THOUGHTS.
Thinking over the dismal aspect of Christ' church in this Provinco of Canterbury on Sundays, of the impossibility of being conveyed out of it, or about it (with ono solitary exception) either by rail, tram, cab or coach. — or by any public conveyance — I came to the conclusion that Chrisfcchurchians have become a very serious poople, a people who have given up the empiro of thought and are enjoying a fool's paradise in a suppoaitious freedom by allowing others to think for them. I imagine there are no sick who rcguire visiting ; no cripples or aged persons who would like a lift in sympathy or enjoyment j do working class, who Jnbour under the delusion that the day is theirs, or that it is the only day they can afford to lose ; that in their case change or recreation is never roquired, for the goddess Hygeia hovers over their abodoo and tho destroyer Typhus never dißturbs her reign. Timo was, in the old coaching days, before tho railway becamo a monopoly and drove them off the road, we could travel pleasantly enough. Many a time have 1 done tho Norfcli road in good company, and felt (he better for it. No judgment for ecclesiastical crime ovei taking us. But 0 tempora ! 0 mores .'how changed are ye manners and ye customs of today ! Who is it proscribes our boundaries, fetters our liberty, and lulls us into indifference ? Is it the various sects who, however much ilioy wrangle and differ, arc all agreed seemingly in thinking for and governing outsiders ? Or is it. indolenco of thought in our-selves—-love of greed, that so possesfes us with. the cotton that the chief duty of man is to outstrip his neighbour and appear to bo what he is not — that we become destitute of sympathy, oblivious of duty, and selfish beyond imagining ? Q.uito contented if tho conventional guinea is subscribed and duly advertised ; that our attondanco at church is well observed ; that our pistor or teacher is satisfied, and like a successful tradesman looks upon us as a connection he would not like to lose. I sometimes foolishly argue that tho object of all teaching is to do away with tho necessity of teaching, and that men should feel more than having only a life interest in stagnation and no progress. But it is no use talking. Men must agree to differ. One thing, however, is certain ; our movement s are retrograde. Wo are not whnt we were, nor are wo likely to improve whilst wo continue eelfieh),v, delegating unlo others the duties we should perform ourselves and tho caro of our rights and consciences ; loading up through our own ncplect to greater in dictions and punishment than can bo found in our statutes. We have not far to look for tho results 1 Politically, would any English constituency have submitted to tho recent Ohristchurch election outrage ; or would there bo found amongst our countrymen at Homo, or in any civilised country, a man who would take advantage of legal jugglery, or worse, political perfidy, to deprivo the electors of their choice of the aervicca of the most eminent m living amongst us in this Britain of the South Seas?
THOUGHTS.
Star (Christchurch), Issue 3949, 14 December 1880, Page 2
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