RELIGIOUS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15131, 27 January 1917, Page 6

RELIGIOUS.

The Glasgow Herald, an influential secular Journal, deplores the evidences of in the numbers under instruction in the Sunday -schools, and in the strength of the teaching staff, le fears that - “things' will become worse unless the church makes a vigorous effort to extend, improve, and vivify her educational work. In the forward movement which is about to begin in the sphere of education, it will be calamitous if the higher issues of life are thrust aside in the desire to secure a leading place in science, trade, and commerce. The church must rise to the height of her responsibility, and her opportunity, by taking care that in the national schools moral and spiritual influences are present, and by fitting herself to discharge adequately her own duty towards the young. This would involve no new departure on the part of the church, for in doing this the church would be true to her onw past, for it is not to beforgotten that the whole national system of education took origin in the church, and that the original Sabbath school taught children to read the Bible, and as much else as time, convention, and the talents of the teachers would permit.” * * * » Another success has been achieved in the prohibition conquest of America. A cablegram from Washington states that a bill has been passed in the Senate forbidding the sale of liquor in the district of Columbia, but permitting small importations for personal use. The district of Columbia includes the city of Washington, the capital of the United States, and the centre of the whole machinery of the United States Government. The vote of the Senate means the closing of 272 bar-rooms, which in itself it no small gain, but the moral effect of the banishment of the sal© of liquor from the Amercian capital cannot fail to be far-reaching. With the district of Columbia dry, and twenty-five States in the prohibition column, there is good reason to rejoice in the prospect of realising the motto of Amercian temperance workers, “A Saloonless Nation in 1920.” * . * *• * Philadelphia is a ity of churches. The four Protestant bodies of Methodists. Baptists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians have each over 100 churches within the city limits. The Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists alike claim that they have within the city limits, a larger church fellowship than is to he found in any similar area anywhere else in the world. * » • - * One of the results which the Anglican Church in England is seeking as the fruit of its great mission of “Repentance and Hope” is the revival in every church of “a clear witness to the reality of religion.” For many a decade this “clear witness” was a characteristic feature of the religious life of the Metho- ' dist church, fostered and kept aflame, by their “class meeting.” Unhappily from a number of causes, the gravest of which, probably is the decay of living and spiritual religion, the class-meeting, if not dead, seems moribund, and is only a shadow of the vital thing it has been. Dr. Dale, declared of this meeting, that it was an institution which Methodism held in trust for the whole Church of Christ. But it holds that . trust to-day with an enfeebled grasp ‘ and with the unhappy result that the “clear witness” of religion grows less and less clear. Every believer who truly ' loves his church and prays for rts spiritual prosperity, must desire, above all things, to see this “clear witness,” this undoubted fruit of the Spirit made abundantly manifest in their midst. * ‘ * * * Dr. Campbell Morgan, in the first of a series of sermons on the war, and taking for his topic “The Divine Shakings of the Earth in this War,” says: “The first is our false conception of humanity. Men believed that humanity was self-sufficient; they are Earning its insufficiency. We are being taught that human Cleverness is utterly at fault. Every plan made by the Central Empires with marvellous skill and comprehensiveness has been brought to ruin. And how have we been delivered? Why is it that to-day w© see a gleam of light on the horizon and feel in our hearts that victory is coming though we cannot fix its date by the almanac? Has any Government done anything but blunder? I think not. Why were wo swept off the map of Europe at Mons or the Marne? Why were we able after our failure at Gallipoli to leave the Peninsula without loss of life? We are forced to recognise the hand of God?” ■JE- * * * Over the triple doorway of the Cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. On one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend, “All that pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross and these are the words beneath, “All that troubles is but for a moment/' But underneath the great central entrance, in the main aisle, is the inscription, “That only is important which is eternal.” A PATHETIC APPEAL. One of the most moving and yet hopeful incidents in connection with the war is Canada’s appeal to Britain to prohibit the liquor traffic during the war. The Toronto Globe, one of the leading Canadian newspapers, recently contained an article headed, “Canada’s Pleading With Britain.” The Globe, in a. passionate appeal, asks Britain to follow the example of Canada and put away the drink during the progress of the war. “It is,” says the article, “the blackest crime of the whole war” that in fighting for freedom in Europe the free sons of the British breed have to face the wqr-time record of waste at home, with its inevitable toll of debauchery and crime. This journal is able to speak with consistency since its issues in a city and amongst a people now free from this miserable traffic, and, it is declared, with most gratifying results. * * * * One wonders at the seeming invincibility of this horrible traffic. There are, however, obvious causes, one being, shall we say, the orgie of respectability that protects it. Think of the powerful support it gets in the Homeland from the list of respectable, profit-sharing personages. Eight dukes seven marquises, 55 earls, 18 viscounts, seven lords. 800 knights, 1000 army and naval oers, besides many bishops, judges n.ea.bers of Parliament and magistrates. These are amongst so-called patriots men greedy for personal profit even though itt prolongs the war, and brings risk of defeat. “The drink traffic is a greater enemy to Great Britiain than Germany.” » * * * One serious fact is assuredly facing the people of Britain, and that is that the year upon which we have entered will witness an actual food shortage and privation. The appointment by Government of a Food Controller with the most arbitrary powers, shows that the Government regards the situation as one of - greatest urgency. This and other

schemes being put into operation to husband the food resources of the Empire make it clear that a halt should be called in every form of waste, and especially in food wastage. Is it to be that among these schemes for saving prohibition of the traffic it so be included? It will be a matter for surprise and humiliation if it is not. Authorities and experts have shown by official evidence that alcohol is responsible in large measure for the advance in the cost of living. “The Parliamentary vv ar Savings Committee says: Immense quantities of food materials, such as barley, wheat and maize are used in the country for the manufacture of beer and spirits. As beer and spirits are almost valueless as foods, and can only be classed as luxuries pure and simple, all this grain is lost for food purposes. If this grain were available for food for man and beast the prices of bread and meat would be lowered. * * * * Mr Donald McLean, M.P., presiding at the recent annual meeting in Manchester of the United Kingdom Alliance, said: Half a million a day waes still being spent on drink. Half a million people were still being employed daily •in the manufacture of the deadly stuff. It was keeping tonnage on the high seas and railway waggons by the hundred on land. It was forcing up the price of the necessities of life. It was devitalising the soldier, the sailor, and the civilian, and, worst of all, it was ruining children by tens of thousands. The question of checking the drink traffic was vital to the success of the Allied cause. The finish of the war in another year would depend on reserves. The decisive factor would be the ability to fling into the scale the last millions of men, money and material; but alcohol was a draft upon reserevs. Yet we were doing less to fight that evil within our own borders than any of ihe Allies except -i-taly. VERITAS.