PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1927, Page 1

PUBLIC OPINION.

TOBACCO IN MODERATION

“ If you use tobacco in moderation it is not going to do you any harm. Somepeople cannot smoke, and they should leave tobacco ni'one. If you can prevent boys from 14 to 18 smoking, you will be doing a good thing, and then’ you can let them smoke from 18 to 80,” says Sir B. Bruce Porter, the famous medical authority. “Tobacco was,” lie added, “ an extraordinary comfort to a great many people, and I would like to reassure old people, so that they should not be terrified from enjoying one of the few joys Unit remained to people of advanced years. Extremes should be avoided in either direction. The introduction of machinery in the making of cigarettes was a thing to be welcomed from tlie hygienic standpoint, for in the hand-made cigarettes it was a common practice for the makers to lick tlie paper with their lips. Some of the factories could be taken as models in regard to the way in which their proprietors cared for tlieir employees and provided hygienic conditions for making cigarettes.”

A COALMON AIESSAGE. “ Far too much emphasis lias been placed upon ‘ our unhappy divisions.’ After ai'i, the Churches—both Established and Free—have, speaking generally, proclaimed a common message. On the eternal fundamentals they have been one. .It is simple peddling, piffling criticism to exaggerate differences ot accent or of ritual as if these were the all-important things,” writes the Rev. F. G. Spurr, in the “ Birmingham Gazette.” There is something far more important indeed than changes in a prayer book. AY by cannot there he freedom hero!' If, by any chance. England should be threatened by a bullying regime such as recently prevailed in Russia with regard to religion, it would he seen at once that Christianity in all its forms in this country is at the bottom one. We do differ, but wc do not bate. Religion lias nothing to fear from liberty. The more it is brought out into the open the better. New light is dawning upon liie world. BYienee has opened up to us a Universe of which our fathers never dreamed. The new light may compel changes in thought, recasting of human creeds, and restatements of the ancient faith. Wliv not ? ”

THE FUTURE OF .MAN. “ .Sometimes when we speeui’ate as to the future of humanity we think of the highly evolved forms of life that lorded the earth in past ages. They disappeared. Why!' Probably minute organisms swept them away. Either the virulence of such organisms increased or the animals attacked lost their power of resistance. Is such an end to ho the fate of humanity!'” asked Bishop Haines at Westminster Abbey. “ .Many a zoologist would answer

' Yes.’ And yet man differs from all other animals that have come from earth’s teeming womb. The theologian has justification in holding that the ( haraeteristie developments and powers of the human mind set man apart; bo has. in conventional language, a soul, some quality of personality of survival value in the scheme of the universe. Is it possible that, by virtue of these same mental powers, man will conquer disease and pain, ami thus in the end prepare the way for a Kingdom of God upon earth!' Will medical and moral victories combine to make human life equal to human hopes and dreams? None can say. We Imild for an unknown future. Yet the achievements of the leaders of human progress give substance to our hopes.”

TO THE CHRISTIAN NATIONS. ■■ What do the Christian nations today really believe? 1 will give in .substance the answer as it was once given to me by an enlightened Buddhist. ‘Judged by your actions,' he said,

‘and by the way you live in these •great cities of yours, you Christians believe in money. Money is not all you believe in, of course, hut there is nothing else you believe in quite so firmly. The God of Jesus is your Sunday God ; hut on week-days you worship mammon. You look upon the universe as containing an infinite number of potential dollars or pounds sterling, and the business of your lives is to turn these potential dollars or pounds into real ones. You do not really believe in tbe ultimate worthwhileness of anything else. Your great nations are great organisations, not for serving God, hut for exploiting the universe, and since you cannot help getting into one another’s way you learn to hate one another and go to war.’ ”—Principal' L. P. Jacks.