Is the World Getting Better.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3022, 6 October 1888, Page 2

Is the World Getting Better.

' '•lnterviewing by l&tierhas receive* -s•s a new development.'VTbii ettfer pitf && Newcastle' journal,' thFNbMcrh" AVoekly.Leador, addressed the follow. ing question- to Ministers:—l, Arc . pcoplo generally, in your observation, growing better 2. What, i:.:;V----in r j-ourMophjipn, are tlio qjiief ifl-" flpcea ;tlia.t'malje for degradation ?- ; - ; - ? : 3,-' Dp you think that : tbo secular ,': pyesa whole,: a Wealthy:' ■<■/> iufluence? Nearly:;4ob relies .yntk '■',:'

received. Tho writers, for tho most part, think tho world is growing bettor. Amongst other causes"; intemperance and gambling appoar to |)6 regarded most .degrading iniluinco our midst.; The tone of thu secular press is generally felt to bo healthy. Tho space, howover, dovotod to horso-racing and prurient reports is regarded as most harmful, tivou on this head there are differences of opinion. Br Thain Davidsou, for instance, thinks the secular press has, on tho whole a healthy iniluonco, but in li is estimation "the so-called religious press, with a few rare exceptions, is doing inoro wrm than all tho intidol publications combined." Eov Archibald G. -Brown ou the other hand, says tho secular mess is Mj|Je\erse of healthy;" good ind pure-Views being compressed into a few lines, whilo spotting intelligence ftiul filth run in columns," Wo will confino ourselves to a few oxtraots dealing with tho first two queries addressed by the editor. Dr Donald Frasor considers that people: on the crowing bettor. Our nationaffiWbling blocks he regards as the pifesion for strong Jrink, the rage forbpJtiug, early and improvident niarctps. Hcv 11, R. Haweis says people are as roligbusly Jisposodasover'thoy too but less disposed than in past times to accept the forms and dogmas of tho past; hence there is a vast amount of private esoteric religion about amongst hose who do not go to church, iecause they dislike to hear nonsense matters which they feel io bo of deep spiritual importance, to bis opiniononc if the causeswhich make for degradati ■■< is the failure of hurch and ohapel, Jigion to make heology ti)gt:'ier with the rest )1 human knowledge and oxperienco is it js now. Kov Newman Hall lardly knows what to think of liunanityasawWe. People generally ire loss dispw to attend pubjo Worship; but this, he says gnay not indicato a want of Religious faith, Dr Thain Davidson :hinks there is a process of slow but itead improvement going on, ,Eev. irohibald Brown, again differs from iho doctor, making bold to declare that the peoplo are getting worse. 'There is a decided increase in imnorality," and a.growing indifformce to religious worship, Tho mad Bpedients rosortcd to now in order 0 reach the masses demonstrates the ate. Religions sonsationalism is fitiating the public tasto, and simple vorship jb at a discount." Rev G. A. MoKeo thinks the people here 'astly jmproved. Among the ovil nfluencos he ranks " the sensational ehgious services hold until very late lours at .night," Rev Dr Gray, idinburgh,%inks the river of life is.; lowing through our fiolds in tho iglit direction. A minister's wife jars that people are growing worse—:ee living and living beyond tkoir icom'es being the prevailing vices; rhilo the is oxerting a ery bad influom-,

p ampire Superstition in Servia.

The Pestor Lloyd reports from lelgrade a case of superstition whioli [most had a fatal result. Tho police land, some nights ago, lying in the mot, the body of a man apparently ozen to death. Efforts to revive im failed, and his identity having sen ascertained ho was handed over i his family for interment. The motery was a considerables way slant, and as it was being reached i e driver of the hearse told tho iest who attended for tho religious

rvioe, that ho beard-some noiao hi e coffin. The clergyman and others awing near also heard tlio noise, id all ran pmy lest a vampire ould issue and attach them. Ie driver, terrified at finding himIf alone, turned about and grove ie hearse tqjjjghe nearest.-police Ktion. By tins time a knocking s distinctly audible. The coin as forced open, and tho man was, as found alivo, but in a very thausted state Ho complained ithetically of tho attempt' to bury im despite his remonstrances. He as taken to tho hospital, and has early recovered. Ho had . beon fending tho evening with some boon ppanions, and wandering in a stato intoxication fell and beoamo sensible from tho cold. Probably ie jolting of tho hearso revived him, , is a superstition in Servia.aud hong many Slavopeople, that when oan dies suddonly his spirit returns a vampire, and preys on his near atives and friends.