A COMPLAINT OF IRREVERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10968, 24 January 1899, Page 3

A COMPLAINT OF IRREVERENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Allow mo, through the medium of the Hebald, to point out a growing error— which error I consider ought to 'bo at once nipped in the bud, or speedily removed— the growing startling irreverence in some of our churches. I often am puzzled why none of our city clergymen do not from the pulpit press on the people the danger and dreadful results of such irreverence. Last Sunday week, hearing that tbero was to be an organ recital at St. Paul's Church by the blind organist from tile South, I wont, and was more than repaid in one senso, for it gave me the opportunity of hearing Mr. Prouse's splendid rendering of "Los Rameaux;" but I was both grieved and shocked at the low tone of the supposed worshippers—it really was merely a big concort on a very cheap scale. The congregation only attended as they would an exhibition performance or a theatre ontortainment (minus the applause or encores). I could not bring myself to believe I was in reality in the house of God. The church is a fine building; there was a splendid audience; but the general impression it gave me was of tho world worldly, and I certainly looked out for the orthodox clapping and stamping. We blame the rising generation for their total lack of any sort of respect or reverence for all things religious, but with such examples, can wo feel surprised or wholly blame them?—l am, etc., OOTSIDEK. [Our correspondent docs not say how tho irreverence complained of was manifested, beyond that it was not shown by applause. Apparently she (the writer is a lady) listened in a worldly, or merely Esthetic spirit, for she speaks of Mr. Promo's "splendid rendering" of his solo.—

Tho question has been propounded, Can a horse be taught to read? The Live Stock Jcurnal replies: We do not think that it will ever be necessary for one to slick up in front of him the words " hay," " oats," or " beans'' to lot him know the difference between either, yet all the same ho may bo taught possibly in time to associate cards so marked and placed above his head at fcoding limes with the nature of the meal he has to get. At any rate, Sir John Lubbock so taught his poodle dog Van in this way, so that it would bring a printed card marked "food" to him, out of the other cards marked "bono" and " tea," eighty times out of 113 trios. Dickens' dog in " Pickwick" which came to a dead point at the board marked "All dogs trespassing here will bo shot" beats this, but that of courso was in fiction. In some parts of England the muzzling crusade still continues. A few months since, at Hie West London Police Court, Lord llchester, of Holland House, Konsington, was summoned, at the instance of the Board of Agriculture, for removing a dog from Holland House in contravention of the conditions of a liconco granted to his lordship under an order relating to the importation of dogs. Mr. Laue, Q.C., on observing the nature of the summons, said ho had not seen one of thit kind before. Mr. Moore said it was not a very common form of summons. Ho would, save the time of the Court, and admit that there was a breach of the regulations. The dog was a little Yorkshire terrier, ,weighing 61b, which Lady Echester was in the habit of carrying about with her. Returning from abroad, a licence was obtained, and all her ladyship did was to remove the dog from Holland House to her country seat, no real harm being done. A penalty of £10, with 5s costs, was imposed. The Hebald and Auckland WzeeitNewb Exhibition Number now issued. " 'Tis not in mortals to Command success," but .Tucker's Baking Powder always rises to tho occasion. Sold everywhere. Further reductions in all departments. Our stock of furniture, carpets, and floor covering must be sold before removal. Remnants, halfprice— '