The Hev H. S. Haweis.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5279, 8 June 1895, Page 4

The Hey H. S. Haweis.

MAURI AGE : IS IT A FAILURE ?

Ifc is a severe reflection on the average intellectuality of Cbristchurch that the Rev H. R. Hawoiß, whose ability as a thinker, musician, writer and lecturer haa gained him world-wide fame, did not have crowded audiences when he spoke in thia city upon the subjects with which he is especially qualified to deal. A "London " variety company, with a ballet recruited in Melbourne and Syduey, can pack our theatre night after night for weeks. Our people flock to hear the charlatan and the impostor, and pay "through the nose" for so doing, but the man of eminent character and talent talks to a half-empty building. Times are bad, some may say, and money ia scarce. It is not so plentiful as we could wish, all of ua, but were the London Gaiety Company to descend upon the city ifc would reap a harvest double or treble the size of tbat which has resulted from the lectures of Mr Haweia. The audience in the theatre last night, when he lectured upon marriage, was not the smallest he haa had, but its size could barely bo described as " good." It was a pity more people did not hear it, for it was thoroughly healthful and helpful. Tho lecturer pointed no royal road to happiness in the married abate, presumably for the reason that there ie none, but, iv a most entertaining style, he gave sensible practical advice to persons, both married and single, which, if followed, would materially 6S3isb them in obtaining a portion of that great desideratum. He does not hold that marriage is a failure, and dismissed the advocatea of the superiority of celibacy with the sarcastic remark that they were wiser than their Maker. He does not believe much in the New. Woman, but thinks that woman has a right to vote, to ride a bicycle, and to do many other things hated of Mrs Grundy. He condemned Mona Caird's proposal that marriage should be a " free contract," terminable at the will of the individual. The ground of marriage ib not, he deems, the will of the man, nor the will of the woman, nor the will of tho parents, but ia expressed in the words of the Book of Common Prayer, " Forasmuch as these two persons have consented together." He al3o adopted the Prayer Book dafinition'of the objects of marriage, and -mowed that monogamous marriage had been selected by all civilised races, and waa gradually driving out polygamy. He enumerated what he termed the pre-nuptial causes of matrimonial misery — want of regard to temperament, want of attention lo hereditary defects and failings,. " marrying on notbing a year," and the ambition of parents. In connection with the last cause of conjugal infelicity, he denounced in scathing words the " marriages made in Hell," tor the sake of wealth or social position. In treating of " post-nuptial cures" for married misery, he remarked that the divorce lawa of England were too tight, those of America and the colonies, so far as he knew, too lax. He earneatly advocated uniformity of marriage and divorce laws throughout tho British Empire. One of the principal post-nuptial cures was, he said, mutual adaptability resulting from common senie ; and in language often humorous, Boinetlineß almoat pathetic, he urged married folic to otrive to exercise mutual consideration and forbearance. Ho warmly defended thot oft-abused woman, the mother-in-law, remarking that, instead of perpetually making mischief, she very often made peace. He dealt out blame impartially to both sexrs tor the failures of marriage, and concluded by urging. »« tho best means to marital happiness, mutual adaptation, intelligence, eympatby, and, above all, the sweetly reasonable i-flueaces of true religion. Last nighfu lecture concluded the course, and" Mr Haweia will leave for Wellington to-night.

The Lyceum —The subject of Mr W . W. leclu:, ia the Ljcauin to-niorro* ._, „j, H er St.rugt-b. for Political an( j jj^igiouß Liberty." "The lecture will be illustrated by limelight viewß of Irish scenery and likenesses, • «*•