The Daily Inter Ocean - Sunday, May 12, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
One of Oscar Wilde's Bondsmen
Rev. Stewart Duckworth Headlam, who, with the Marquis of Queensberry's eldest son, has so generously given his bond for Wilde, is a churchman of exceedingly liberal views, and one of the most popular clergymen in London.
He graduated at Cambridge University, and first became prominent in 1878, when he was compelled to resign a curacy he held at St. Matthew's, Bethnal Green, London, on account of a lecture on theaters and music which he delivered in a workingman's club in the parish.
The lecture gave grave offense to the late Bishop of London, whose successor still refuses Mr. Headlam a license in the diocese on account of his support of stage dancing, which the latter considers a form of high art capable of the greatest development.
Mr. Headlam is founder of the Church and Stage Guild, and has published an essay on "The Functions of the Stage," besides editing part of Carlo Blasis' work on dancing, under the title of "Theatrical Dancing."
He is also author of some volumes of sermons and lectures, comprising "Priestcraft and Progress," "Christian Socialism," etc. He edits a monthly Christian Socialist paper entitled the Church Reformer, and lectures frequently for the English Land Restoration League and the Fabian Society, and has worked hard on the London School Board in favor of educational reform.