EVENTS OF INTEREST IN 1898.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9402, 8 January 1894, Page 6

EVENTS OF INTEREST IN 1898.

[BY UNCLE JOHN.] (Continued from January 4.) Says Mr. Walter Besanb: "We are now witnessing ons of the most remarkable, one of the most suggestive signs of the times— a time of the most stupendous importance in the history of mankind. ■'We read constantly, in the paper and everywhere, fears, prophecies, bogies of approaching revolution. Approaching ! Fears of approaching revolution? Why, we are actually in the midst of the most wonderful social revolution I People don't perceive it, simply because the revolutionaries are not chopping off heads as they did in France. But it has begun all the same, and it is going on around us silently, swiftly, irresistibly. We are actually in the midst of revolution. Let me point out a few things. We all read; most of us, it is true, only newspapers. But what newspapers? Why, exactly the same papers as are read by the people of the highest position in the land. Perhaps you have not thought of the significance of this fact. Certainly those who continually talk of the ignorance of the people have never thought of it! What does it mean ? Why, that every reasoning man in the country, whatever his social position, reads the same news, the same debates, the same arguments as the states* man, the scholar, tho philosopher, the preacher, or the man of science. Signs of the same revolution are traced in the franchise, the economic freedom, the social influence, and the education offered to the working man." These remarks apply to ub in this Greater Britain with greater force. With our educational advantages, with our magnificent library, with equality in political affairs, with the enfranchisement of woman, no wonder we feel the influence of stirring times. These new movements, new forces, new aspirations, need leaders, directors, helpers. Where can we look for. them but to the most cultured, the most leisured; those whose hearts are throbbing with sympathy with the new order of things, who would gladly co-operate with others equally anxious, bub laoking some of the advantages, so that the community may be helped to realise the noblest ideas. The spirit of the Christ is quickening society as never before. Patriots are wanted. In his article on Civic Education, Mr. J. A. Fleming says, "The word patriotism is only another word for taking trouble about the common weath, and taking a keen interest in it. Accordingly the highest anti-social Act is for a man to take no interest in politics. If any State is to prosper, a large number of the community must have an extreme regard for tbose things that affect it as a whole." Church re-union may be far a-head of us, "Although it is impossible ever to get all men and Churches to agree j to preach or pray, or to praise in common, 1 it is nob impossible to get their members, and others who are nob members, to think, to discuss, and to act together in grappling with the great social and national questions which confront society." Speaking at the Lucerne Conference Mr. W. T. Stead said : " There should be in those countries which speak tho English tongue somebody representing the conscience of the people, who would speak on questions of righteousness, who would be to the nation at large what their Churches are to individual members." A few weeks since the Herald, in an editorial, called attention to the work being done by some of the civic centres. Amongst the various movements on these lines perhaps the Manchester Social Questions Union is one of the most serviceable. The Bishop is the president. The members consist of any persons desirous of promoting the objects of the Union, who subscribe not less than Is per year to its funds; but their nominations mast be approved by the Council. The objects of the Union are to unite members of the various Christian communities and others, for the purpose of studying and taking united action upon questions affecting the moral and social wellbeing of the community— as drunkenness, gambling, social impurity, and the condition of the people, and for the promotion of purer and happier conditions of social life generally. The means of securing these objects are thus defined (a) by obtaining all necessary information, (6) by informing and developing public opinion, (c) by putting existing social laws into operation and promoting fresh legislation. The committees consisted of (1) temperance, (2) gambling, (3) social purity, (4) educational and re-' creative, (5) labour, (6) conditions of home life. " To-day the idea of the solidarity of mankind is gaining ground with surprising rapidity. Men are becoming strangely conscious of themselves as not being alone, bub as being parts of a vast brotherhood, members one of another. When onoe a popular movement is started, nobody can tell whereunto it may grow. No one sees everything, ft o one can think of everything, and so there is no better helping than that which helps others to see. It, moreover, takes time to see all around a truth, and almost always it takes more than one person to do it." It is well for us to be willing, so far as we may, to " bear one another's burdens." By so doing we are fulfilling the law of Christ. How many of the readers of these notes are willing to co-operate on the lines here touched ? If those agreeable would communicate with Uncle John, care Herald Office, it would enable a start to be made that might possibly result in a movement of helpfulness to the best things of our civic life.