VOICE OF THE 'WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 18

VOICE OF THE 'WORLD

"One of the worst influences of modern times can be sumDialect Should mcd up in the phrase be Retained. ' Standard English,' declared Viscount Weymouth, president of the Society of Somerset Folk, in London, at a recent gathering. Ho deplores the disappearance of country dialects. Many school teachers, lie said, seemed to think that it was in the- interests of education that their scholars should be taught the kind of London-Oxford accent they liked to hear in Somerset. "The root of good English lies in the country and perhaps more than any-1 where else in the West Country," he J said. "It is not only the school-1

master but the British Broadcasting Corporation who seem to be doing their best to stamp out the local characteristic of speech and are bringing us down to one standard pattern. I would rather hear the broad speech of a Somerset farmer than I would the best announcer of the 8.8.C. If the highbrows academic interests of the 8.8.C. have their way I am afraid that our lovely tongue will disappear."

Alluding in a recent speecn to tho charge that the f.nurse Policy ill of policy which will give India. self-government to India is a weak poli3,y, Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary for India, said: "I am inclined to think that tho weak policy is.to sit still and do nothing. I could remain in Whitehall; 1 could go on steadily maintaining law and order; the Viceroy in India oould go on crushing civil disobedience and any attempt to challenge the established Government, What would be the opinion of the world at largo when in 10 years' time there had been recrimination, there had been reversals 05. policy, and when, as a result of the. fact that we had failed to plan for the futuro when we had the opportunity, the affairs of India went the way of the affairs of Ireland before the wj.r and the whole machine of government crashed along the road where it had drifted? Tho wise course and the straight course is not to sit with folded hands and to leave the difficulties to be solved or unsolved by future generations, but to take the opportu nity and plan now for tho future. In my small way I am trying to act on common sense business lines in politics. I think it is possible to make the best of the opportunity that may not recur to adapt our plant in India to modsrn conditions, to readjust the articles of association between Great Britain and India, to embark upon great new developments, but, none the less, to work always, and constantly within the old framework—the framework of the British Empire."

Speaking at a conference of representatives of boys' and Omissions in youths' organisations in Education. London, Sir Basil Blackett, president of the British Social Hygiene Council, said that they desired to pool their experience and if possible devise some constructive plan. "Our experience has shown us," he remarked, "that many of the more serious medical and social problems of the day are due to grave omissions in the national system of education which is reflected in tho home training of young people. It is clear that the problem of equipping young people with sufficient knowledge of the biological sciences to fit themselves for life is a matter that claims immediate' attention. It is our common aim to develop and extend existing organisations so that ultimately all the young people in the country may be brought within the sphere of influence of adequate recreational facilities and responsible leadership."

During the past 30 years sanctuaries have been established in Attrition on most of the Dominions Wild Life, and Colonies for saying the Empire's big game. But there is still a considerable amount of senseless slaughter. This ia revealed by Mr. C. W. Hobley, secretary of the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire. Writing in "The Field," he says that since the war economic development of both Colonies and Dominions has led to a constant attrition on wild life. In Africa every lorry driver carries a rifle, nominally for his protection, but most of them suffer from "trigger itch," and with deplorable results. In India the widespread possession of firearms has produced a similar problem, and wild life is steadily decreasing, its decimation being accelerated by the übiquitous motor. A number of Colonial Governments in Africa have introduced measures making it illegal to use a motor-car for hunting. But the practice is difficult to cheek. Public opinion in favour of conservation is increasing in strength, but is at yet not very clamant. Mr. Hobley sums up the position as "a race between the forces of destruction and those of conservation, and at present the former are ahead." i

"The scientist recognises clearly that most of his theories and Science and beliefs are working Theology, hypotheses, not ultimate truth; he . looks forward eagerly to their being superseded and transcended," writes Mr. George Home in the "Modern Churchman." "The theologian, though giving verbal allegiance to this spirit, finds it difficult to be actively loyal to it. He is extremely slow to admit that a belief —an article in his creed —has been transcended, or in some cases even contradicted. The scientist proclaims the truth as he sees it. The theologian proclaims the truth as some venerable [ ancestor saw it. The scientist has j

faith. He knows that the admission of error, with the consequent destruction of a cherished theory, cannot impair the authority of science; on the contrary, such admission of error must ultimately strengthen and enhance its influence. The error only indicates the fallibility of the human mind. For both scientists and theologians the piogress into all truth is illustrated' by the words inscribed on the tomb of John Henry Newman, 'ex umbris et iuiaginibus' in lucem' ('Through error and illusion we advance into the light'). The theologian seems to lack this conviction."

"It cannot be said that the people of today are not religious, . Religious notwithstanding their Unrest. aloofness from observance," said Lord Dawson of Peniij in an address in Liverpool. "Though scant of form and expression, surely there is godliness. Judged by the Christian virtues, assessed by the Sermon on the Mount, people today hold their own with preceding generations cf stricter belief and narrower tolerance. It is values which are altering. Look in what direction you will, there is the unrest belonging to rapid change. The growth of mechanical invention and the changes i in industry concentrate attention on material civilisation. The advances of science are so extending that they disturb established habits of thought and bring perplexity to the mind of wan. , Comprehensiveness is a soil favourable to progressive thought, and should prevent unconsidered rejection of new ideas and methods of living, which need guidance rather than rebuke. The essence of life is movement. In the realms of thought materialism docs not hold sway. On the other hand, in the realm of dogmatic belief there are noteworthy changes and also in the habits of observance and worship. For a large and increasing body of Protestant people dogma has less appeal, it fails to stir, and some of it even estranges. Religion is for them more rooted in experience and less in belief. Is there not as a result such a disparity between traditional forms of expression and actual convictions as either to jar or numb sensibility? Attenuated belief cannot activate the spiritual life."

"I do not in the least pretend to diagnose the causes of Truce to the present depression, Political or prophesy either its Strife. duration or its remedy," said the late Sir Henry Thornton, formerly president of the Canadian National Railways, in a speech. "But there are two or three simple and somewhat practical points to which I think I may with much humility, and I hope propriety, call attention, remembering that, as someone once remarked, we are confronted by a condition and not a theory." He referred to the catechism of the Anglican Church and said:-—"I find certain admonitions in that admirable office which we may well take to heart in the present crisis. In searching the corridors of my youthful memory, I recall what is called the duty towards one's neighbour, in which, among many other admirable commands, there is impressed the duty 'to honour and obey the King, and all that arc put in authority under him.' That somewhat transposed, means that it is the duty of every patriotic citizen in such times as these to assist and support the Government; and in employing the word government I am not speaking with respect to any particular political party, but I mean that government which, through the mandate of the people, administers the affairs of the nation. In ordinary times it may be well enough to engage in political discussion of more or less acrimony, and to support with vigour, according to taste and judgment, the doctrines of various political parties, because such things represent the foundation of popular government. But in such times as these, when a serious situation confronts our people, and when those who are engaged with the responsibility of administration, are racked with anxiety, I hold it to be the duty of every citizen to abandon, or at least relax, political and sectional strife,' and in whatever differences of opinion there may be, to support thoso who in the words of the catechism are 'put in authority.' "