MORAL ENGLAND IMPROVING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 17, 20 January 1905, Page 2

MORAL ENGLAND IMPROVING.

In an interview in the "Boudoir," Sir Gilbert Parker, M.P., expresses the opinion that the worship of wealth by the aristocracy of the present day is "the greatest danger that we hare to face":—

"The worship of money, of course the transference of the national Ideal. In old days the aristocracy loved power and place; when they come to love money, then you lower the standard of national life, though you may increase Its industrial and commercial possibilities; and you eet a thing ,to my mind, little to be desired—tUe dull uniformity of wealth such ac you see In the United States." The worship of wealth is a "false standard." and in Sir Gilbert's opinion will lower the whole character of our national Mfe. With regard to some recent statements by ft dlgnitaiy of the Church of England, Sir Gilbert denies that the test of the prevalence of Christianity In the life, conduct, and thought of a nation Is to be gauged by a record of attendance at Church. He affirms that thinking men are more reverent and Christian in thought to-day than they were DO years ago"That England and London are (he says) more religious In the best sensethat Iβ to say, m all the attributes of Christian life and the result of Christian thought Jn deeds, and uetiona—than It used to be, I am certain. You cannot get grapes of taorjis, or figs of thistles. Crime diminishes, charity increases. There never was a time in England when human belnga cared so much for tlie welfare of each gtfcer. Sentiment is tnlclDß the ,plai:e of •etlmentaUtjrj toleration If mi-

persedlng bigotry and the tyranny ,( thought." Asked as to whether he thought that the keeping of the Sabbath Is a test of Chrltianlty. Sir Gilbert Parker made auswet: "There can be no question that a day set apart for a special worship or tb« Ai. . mighty was wise and right; but it to Dot Vita , to the existence of Christianity Iα ■ human lives. The Sabbath is primarily a day of rest. It is a day when a social rehearsal,* as it were, of one'a faith is considered to be in place. But thett V is no reason why the 'God be merciful t* ' mc a sinner , which some poor fellow, W ]g has slaved all the week, says as he reid ' by his doorway on a Sunday, or. sleeping late to refresh bis Body, says when &•' wakes, U not as true a worship as shariig with hie fellows In public devotion." '■■■ The Church's test Iβ an attendance upoa its services. It is a test. Sir Gilbert added, but he holds that it should not be elevated Into a final test, whereby men are judged whether they be pagan or Chrtatltn.