PERNICIOUS LITERATURE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 9

PERNICIOUS LITERATURE.

DI!. WELLDON'S VIEWS. At Chester Conference in December Bishop Welldon (Dean of ifanchester), speaking to a resolution oil this subjcct, said it was a hopeful sign of the times that, however much individuals might offend in the publication of unworthy books, there was a growing public opinion against any such practice, and ho belioved they might look with increasing trustfulness to tho" Legislature passing such measures as would mako tho salo and circulation of improper literature difficult, and lie hoped in tho end impossible. Hodid not think there was tho slightest clidnco that the omission of reports of proceedings in tho Divorco Courts would endanger anyone's, right to justice. Ho quoted a report ..giving an analysis of 0110 of tho Sunday newspapers —four others examined woro equally bad. Thero were six and a half columns of murders,, twelvo columns ' of; 1 divorce cases profusely. illustrated, . two scandals, two matrimonial cases, one of .crime, and oiio a painful case. Such was tho stuff. served to thousands of English readers every week. All legislation, ho urged, whether Imperial or local, depended upon public opinion, and it was the duty of all who. loved their country to creata. a healthy, vigorous public . opinion. Tho Dean of Chester moved a 'rider to tho .motion in favour of requesting the Committees who bad charge of public libraries to exercise caution in admitting books forcirculation. Tho resolution and rider wore carried unanimously. QUAKERISM ON THE CONTINENT. ALMOST EXTINCT. Tho Society of. Friends is attracting increased attention on . the European Continent. ".'The Journal of Georgo Fox" was recently translated into German a'ncli issued in a popular form, and at a. reasonable price quite unknown to Friends in. England. The translation was done well and sympathetically. The preface was by a university professor. Articles on tho Quakers have appeared in somo German reviews. .• : M. Frederic Pasy, a well-known French worker in the cause of -Peace,-

has contributed an article, entitled "A French Quaker," to a Swiss magazine. The very interesting .life of this-1' rench Quaker alluded to. Stephen Grollet, is lion' being translated into French for publication. An ex-priest i,s undertaking tho work'.. • ,

Quakerism on. the Continent is now almost extinct. There arc'no longer any Friends in Holland, where they were once numerous, and there are onlj. a. fow left in France,. German}-, Denmark, and Norway. It- .appears that' Quakerism and conscription cannot live together ;• Friends in other European countries have to suffer great persecution for refusing to serve in the army or renounce their principles. The writer recently met,a. Norwegian. Friond who had, been sent .'to prison at least five times for refusing to pay the' "bloodta:;." Scandinavian Friends often emigrate to America, where, they find an easier livelihood and 110 .persecution on account of their ;religious scruples.

' , RELIGION IN SCHOOLSINTERESTING PASTORAL LETTER; Tho question of reiigion in schools, was touched on by Dr. Amigo, tho Roman Catholic Bishop of'Southwark, ina recent pastoral letter. The defenco of Catholic education- was of • paramount: importance at the present time, said "his' Lordship. In .England .the educationdifficulty continued. ■ ' The'"admipistra--t-ivo pressureput upon them by the Board offEdiication had been so heavy that the burden had-becomo almost more than Catholics cbuld bear. A greater danger still existed in regard to the training or future teachers owing to the regulations for secondary schools and training colleges. • If they did not exert themselves and'press'the claims for Catholic parents'to have their children taught the Catholic religion by Catholic teachers, and for all alike to have a share' in the rates and taxes to-which they contributed, they would gradually' lose .their schools for which their teachers and, tho Catholic body had made such' sacrifices in the s past. - This must not happen, and it would not happen if they were alive to the danger. Catholics could not combine all'the different religions which existed in England and get a resultant that would satisfy' the Catholic body. Catholics must have for their children the truth, .the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The Bishop continued: "In districts' whero there is-110 Catholic school available, parents must remember their grave responsibility about instructing the children or making some provision for .this duty being performed by others ill their name. A terrible judgment awaits-them hereafter if tho children's faith suffer through their neglect, and wo remind them that 011 no account may they let their children go to any but' Catholic prayers and Catholic, religious instruction. They ; muse always claim nn'd exercise the-right allowed them by law of withdrawing their children from noil-Catholic prayers and religious instruction. " Even, 'however, .where the children attend Catholic schools, let not parents forget that Catholic teachers merely supplement the work of parents and do not do away with parental responsibility. Bad example at home will counteract the wholesome influence of a Catholic school."

JOTTINGS. Tlio total received to date in cash and. promises towards tho Biblo-liouso in Melbourne is £10,320, leaving £4680 still to bo obtained. Tho Rev. Canon Tupper Carey, 11.A., in describing' at a ' Sydney gathering .tlio success of tho recent Church-of England mission in New Zealand, ascribed it largely, to tho spirit of prayer which was outpoured on tho field of their mission ; labours. The. missionaries had again and again been brought to .their knees by an overwhelming testimony of the Gospel. The wonders -they had seen accomplished would send them back to their own work .at Home reinvigoratcd and strengthened, and lie knew a similar influence was at 1 amongst the New Zealand clcrgy.

Dr. John E. Mott. has been able to anuouuca a gift of 450,000 dollars from John D. Rockefeller for the erection of Christian Association structures abroad. The offer was 011 condition that a similar amount should bo raised from other sources for the samo .purpose.. Dr. Mott has raised no less tliaii 550,000 dollars in answer to this challenge.. Association, buildings arc to bo erected in China, in'the Levant, ,-n Moscow, and in Japan.' '

Tlio magnificent new building for tlio Manchester Y.M.C.A. cost £48,000. and to raise tiio £20,000 yet required a whirlwind" campaign was started. Thveo hundred, and fifty members organised themselves into thirtv-two teams of eleven each, to make a vigorous. attack 011 the wealth of Manchester, lhe idea was to raise the wlioie sum in twclyo days. A clock was set up outside the. new building, to- indicate daily the progress of the "whirlwind." flic figures given bv the Committee on Sabbath Observance to the l'resb.v'terian General Assembly show that i'll j\ew lork city alone cmplovees aro compelled to work seven days "a week in 3726 restaurants, 200 hotels, 15)05 drug stoics, 1 12 ilorist shops, 2550 cigar stores, 1600 news stands, 2000 delicatessen stores, 172G confoctionorv shops, 2500 bakeries, 100 garages, 1037 livery stables, tlio total of Sunday emplovees being not less than 300,000.