in mists, sometimes in darkness, and he thought that before its problems could lie solved it must concern itself more with the forgotten men—that great mass of humanity which really maintained the world at its finest and best. These were sad days for many; the world was full of forgotten men, sometimes despised because of the calamities that had befallen them. It was bad enough to be deprived of the right to work, but it was terrible that a man should feel humiliation for what was not his own doing. It was gratifying, however, that the problems of the day were the concern of the highest and best in the world. King George himself was interested, and everyone was aware of the great work that was being done by the Prince of Wales. THE EMPIRE'S WORK " I have a strong and growing conviction." Dr Gordon went on, " that the world is going to be brought to better and happier things by the steady influence of the British Empire, more than any other section of the world's people, and I believe that the Empire will have a warm coadjutor and friend in the United States. I believe it is with the-English-speaking world that lies any hope of assured peace. But if the Empire is to do its full work it will do so only as it is able to commrnd the loyal support of these great commonwealths that: lie on the rim of the world. If anything should weaken the ties between Great Britain and Canada or Great Britain and the southern commonwealths, then Britain will not do the work which I believe she is fated to do. If any breakshould come I do not think it would be through any impatience or unwisdom on the part of the Old Country, but rather as the result of motives of selfinterest entertained by some of the commonwealths." Dr Gordon will speak in the Town Hall on Monday night on the subject of "This New World."