THE "MOTE" AND THE "BEAM."

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 245, 11 January 1878, Page 19

THE "MOTE" AND THE "BEAM."

England is a Protestant country ; yet, strange to say, English Protestantism seems to take n, far greater interest in the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants of foreign countries than in the religious condition of the people of England. How is this ? "Is it not obvious ? A person with only half an eye might see that it is much easier to make representations at Exeter Hall as to the state of affairs in Central Africa, and raise money on the strength of alleged work done, than it would be as to places nearer home and better known. The consequence is we have Protestant missions to no end of outlandish and inaccessible barbarous tribes, and we are told — and it never can possibly be contradicted — that no end of money is swallowed up in this waj\ And yet here we are at horne — a vast number of us at all events — as much in need of the operations of religion as atty people on the face of the 1 earth; See the revelations made at Wednesbury the other day.' According to the medical officer of that part of "civilized England" more than 53 per cent, of all the deaths which occurred in Wednesbury, with its population of 25,000, at 25 per thousand, in six years 'about 2000 children have died; and worse still, the deputyregistrar insinuates that these deaths are not altogether attributable to natural causes. What a revelation ! What an insinuation I If such a shocking disclosure were made regarding Central Africa or Central Asia, or any other far-off country, how soon we should hear of it in Exeter Hall ! What a splendid subject it would" be' for -the speechifyers at the May Meetings. How soon a new organization would be set on foot with a host of paid agents. How money would flow in from the bid women of both sexes who are yearly^ successfully wheedled into supplying the "needful" for the crowd of useless missions to foreign parts which are so carefully puffed and kept beforethe public. — Unicerse.