Manitoba Morning Free Press - Friday, May 10, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
OSCAR WILDE’S SURETY
The Rev. Steward Headlam, with Lord Alfred Douglas, has become surety for Oscar Wilde, is almost as remarkable in his way as Oscar Wilde himself. He is a clergyman of the Church of England, who up to the present has never been presented a benefice nor offered a curacy. He has even had the distinction of being refused a license to preach within the limits of the diocese of London, without which authority under the signature of the bishop, no clergyman can be given the freedom of the pulpit of any church within the diocese. The reason for this is the Rev. Steward Headlam has bold and original views upon the subject of theatrical representations and ballet dancing, which do not find favor with the more austere members of his profession. He has on many occasions given publicity to his opinions as to the sinlessness of ballet dancing and the utility which a judicious patronage of the theater would be to religious interests. Moreover he has identified himself behind the scenes and before the footlights as well with prominent acts. He has been prominent in philanthropies work and is pronouncedly radical in his political views. He has never done anything which if done by a layman would be in any degree perilous to his reputation: but tastes appear to be eccentric in a clergyman and have accordingly brought upon him the censure of the most conservative body of public opinion in England. As a lover of theatricals and a prominent man in fashionable life he could not fail to become acquainted with Oscar Wilde, and his coming to Wilde’s rescue on this occasion is only a degree more sensational than several previous episodes in his life.
[The Rev. Stewart Headlam, who, with Lord Alfred Douglas, has become surety for Oscar Wilde, is almost as remarkable in his way as Oscar Wilde himself. He is a clergyman of the Church of England, who up to the present has never been presented a benefice nor offered a curacy. He has even had the distinction of being refused a license to preach within the limits of the Diocese of London, without which authority under the signature of the Bishop no clergyman can be given the freedom of the pulpit of any church within the diocese. The reason for this is the Rev. Stewart Headlam has bold and original views upon the subject of theatrical representations and ballet dancing, which do not find favor with the more austere members of his profession. He has on many occasions given publicity to his opinions as to the sinlessness of ballet dancing and the utility which a judicious patronage of the theater would be to religious interests. Moreover he has identified himself behind the scenes and before the footlights as well with prominent actors. He has been prominent in philanthropic work and is pronouncedly radical in his political views. He has never done anything which if done by a layman would be in any degree perilous to his reputation; but his tastes appear to be eccentric in a clergyman and have accordingly brought upon him the censure of the most conservative body of public opinion in England. As a lover of theatricals and a prominent man in fashionable life he could not fail to become acquainted with Oscar Wilde, and his coming to Wilde's rescue on this occasion is only a degree more sensational than several previous episodes in his life.]