VOICE OF THE NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 177, 14 April 1923, Page 13

VOICE OF THE NATIONS

SAYINGS AND WRITINGS :: :: OF THE TIMES ::

Wren’s Inspiration. “Wren’s example has inspired the best of our modem work in this country, and has never yet been approached in its own way. It is essentially English. Wren never went to Italy, and French influence left little permanent mark. It is English in its reasonableness, its love of light and air, its rich vitality and freedom from pedantry and affectation.” —Sir Reginald Bloomfield, the famous architect, in an appreciation on the occasion of the bi-centenary of Sir Christopher Wren. England! at Her Best. The English shine best in the first freshness of a prosperity that has been won by hard struggle. Other races seem to reach the supreme expression of personality in times of suffering: out of the torture of tyranny there once rose a .'evolutionary France that was clear-eyed; out of the tortured Russian heart there has often risen a passionate idealism. But England is never greater than when in lavish giving she pours forth out of her abundance.—M. P. Willcocks in the “English Review.” A Disturber of the Peace. i. “M. Poincare as a i disturber /of peace is far more powerful and more deadly than Mustapha Kemal, and tho damage he is set on doing to the interests not of this country only but to those of Europe as a whole is in every way graver and more far-reach-ing. Thus is comes about that, whereas the Prime Minister set out by a change of policy in France and by improving personal relations to restore accord, the result, in spite of the best intentions and the most honest endeavours, has been precisely the reverse.” —"Manchester Guardian.” The Aft of Conduct. “The aril of "conduct throws light on the other arte. Reverence, repose, respect for the past, good fellowship, candour, and self-restraint are not bad inspirations for the craftsman. The New Testament is full of the symbols of the craftsman; become as genuine as a little child: stop thinking of yourself; give whole-hearteded devotion to your work ; scrap all prejudice and humbug. The same principles run through conduct and art. The artist enjoys his work. The disease of not enjoying work is almost universal to-day. Tile public needs the artist’s spirit. We are inclined to think of art as something added to life, and we have not yet learned that it is concerned with the whole structure and fabric of life. We have regarded art too little as part and parcel of the only true way of looking at life asj a whole.”—Earl Ferrers, in a recent lecture at the Royal Academy.

Through the Mists of the Ages. “Another epoch of man is being unveiled. It is not so long since it might have been said that history began dimly in the eighth century before Christ. Before that only flashes of speculative interpretation, by comparison with the knowledge of to-day, and still more with to-morrow’s knowledge, illuminated the dark. But the centuries are bqitag steadily pieced together. Our knowledge of the civilisations of Cnossus, Egypt, and Mycenae Ns beginning to be welded into a comprehensive reconstruction of the life of the Mediterranean races. The procession of kings and peoples grows more continuous, and more alive. More and more we are coming to know of individuals, of mean events as well as great, and of z| the everyday manners and customs which are the key to understanding.” —The London ‘‘Observer.” A Common Quest. “The most e’neouraging tendency of our age is the tendency of men of ; science and men of dreams to recognise, ■ as they have never before so freely re- j cognised, that they are engaged upon I a common quest. Distinctions between them have always been artificial, but have often seemed so formidable, and been emphasised by so much passion that not only their ways of approach, but their very purposes have appeared to be at variance. Because scientists havq always desired to proceed towards their conclusions step by step along the pathway of ascertained fact, they have been ‘accused of podantism, of seeking knowledge for the sake of knowledge, and not for the sake of wisdom; and mystics, having seen with immediate vision the place to which they would come, and being sometimes impatient of him who. must always verify his route and make a map of it so that others may easily follow him,, have been as unjustly accused of using studied vagueness as a cloak for ignorance.”—London “Times.” The Supreme Spirit and Science. “We all know that the influence of spirit upon spirit, of mind upon mind, is ono of the most powerful and necessary factors in the development of thought, in the advancement of civilisation, and in the very manner in which we accept the truths which the experience of the senses press upon our minds. If we hold, as I hold, that there is inter-communication other than that of mere external symbolism between spirit and spirit, it makes the notion of inspiration, which I regard as essential to a rational view of the universe, easier to comprehend. We bring in the Supremo Spirit of God, and we do Tvliat, after all, every religion did, -we assume the possibility of this intercourse as between spirit and spirit. If we hold, as I hold, that from the result of this gradual influence, Divine influence, upon the course of human thought, wo will look forward to our whole basis being more and more clearly brought to light. We will feel convinced not only that there is nothing to fear from science, but that our great interest, so far as this world is concerned, is to press on science by every means in our power and in every direction which is open to us.”—Earl Balfour.

An Ancient Paradox. “It is not time yet to lift hands and lament over the decline of ro- y mance and the shrinkage of the undiscovered world. Science in one direction, history in another, are perpetually and progressively revealing the fields, for exploration. All the time tho ancient paradox grows, that the more we know the more we learn of our ignorance.”—London “Morning Post.” A Root Cause. “Will anybody dare to argue that the position in which the various housing schemes now are would ever have arisen but from the selfish apathy of these people who were comfortably housed? The active opposition to these municipal schemes, which came from a small section that profited by the acute shortage of houses, would never have succeeded but for the absolute indifference of the majority of those who had homes—to the sufferings of the homeless minority.”—Mr. W. D. Read, a leading authority on housing, in a speech at Birmingham. Should the British Leave Germany? “Unless the Government is prepared for graver representations than have yet been made—for a last attempt to induce the French Ministry to see reason—the time has come for the total withdrawal of our troops from the Rhine and for the end of the Entente in consequence. No newspaper could write this opinion with more reluctance and regret. We have placed a high interpretation upon cur position on the Rhine We are iliere by, war-titles equal to any that the French can claim. We have been there in a different spirit. Wo have endeavoured to conduct our occupation in a temper leading to the reconciliation c.l Europe and tns saving of peace."—The London “Observer.” Enriching ths Social Atmosphere. “What I am afraid of in our modern education and self-education is that we may forget that tho bettering of education consists in the enrichment or the atmosphere which envelops a whole society. This enrichment touches heart, mind, and soul, stirs ancient memories and reveals new hopes. It appeals to private life and duty, morals as well as intellect, industry as well as science, the State as well as the individual. It infuses all with that sense of the eternal powers, in the midst of which we are humbly set. If, as organised education mechanically proceeds, we can squeeze out of it leisure for this transcendental emotion, and make it; really infectious, we shall save ourselves. . Without this transcendental emotion our lives will be dull and dead and powerless.’ —Sir Michael Sadler. “Getting Together.”

“To-night we have heard the American National Anthem sung. I did not know before that anybody on God’s earth could sing it all through. Some Americans think that the words render it a little difficult for them to maintain friendly relations with this country. If Americans could only wipe out the horrible sound and come back to tho British National Anthem—which is not English at all, but an old German , tune—it would be very useful. .... I am really plainly and simply desiring to do everything I can do, and everything my country can do, to help this Empire, this country, in the terrible distress she is in—to help her out of the mess that she has got to get out of; and there is no limit, absolutely no’limit, to which I would not go, and my people would not go, now that the wretched debt business is out of the way, to help this country.”—Mr Harvey, United States Ambassador to Great Britain. When Labour Rules.

“When the Labour Party sit on these benches we shall all wish them well in their efforts to govern the country, but I am quite certain, whether they succeed or fail, mere will fever be a Communist Government, and for this reason: that to our people no gospel founded on hate will ever seize thenhearts. It is no good trying to cure the world by spreading out oceans of bloodshed and by repeating o pentasyllable French derivative—the proletariat. The English language is the richest in the world in monosyi.mblca, and words of one syllable contain salvation for this country and the world. They are ‘Faith,, hope, No Government without faith in tn« people, hope in the future, love> of ita fellow-men, and without the will to work will over bring this country, or. Europe and the world through into better times and better day? Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Baldwin), speaking in the House of vommons. A Moral Question.

“This is a moral question; and until our economic policy is based on moral principles it cannot succeed. It is an unusual note to strike, but I most fervently believe we can never eave civilisation until all the acta of Governments, all, political policies, and all international relations are bared on the simple but eternal principles of the moral code. It is a hard task to do good to them that despltefully use you, but that cross will have to be borne if fh e world is to be redeemed from the evil of war. It will have to bo borne, if needs be. to the very summit of Calvary.'—Mr. Snowden, M.P., in the House of Commons. Sunday Observance. “I think we ought to be very slow to tamper with the tradition of Sunday observance. Here, surely, the habit, of the Christian Church coincides with the evident interest of society itself. Rest from labour, and the quietness which has hitherto marked the English Sunday, are of a priceless value for our people, and go far to preserve them from the worst influences of the time. The opportunity of Sunday amusement is claimed in the name of the poor; it is reallv desired end generally used hv the well-to-do. Moreover, every advance towards a complete secularisation of Sunday implies more Sunday work, and to that extent threatens a vital interest of the working classes—the freedom from toil on one day out of seven.” —The Bishop of Durham.