HINDOO SACRED CITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16948, 10 November 1926, Page 4

HINDOO SACRED CITY.

GAMING AT MONTE CARLO. NEW ZEALANDER SN LONDON. SERIES OF ADDRESSES. Four fascinating sketches, illustrating part of his recent tour of Europe and the, East, were given by the Rev. J. J. North, principal of the ' N.Z. Raptist College, in the form of g a lecture, at the Hamilton Baptist I Church, last evening. ■ "Benares, the g City of Trampled Flowers," "An Anli- | Gambler at Monte Carlo," "A Pro- | testant in Rome," and "A New Zea- | lander on London Bridge," were the | alluring titles of his addresses, and all I were dealt with in picturesque | language that charmed the large audi- | encc and earned the lecturer unstinted | praise. | The Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, who I presided, stated his pleasure at being | associated with such a speaker. The | programme dealt with four remark- s able places. There was nothing more |

impressive than to meet those who \i could tell a graphic story of the places | of which all had read and dreamed of | visiting. He felt sure that the closest attention would be given to the speaker. Mr North opened his address by slating that of the interesting places it had been his privilege to sec the most wierd and wonderful of all was India. There were four holy cities in the world, but the oldest and wierdest was Benares. For colour and sensation it eclipsed everything a man might wish. After describing Ills journey by the luxurious train from Calcutta, the lecturer gave a vivid picture of his first glimpse of the sacred city. "It was early morning," he said, '.'and we awoke to a scene of colour and animamation. In front of us was a regiment of soldiers drilling, and across a Held was a monument to British soldiers who had fallen under Warren Hastings. We proceeded to a charming hotel, covered with magenta flowers, and the host waiting on the doorstep, like all Indian hosts, washing his hands with invisible soap. Holy Ganges River. "" "We then proceeded by oar along the thirty-mile road, along which pious Hindoos prostrated themselves on their pilgrimage to the Holy City, saw the little temples with bunches of marigolds placed as offerings to the squat gods inside, and embarking on a boat above the city, drifted gently down through the crystal-clear water. The banks were from 50 to 150 feet high, and were terraced with beautiful palaces, the skyline being ornamented with the delicate fretwork of Indian architecture. At intervals great flights of steps led to the water's edge, and these were covered with brightlygarbed naLives, resembling a living flower garden. On cither side of the stairways were temples. The Hindoos prostrated themselves, then entered the water naked, emerging with radiant faces. They were one step nearer their heaven." Further down the river, the lecturer continued, there were at intervals little wicker piers, on which were sitting old priests, almost naked, chanting their morning prayer to the sun. The party then reached the Holy Well,- a deep hole enclosed in a rusty iron railing. A flight of steps led to a pool of dirty, fetid water. To 200 million Hindoos the privilege of bathing in this fetid water represented the most perfect bliss to which they could aspire, said Mr North. A few chains away, towering above the city, was a graceful minaret, with an old, bearded figure summoning the faithful to worship—" There is no god but God, and Mahomet is His prophet," said the wierd voice. "Prayer is better than sleep; cornc and pray." Coming to his second subject, "An Anti-Gambler in Monte Carlo," Mr North said he had always been interested in the question of gambling. Many people had mixed opinions on this subject, he said, partly through the fact that in New Zealand a man was not regarded as a gentleman unless he bet on horscracing. History of Monaco. The speaker gave a brief, sketch of the historv of Monaco, of which Monte Carlo is the capital. The little kingdom, which contained cigh square n-i'es and 22,005 people, dated back to the time of the Roman Empire. Caesar sat under an'olive tree in Monaco and woS his "Gallic Wars." place later became an infamous pirates nest. When France became a Republic the King of Monaco was allowed to retain h crown as a joke, as an object csson to the French how foolish kings " However, the king was impoverished, and to secure revenue he cSnted to extend his proteo ion to ihe gambling schemes ol a Monsieui SlnPto return Monsieur Blanc paid S of Monte Carlo one of the most beau his establish- ",' eviifuUv controlling the new p-pers ' aid giving consolation toners to those he had cleaned out Monte Carlo had since become one of the most famous places m Eua visit to the Casino Air North said the place was just •, o nhiireh "Everyone wore a oImVE"- he said: "and a holy srxrst =r s irj h tt 'trained-faced circles at the tables" Tie lecturer explained the game o -Reds and Whites," which was most simple, and he explained how superstitious the players were as to which number to place their check on 1 ™ is thb old game o heads I win, tails you lose," . concluded 11 c sneaker. "Gambling in any form is a curse, and money won by this means is dirty." , . , Ri his third sketch, "A Protestant in Rome," Mr North gave a humour© ous account of his adventurous trip from Monte Carlo to Rome. He visited the famous St. Peter's Church with its many treasures, and also the Vatican A vivid description was given of the Sistine Chapel, the walls and ceiling of which were painted by some of the old masters. \n inspection had also been made of Ihe catacombs under Rome, the speaker being shown the scratching made by the early Christians on the walls. Mew Zealander in London. "To cornc from France, Italy, and India, and then to see the scenery of England is an unforgettable experience," said Mr North*, in his final sketch, "A New Zealander on London Bridge." It was necessary to walk only three miles in London, he said, to sec England's complete history. Leaving Lambeth Jiouse, Ihe seal of the Archbishop of Canterbury since medieval times, it was only a five-minutes' walk to Westminster Abbey. The Abbey, built in 1066 by Edward Hie Confessor, contained (nnilis or Uin.ss anil queens of Kn,--i laud, saints, statesmen, poets,

scientists, explorers, sailors, and soldiers, and also the grave of the unknown warrior. Passing Westminster Hall, with its statue of Oliver Cromwell, one would come to the Houses of Parliament, lined with the plaques ot England's great men. A few minutes' walk further on .was Trafalgar Square, with its one-arm-ed guardian. Proceeding by the" Templars' Church, past St. Paul's, the traveller would come to the Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror, and linally to London Bridge. "Macaulay said that a New Zealander would gaze on the ruins ot London," Hie lecturer went on, "but London is by no means a ruin. The heart of England beals' as strongly now as ever. At the conclusion of his address a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. During Ihe evening songs were sung by Mrs A. Lonsdale and Mrs E. McGregor.