The Week in Review.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 7, 18 August 1909, Page 1

The Week in Review.

NOTICE. The Editor will be pleased to receive for consideration Short Stories fund Descriptive Articles illustrated with photos, or suggestions from coo* iributors. Bright terse contributions are wanted dealing with Dominion life and questions. Unless stamps are sent, the Editor Cannot guarantee the return of unsuitable MSS. A Judge on Church Services. HVERY interesting discussion took place recently at a meeting of the Church Society in Sydney on the much-debated question why people do not go to church. The discussion was started by Mr. Justice Bring, who presided at the meeting. The learned judge began by remarking that if they built churches and furnished the stipends of ministers, it was a pitiful thing that these churches were not attended as they should be. He suggested as a reason why so many stayed away that the services were too long. We lived in strenuous times, and people who Were working hard all the week, and until 11 o’clock on Saturday night, were too tired to go to a long service on Sunday morning. Then many people were Without any domestic help, and that meant somebody had to stay at home to took the dinner. He remembered that When he was a boy the service meant the (morning service, the Litany, Communion, and a sermon—a sermon of 40 minutes and perhaps an hour. Why could they not now, in these strenuous days, when men and women had practically no rest RII the week, split up their servicest They might have the morning service on one Sunday, the Litany on the next, and Communion on the next. In such <JirIWmstances he thought they would get

more people to church. Once at Wagga he was delayed over Sunday, while on circuit, and went to church, where there was a service he enjoyed more than any other he had attended. It was merely the Communion service—no sermon—and was all over in 55 minutes. His interest in the service did not flag for one moment, and he was sorry he could not say that about other services that lasted for an hour and a-half. The judge’s remarks were received with loud applause, and subsequent speakers endorsed his wish for shorter services. Members of other religious bodies have since supported his contention that services at present are too long, and a general opinion has been expressed that they might be shortened with advantage to all concerned. It is interesting to note that the present rector of Wagga was formerly vicar of St. Sepulchre’s, Auckland, and many of his old parishioners will be glad to hear of Mr. Justice Pring’s appreciative reference to one who did so much good work in New Zealand. Wanganui Harbour. Wanganui is evidently determined to make its harbour worthy of the progress of the port and the richness of the surrounding district which it serves. No expense is being spared to deepen the channels, and from the latest accounts great success is attending the efforts of the engineers. The Harbour Board’s engineer has prepared a plan showing soundings over that portion of the upper harbour known as the “Flats.” The plan clearly evidences that good results have followed the dredging operations since they were first started three years ago. The average depth in the sailing channels is now 16ft, with a minimum depth of 14ft lOin at a spot where vessels drawing eight and nine feet were continuously sticking only a couple of years ago. The dredge is now making another cut up this portion of the river, which will probably be deepened to an average depth of about 17ft, after which

(the engineer says) there will be no further need for dredging this part of the river, at any rate for a long time. As soon, therefore, as the cut has been finished, the dredge will be shifted up to the town wharf to deepen the berthage, and widen it to 150 ft. When that has been done it will be further employed in dredging out a berthage for the new Wharf extension, the building of which Messrs. McLean and Sons already have in hand. Activity continues on other harbour works, and satisfactory progress is being made ,on the south mole at the Heads. J* The School Journal and the Empire. Much has been said both in praise and dispraise of the “School Journal.” Some have thought it too militant in tone, others have thought it too dull, and beyond the comprehension of our children. It is, therefore, interesting to note the opinion expressed about it in other countries, and to find that it is appreciated by Other parts of the British Empire. The “London Spectator” contains an interesting reference to New Zealand's school children and the “School Journal” in its June number. A correspondent wrote to the editor from Ottawa, as follows: “Sir, —There was a reference a week since by Lord Grey to the New Zealand ‘ School Journal ’ which will interest readers of the * Spectator.’ 40,000 New Zealand children in 981 of their schools forwarded a penny each to the Wolfe-Montcalm Memorial Park. A pretty incident in itself, but, what is more valuable, we learned from Lord Plunket’s letter that the ‘School Journal’ of that ‘Socialist State’ showed all these nice young people the historic battle in its true perspective and its relation to the Empire and its map-making. Lord Grey’s speeches last year invited just this far-away response, and we who have come to regard her with affection because of these idealisms are the happier for this incident. ‘Hitch your wagon to a star,’ said Emerson. Might not a ‘School Journal’ be organised at Home to impress those plastic minds?” The suggestion for establishing a “School Journal” in England seems a good one. Contributions could be sent from different parts of the Empire, and the children might thus learn live facts about the oversea dominions instead of the dry geographical statistics which only too often are made to do duty for information about other lands. Professor Maclaurin. All students of Victoria College, Wellington, will remember Professor Maclaurin, and Will be interested in the high tributes paid to him on the occasion of his inauguration as the new head of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The gathering included a large number of college presidents and men of distinction in all walks of life. Among the speakers was the Right Hon. James Bryce, Ambassador from Great Britain. The Inetitute was spoken of as probably the greatest technical educational institution in the United States. Mr Bryce said there were four reasons which brought him there that day. One of these rea-

sons was that Dr. Maclaurin was a Bri ton; the second was that he was 1 Scotsman; the third was that he was a lawyer, and a member of the same ancient legal society—Lincoln’s Inn —as that to which he had the honour to belong; and the fourth was that he was a distinguished man of science, to whom on behalf of his (Mr Bryce’s) country he had to give hearty good wishes for his new work. Many American papers speak in high terms of the professor. The “Transcript,” in an editorial, speaks of him as a man of clear and strong character and of high and comprehensive standards and ideals, while the “Boston Herald” says:—"The impression which the Institute’s new leader gives us is of a thinker able to utter himself in sprightly, as well as weighty words, with occasional flashes of wit and touches of humour, and a range of allusion to literature and biography which proclaims the humanist as well as the scientist. Lest performance should not equal pledge, he for a time forbears disclosure of specific policies, contenting himself with the general statement that there never will be advocacy by him of radical departures from the ideas or methods already establishedßeduced to simplest terms, President Maclaurin’s creed is that education exists to develop truth-seeking, fact-revering, efficient men; which education more and more rests back on science, and must adjust itself to the transformation in society which science already has wrought and still is to work. But with reliance on science and its methods of comparison and induction, there also must go an ideal of culture, of capacity to stand apart and criticise and appraise life and the relative worths of facts which science reveals; and all broad, liberal education will provide for studies like literature, history economics and the fine arts, which have proved themselves as serving this purpose.” Those who knew Dr. Maclaurin when he was in. New Zealand will fully endorse these high eulogies and wish him all success in his new sphere of work. Should We Applaud ? The Auckland Choral Society’s choice of a programme for its recent concert brought up a question which was discussed years ago. People 'began asking each other if they were to applaud the items in the Mass in “G,” or was a reverent silence the “correct” thing. The natural result was that some applauded and some did not. Most of the oratorio was applauded. Unstinted applause is always given a-t the Society’s rendering of -Handel’s classic at Christmas time. But after th e quartet and chorus in Spohr’s ‘‘The Last Judgment,” entitled “Blessed are the Departed,” though one wanted to show one’s appreciation of the performance—it wvvs beautifully sung, the balance was perfect—somehow clapping seemed 1 to be rather out of place. Many societies when performing “The Messiah” encourage the audience to stand for the “Hallelujah Chorus” as * reminder of the sacredness of the whole oratorio. Some time ago at a concert given by the Choral Society of a small town in the Wellington province, twa

iistinguishcd looking visitors were seen to stand up for this number. In spite of the fact that nobody followed their example they manfully remained standing throughout the chorus. The following day the morning paper reported that “two visitors evidently from the country mistook tho ‘ Hallelujah Chorus ’ for the National Anthem, and stood up till it was finished*” Wireless and Shipping. Just a year ago the approach of the 'American Fleet was communicated to us by wireless telegraphy—a feat which, though interesting, was not of vital importance. Now, when we are crying out for news of overdue vessels we must needs go without, as not being men-o’-war they are not fitted up with the necessary appliances for “wireless.” Sooner or later it will be law that ocean-go-ing vessels must be so equipped'. Why not sooner instead of later? We must needs wait till a few more steamers are reported missing or lost before we act. Suppose a boat has had a smash in the engine-room and is still drifting; tho Vse of “wireless” would be an untold blessing. In Spite of All. Among the candidates for deacon’s orders this Advent is Mr. Ernest Chitty, who is to be appointed assistant-curate of Epiphany Church under the Rev. W. E. Lush. Mr. Chitty’s career has been wonderful. He is blind, and has been so practically from birth, for he cannot remember ever having seen the light. In spite of this terrible drawback Mr. Chitty has passed with credit the degree of M.A. at the University, and also tho Third Grade of the Board of Theological Studies. He is very musical, and has for three years past been chapel organist of St. John’s College, Tamaki, ■where he is at present a student. Many people will naturally wonder how he will manage to fulfil his duties in the role of a clergyman, but his ability to get about and to do things that many of us who have our sight cannot do is really Burprising. Mr. Fawcett, though blind, became Postmaster-General of England, and it would seem that even the greatest afflictions pan be overcome by a strong will and a steady determination to succeed'. Jt J* Is England Decadent T One result of the Press Conference has been to dissipate the idea that Englishmen have lost their virility. The “London Times” special correspondent with tho delegates has made some significant remarks in this connection. He says: — From the lips of many of them I have heard expressions of admiration, and even of surprise, at the seriousness of purpose, the strenuous life, the vigour, energy, and vitality which they found in all parts of the kingdom visited by them. Some of the Australians, misled by British self-depreciation, which is invariably noted and exaggerated when it reaches their country, some of the Canadians, deceived by American caricatures of the effete and decadent Englishman, had cotne prepared to find a people sapped of its manhood and tottering to its fall. How different was the impression actually made upon them by the spectacle of the Nary at Spithcad, of the Army at 'Aidershot, of the great foundries and shipbuilding works at Sheffield and Glasgow, and the crowds whom they saw in the great cities and the workmen with .whom they conversed in our factories and dockyards! Over and over again I was told by the delegates that they were going back with tbc feeling that a country which could do what England is doing to-day is in no danger of degeneration. Not that they are blind to the evidences of unemployment and distress, but rather that they see, in spite of all deductions which must in fairness be made, a strong and virile race, facing its problems calmly, and prepared to meet the future with courage.