PASTOR BIRCH ON TOUR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 13

PASTOR BIRCH ON TOUR.

(Correspondence of the N.Z. Mail*)

AMERICAN NOTES—No. 1

By Pastor Wm. L. Birch, D.D., of

Christchurch

San Francisco, April 1. SAMOA AND HAWAII. Tho Germans are doing their level best to annex Samoa; I tried to interview the ICing, but afterwards learned that the German oillcial had requested him to keep his room. The natives do not liko the Germans, and hate the King, a mere German puppet, who scarcely ever appears in the town. The American and Britishblooded inhabitants of Honolulu also fear native disturbance, and aro anxious to be annexed by either the United States or England, but since the American policy is not to possess any land outside North America, tho true course is for New Zealand to spread her beneficent wings over the Pacific Islands.

SAN FRANCISCO. In this lively city the churches are poorly attended, chiefly by women. Most of the Anglican kind are hell-less; bless ’em for this modesty. I wish New Zealand Anglicans would melt their earsplitting bells into Christian Endeavour breast-pins. The men, poor dears, aro too much lagged to walk up the, usually many, steps to church —they need tho amusement of the theatre, the instruction of the spicy Sunday illustrated newspaper, the gaiety of tho park, the stir of the streets, and the cleansing of pills. Yes, all the theatres are open on Sunday ; it- is their host day 1 am told. One huge building holding 3500 or more open Sunday and week day, admission free ; but everyone who occupies a seat is expected to order a drink, which everyone does ; and the place pays too well to allow it to be used on a Sunday night for religions lectures, which I wanted to do. The usual performance is of tho variety musichall kind—the lower, the bettor it is liked, and the higher the girl kicks the greater the applause; but beyond tho exhibition of legs there is nothing very objectionable and much that is amusing. As a rule, olio cannot hear the words of the solos, and whether they are good, bad, or indifferent- I cannot say. Too much drinking and ogling the girls go on in handy wine saloons by “ young bloods ” who have more money than wit. The people go because the place is well-lighted, they hear good music and occasionally join iu the chorus, as if they were at a .Salvation Army meeting, and tho men can smoke. It is better than being in the streets, and, perhaps, for most of them more enjoyable than being at home. Tho majority seem to be unmarried men and women. You seldom see what may he supposed to be the mother of a family. The waiters are men, kindly, cheerful fellows, but most appear very much overworked. The manners of the people are J excellent, and every ono ready to enter j into conversation with you and give | their opinion. In the pit only men go as a rule, t he galleries and boxes being the place for women and men w ith women. As | previously said, (he peopdo attending are of j the working class, store or shop girls, doI mestie servants, young men and their sweethearts, and tho like. In the city, however, are many smaller music halls of a commoner kind. On some you see “Admission free; men only admitted, no hoys under Hi years of age.” This implies a 1 performance which women and children should nob attend, but it is merely a sign-temptation. The stage business is of the lowest variety gesture, dancing and song, moderately (lone, but nothing more indecent than may he seen in the aristocratic halls. In some of the '* only men ” places, young women are handy to tempt and help any one who looks as if lie had money to drink. 'The girl has a percentage oil tho liquor sales she influences. In one or two, she wib ! invito you to come upstairs into one of the doorless boxes, and will caress you if you order more drink and do not object. These I boxes once had doors, but a Rev Dr Drown kicked up a row in the city, one of the girls told me, and had the doors taken oil. Tho heat which ascended and pervaded the boxes was intolerable. The ladies of the stage occasionally pnmienade the corridor of I lie boxes and are al .vays w filing to havu a drink—everyone in the place will drink, waiters, niggers, actors, actresses —drink, drink, drink ! The sole object and aim of the evening is drink. The building was three-parrs filled, small tables being handy for the drink, but the visitors looked. miserable, like men who do not possess either a comfortable home or a true friend. On the whole, I regard thoso small, wretched drink-traps as demoralising, and wish something more enjoyable might be found for the people who frequent them. The drink-tempting-girls can stand as much liquor as ail old male toper, yet one especially 1 saw and talked with had a remarkably sweet open lace and gentle eyes, and in better conditions would make a gracious sister or noble wife. Do tho ministers of true religion ever go to these sad dens ? Y by not ? 1 would act as guide and show them other sights which would make them cry aloud v.Tth streaming tears and bleeding heart for the unhappy things which abound, within hearin"' of the music of the church. Jn assemblies or meetings, the wealthier men do not possess sufficient independence of character. The spirit is that known as “I will scratch your back in order that you may scratch my back,” that is, “applaud or vote for me.” At a semi-public church meeting, the ministerial chairman almost slobbered in speaking of the church officers, while they in return slobbfered over Him ; but anyone can see that this mutual backscratching only lasts while they aro willing to tickle. At another, a secular .

gathering, the president ballooned his chest while he exclaimed, looking admiringly around: “ Wo—-wo are the most nobleminded and the most generous-hearted of all nations on the face of the earth.” Whereupon the tickled audience graciously applauded the tickler, and I smiled a smole. John Bull dislikes flattery, but Brother Jonathan courts it; lie. likes it laid on thick, butter on ono side and honey on tho other; and it suits his lmtiiro, for, viewing him all round, the genuine American is without guile, and in transparent frankness shows his heart. To-day at luncheon a well-dressed man entered hurriedly, sat down, and at one gulp threw down half-a-pint of iccd-milk. 1 remarked that I had been taught to drink milk in sips with bites of food between, since to take it big as ho had done might lodge it liko a leaden ball in one’s bread-basket (stomach). With a sigh he replied, “Yes; I suppose it is not prudent to drink as I do, but when ono is iu a hurry and hot, one forgets; and, besides, you know, life is too short to drink iced-milk in sips.” llis reply voices average Americanism—life is too short to take things quietly; go ahead full speed! Risk an explosion, a failure, a premature death, rather than examine every step liko an elephant on ice. In effect Americanism exclaims, “ 1 must get from myself, my engine, my theatre, my church, my country, the fastest speed, the biggest show, tho loudest shout.” At a religious revival service they go the wholo hog in dead earnest, and quite a drove will march to “ the altar ” or penitent form, where they fall, often all length, face down, and cry, groan and wrestle to be converted, or reconverted for the hundredth time, and they want it done in a hurry, as it were, asking God to make haste, as if a steamboat were waiting at the wharf blowing the whistle to warn them to come aboard, At theatres, churches or any other place, they walk quickly to the pew or seat and are evidently inspired to press forward with greased lightning spood to heaven or hell —it does not seem to matter which, provided they go ahead with full head of steam. They are gonial and hospitable, and will do anything for you if you hurry up and have it done quickly. They aro true as steel for tho time being to the principle which inspires them, but too fond of being tickled. If you scratch the wrong way, well, you had better make tracks for the first railroad or steamboat, for scratching backs in the proper way is the road to glory.