NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10264, 16 October 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Various attempts havo been made to explain why so many people are lukewarm in church or chapel attendance. Some hold that sermons are too long, the service? not bright enough, the music too bad, and the accommodation for hits sadly deficient. Remedy these defects, they say, and ciiurchgoing will become brisker than ever. A cleric, who is also a doctor, has discovered that all these nostrums are founded on a misconception, and are therefore inapplicable. Disinclination to go to church is not. a sentiment, but a disease duo to the presence in the system of a microbe which gradually eats out of it the religious feelings instilled into people at Sunday-school, and often leads them tc Agnosticism and worse. It increases and multiplies most rapidly when the weather i? fine. He has been able to identity this anti. church-going microbefromauiong a number of others, but has not yet been able to find a means of expelling it from the blood. His own sermons are ineffectual, for hecanriidly admits that bis congregation still dwindles. However, when the cause is known half the battle is won, and it now only remains ft; some clerico-pathological expert to discover a churchgoing serum for the annihilation ol this dreadful bacillus in order to ensuie crowded congregations everywhere, Mere figures, remarks a London paper, convey little idea of the vast magnitude cl the passenger traffic within the boundaries of the Metropolis. The London General Omnibus Company alone carried during thi first six months of the present year no fewer than 79,000,000 passengers, or more than double the entire population of Great j Britain and Ireland, Mr. Alderman Pound told the shareholders that this period had been one of greater all round prosperity than any of its predecessors. Fine weather, good traffic, healthy horses, nnd cheap provender formed a rare combination of fortunate circumstances. The receipts for the half-year had amounted to £498,354, and the expenses to £433,015, giving a profit of £65,339. The company had during the same period run 1003 omnibuses, which travelled 11,088,000 miles, and carried nearly 10,000,000 more passengers than in the corresponding period of 1895. The receipts had increased by nearly £60,000, whilst tho expenses had augmented only £23,000. Attention was called to the growing lack of conductors to keep a sharp look-out for travellers, and the chairman admitted this, and said the neglect apparently dated from tho time their servants became part-owners, or ' preference shareholders' as thuy were called. One proprietor inquired what the Board wero doing with regard to horseless omnibuses, to which the chairman replied, with much caution, that they wero watching them very closely, but as present they were not moving in the mat A new system of insurance which is now in vogue in America will, the London Daily Telegraph does not doubt, soon find its way into England; it is so facile, comprehensive, and soothing. For tho payment of od pel week medical attendance and medicine! are assured, and when these have accomplished their work, a decent interment i< provided without further cost at any desired cemetery. This includes a coffin with six nickel-plated handles, a hearse with two horses, and three carriages in addition—all for less than 6d a week. For larger payments, greater luxuries art provided. For instance, for 7sd per week the company assures the deceased subscriber a freehold ■ plot, 1 while lOd extra consoles him with the reflection that a handsome tombstone will point out his last restingplace to posterity. Another 'id a week wil' probably insure a family vault, win's for a few more coppers the company will provide the remains of deceased ancestors back to any data arranged for, a3 per price, all duly entombed and labelled, according to the age in which they wero supposed to live. It is tho most comprehensive system of assurance ever invented, soothing not only man's physical infirmities, but his natural cravings after mo and as much immortality as is possible in this world. The wholo history of the present year (remarks tho Christian Commonwealth) will supply copious records of abnormal and phenomenal incidents. Disasters of appalling magnitude have sufficed to make the last few months memorable. Cyclone.", earthquakes, and tidal waves have stunned the public consciousness, to that tho loss of a few thousands of lives more or less must be a trivial matter. The fearful heac wave in America helps to show, in addition to the frightful catastrophes in various parts of the world, that Nature still mocks all the resources of our boasted civilisation. It seems now that we have come to this, that wo can proceed to make life mora and more comfortable, but ono can do nothing at all to make it secure. The phr • nomena of Nature may bo studied with i wonderful precision, but with not the | slightest success so far as the protection of I tho community from wholesale disaster is

concerned. Even the most beneficent discoveries are of questionable benefit. For instance, it is disquieting to be assured that the X rays are perilous to play with. Some of those who have submitted their hands to the operation of the mysterious rays are losing their nailt. Some of those whoso heads have boon penetrated by tills new light have found their hair either turning white or falling off. And so we are more and more bewildered even by our greatest successes. Nature is a vast labyrinth in which the clues grow more and more tangled, and the God of Nature is ever hiding Himself from all who imagine they can know Him through mafctoc alone. Turkish affairs are still in an unsettled state. It is staled that if England attacks Turkey one or more of the Powers will certainly assail her. Mr. Curzon has declared that the relations between England and Russia are cordial, and ho hopes the two nations will work on common lines. The Pope has besought tho Sultan to stop the Armenian atrocities, but the Turkish monarch is said to bo much amrered at tho interference of His Holiness. Speaking at Glasgow, Air. Curzon said the British flag would soon float over Khartoum. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has also stated that the capture of IJjngola is but a stepping-stone in the direction of Khartoum when the financial ibstaclos are removed. A German news paper declares time Germany will support England in her Egyptian policy if in return England will give tho Transvaal and Rhodesia to Germany. The conclusion of tho Matabole war now appears to bo closo at hand. Lord Grey's offer of salaries to the chiefs, so as to induce them to control tho district, has been received with delight. They declare that peace is firm sinco the whites have offered a helping hand. The committee ol the National Federation io not consider it would be wiso to convene the council of the Federation to consider tho situation consequent on Lord Rose, berry's retirement from tho leadership of the Liberal party while tho excitement over the present trouble prevails. Sir W. V. Harcourt oenlos the report that lie intends to resign. Tha British Chancellor of the Exchequer is confident that Ins estimated mrplus for the year will be realised.