THe Daily News MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1926. MODERN RELIGION.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1926, Page 6

THe Daily News MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1926. MODERN RELIGION.

While the cabled messages from the Old Country relating to the proceedings of the Anglican Church Conference tft Southport gi. e the barest outline of the subjects under review, it is evident that gathering has been characterised by somewhat sensational utterances. These may or may not indicate an arousing of attention to the need for increased spiritual activity, or they may indicate the duty of the church to keep abreast of the rapid increase of mechanical motion in the world. Some of the subjects, such as that introduced by the Bishop of Liverpool, in’which he attacked the preaching of the fear of hell, do not lend themselves to comment by the Press, but the attack made by the Archbishop of York religion, on the ground that it was too noisy and talkative, may well form the subject of serious thought by all sections of the community. There is, or should be, close co-operation between Press and Pulpit on all matters affecting the social, moral, and spiritual welfare of the people, and that is one of the reasons why it is now quite customary to find in the majority of present day newspapers the reproduction of sermons under the heading of Sunday reading, while all church activities are also kept before the public. It is, therefore, unnecessary to advance any special reason in support of an occasional review of church affairs, especially when it is desired to be helpful in a cause that all Christian people should have at heart. It may be assumed that the Archbishop would not have attacked a phase of modern religion without sufficient justification. It may also be claimed that the grounds of his attack are equally applicable to political and other activities—“too noisey and too talkative.” Approaching the subject ethically, it may be claimed for many people that it requires more strength to work quietly than it does .to bluster. Many persons imagine that noise indicates strength. They think a man is a great preacher just in proportion to the loudness of his voice, and that people who make the most bluster and show are the greatest workers. Noise is not eloquence, neither is loudness power; it rather detracts from the preacher’s power. In all departments of life it is the quiet forces that effect most. It is in the lightning, not in the thunder-peal, that electric energy resides, so that even in nature, strength lies in quietness and the mightiest energies work noiselessly. The same is true also in moral and spiritual things, for moral power seems to hide itself in silent ministries. The Archbishop holds the view that we fail to adapt ourselves to the rapid increase of mechanical motion in the world; that the haste and noise of that motion is in our souls, and that the Day of Rest has become the day of motion; He, therefore, urges the Church to make ways of escape from noise and haste. Quietness, however, can never come from the hushing of the world’s noise so that there shall be nothing to try or irritate man’s spirit, or offend his susceptibilities. Apparently the crux of the Archbishop ’s attack is to found in the charge that the Day of Rest has become a day of motion. There would seem to be ample justification for a complaint of this nature, but the problem to solve is whether the Church is to adapt itself the effects of modern mechanical motion, or whether the people are to respond to the views of the Church, particularly as to the observance of the Day of Rest. It is entirely a matter of conscience for individual decision. We cannot make the people about us so gentle that we shall never have anything uncongenial or unkindly to vex or annoy us. Exactly what the Archbishop means by his declaration that the Church “must make ways of escape from this noise and haste,” is not apparent. Obviously there is ample room and even a pressing need, for the ■mitigation of much of the noise and haste of modern road transport, and it is the duty of the civil authorities to repress those evils. There is no getting away from the fact, however, that the need for self-discipline is at the root of the evil, and it is quite clear that the process of training whereby that discipline is achieved takes years before satisfactory results are achieved. Both the Church and the people would do well to study this problem from every angle, and in a spirit of sweet reasonableness. The times have altered; whether for better or worse it is hard to say.

THE PACIFIC CABLE. The difficulties which have arisen in connection with the Pacific Cable Board and the Dominion of Canada have been steadily accumulating for some time past. They were brought to a head by a suggestion that Canada would refuse to permit the duplicated cable to have a landing place in that Dominion. Some fairly heated correspondence ensued in which the then High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir James Allen, took a leading part, and the general feeling io this country was that Canada was somewhat unreasonable in her demands, both in regard to a share of (he revenue of the board and to a say in its constitution. According to latest advices, while Canada will not agree to the matter being discussed at a full meeting of the Imperial. Conference, there is to be a frank discussion between the countries interested in the cable service, viz., Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Great Bri tain has signified her agreement with such a proposal, and drafted a Bill embodying the modifications desired by Canada for the consideration of the Dominion Premiers interested. These arc, speaking broadly, that the predominating influence in the Cable Board now held by Great Britain shall in future be shared equally with the four partners in the scheme. In view of the attitude Great Britain is taking up, there is little doubt but that a solution of the difficulty will be found. The Pacific Cable was one of the first tangible expressions of tlie true Imperial spirit, which the late Mr. Joseph Chamberlain did so much io foster, and it is unthinkable that it could be allowed to become the source of inter-Empire difficulties. Such semi-official discussions as the one proposed in regard to the cable service will not be the least important part of the Imperial Conference. They will not “share the limelight” with the more formal discussions, but they will have a considerable share in adjusting small matters between various parts of the Empire, which, as has been seen in the case of the Pacific Cable, can cause pin-pricking irritation,- and end in quite considerable difficulties.