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A LECTURE 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 "CURRENT EVENTS," 
 
 •MSii 
 
 
 DELIVERED BY 
 
 W. K, BULL, 
 
 At the Mechanics' Literary Institute op Victoria, 
 
 British Columbia, 
 
 Tuesday, December llth, 1883. 
 
 vicrroRiA, B. c : 
 
 R. H McMillan, book and job printer. 
 
 1884. 
 
" CURRENT EVENTS, 
 
 )) 
 
 Mr. Chairman :— 
 
 Some few mouths since I delivered a Lecture in this 
 Hall upon ** Current Events "; I propose on this occasion to 
 deliver a second Lecture upon the same subject, well know- 
 ing that no one Lecture, nor indeed many, would exhaust 
 so fertile a theme. 
 
 Current Events naturally embrace consideration of what 
 is going on in our midst as well as elsewhere, but events 
 arising from local surroundings have been so often discussed 
 in our newspapers that occasionally it becomes quite a re- 
 lief to divert attention from Dry Dock, Island Railway, and 
 controversies between "Colonist" and " Standard" and to 
 take cognizance of what is going on in the great world out- 
 side. And never at any period has there been presented 
 more interesting matter for contemplation. The present age 
 has come into possession of the rich treasures of knowledge 
 bequeathed by those great events of the 15th century which 
 ushered in the introduction of printing, the discovery of 
 America, and the Protestant Reformation, which events 
 have been the grand fount»in head from whence present ad- 
 vantages have flowed ; the world at that period awoke as 
 from a long slumber, a new era was inaugurated, whose full 
 influences after the conflict of centuries, chastened and 
 invigorated by the ordeal it has endured, has culminated in 
 our day in the discovery of the magic power and uses of 
 steam and electricity, precipitating us by their disclosures 
 into centuries in advance, but which though marveJ'ous 
 are pregnant with mysteries proclaiming still greater won- 
 ders in the future. 
 
 While as if to make the age we live in especially famous 
 scientific knowledge has made known how and where to 
 mine for gold thus greatly adding to the world's wealth, the 
 
 2D:i656 
 
grand result being that from these discoveries and the en- 
 lightenment therefrom proceeding, there is vouchsafed to 
 the children of men in this our day and generation, to those 
 who seek it aright, a greater amount of happiness than ever 
 before accorded to the human family. This sudden flood of 
 knowledge, all the result of the past quarter of a century, has 
 naturally had a most stimulating influence, giving rise to 
 new aid startling theories and searching investigation. ' 
 
 Prominently amongst Current Events there figures a 
 disposition to call in question the verity of that book which 
 for so many centuries has been the standard of the faith of 
 Christendom and by which conduct has been regulated. 
 Scientific minds imbued with the deductions of evolution, 
 point out that creation was never developed as recorded in 
 the opening pages of the Bible, and that it is not a correct 
 representation of what took place at the beginning, thereby 
 shaking confidence as to the reliability of other portions of 
 the sacred volume. Freethinkers emboldened by such as- 
 sertions seek for solution of aiysteries, not given f^ r mortal 
 man to know, and thus swell the ranks of infidelity. While 
 unhappily there are to be found, ministers of religion indulg- 
 ing in doubts in the faith they are preaching, and by the in- 
 difference manifested in their sacred calling giving proof of 
 such doubts being entertained, to the great detriment of 
 religion. Bewildered by the disorganization prevailing, ef- 
 forts have been made to find God by philosophical deduc- 
 tions, and by other means than disclosed in revelation, over- 
 looking the fact that no exercise of the reason will be sufficient 
 for such purpose, inasmuch as the Great Ruler of the Uni- 
 verse when thus sought becomes the retreating God, and only 
 when approached with the simplicity of the faith and devo- 
 tion inculcated in Holy Writ becomes the advancing God. 
 Of all religions it falls to the lot of Christianity alone to be thus 
 assailed, and never at any period was it more beset. Other 
 sects are satisfied with their respective creeds. The Mahom- 
 edan swears by the Koran ; Buddists and Brahmins, by the 
 Vedas ; Chinamen reverence the precepts of Confucius ; 
 here no dissensions prevail and there is general acquiescence. 
 In Christendom no such implicit reliance is placed in the 
 faith they profess, and its adherents plume themselves upon 
 
I 
 
 their superior intelligence in the toleration permitted, and 
 encouragement given to the fullest freedom of enquiry ; and 
 where such enquiry is legitimately conducted there is good 
 ground for such alledged superiority, but when it degener- 
 erates, as it so often does in the present day, into jest and 
 ridicule and unbecoming levity upon matters that from time 
 immemorial have been held as sacred, the title to such as- 
 sumed superiority may well be called in question. 
 
 With the Infidel, the Freethinker, the Evolutionist, the 
 Ingersol's, and Bradlaugh's busy at work, acting in concert 
 with the mutilated Bible of men of the Henry Ward Beecher 
 stamp, and the no Bible of Public Schools, all tending in a 
 variety of ways to undermine the foundation upon which 
 the Christian religion is built, and to jeopardise the whole 
 fabric, the question naturally arises. Where is the Bible of 
 the Evolutionist ? where that of the Freethinker and the 
 Infidel to take the place of that time honored Teacher they 
 are seeking to displace ? No deductions from the Evolution- 
 ist, or argument of Freethinkers, will supply the need of a 
 religious belief, and where there is no such belief, or where, 
 if any, feebly sustained, or where, worse still, doubts are en- 
 tertained as to the existence of a Supreme Being, there will 
 be moral relaxation and the necessity shown for former 
 Bible teaching, of which, indeed, we have already painful 
 evidence. Current Events point to a readiness of disposition 
 amongst what are called advanced thinkers, to altogether ig- 
 nore religion, contending that in this period of the 
 world's history the enlightenment of moral intuitions are 
 sufiflcient compass for man's guidance to steer his journey 
 through life. In all such notions there is forgetfulness that 
 both for nations as well as for individuals, for the mainten- 
 ance of social order, there must be some constraining power 
 of higher authority than that invested in the intelligence of 
 the age, requiring for its completeness and control, the sanc- 
 tifying influences from on High as taught in revelation. 
 
 What relief to turn from these doubts, and dissensions 
 and questionings of the existence of a personal God to con- 
 templation of that holy rapture which Milton in his Para- 
 dise Lost pours forth from the lips of Adam in his morning 
 prayer : 
 
6 
 
 " These are thy glorious works Parent of Good — 
 Almighty ! Thine this universal frame, 
 Thus wondrous fair. Thyself how 
 Wondrous then ! Unspeakable !" 
 
 Passing now on to consideration of other matters which 
 claim attention I leave the subject upon which I have been 
 speaking with this concluding observation, that no solution 
 is at present offered for settlement of the disorganization 
 prevailing, nor signs, nor symptoms of the coming man, or 
 movement to combat effectually with the widespread infi- 
 delity of the age. 
 
 Continuing my lecture I notice Current Events exhibit 
 very prominently a disposition both aa regards nations and 
 individuals for aggrandisement and monopoly ; nations as- 
 piring for increase of power by acquisition of territory — in- 
 dividuals for creation of wealth by means of syndicates and 
 companys, which when secured, whether as regards nations 
 or individuals, confers power capable of being wielded 
 for good or evil, for weal or woe, dependent upon the man- 
 ner exercised. Concentration of power is the great feature of 
 the age. From this general desire of nations to extend their 
 domain, it would seem as if it were to be the lot of inferior 
 powers and barbarous peoples to be absorbed by the predom- 
 inating powers of the world, and that those who cannot take 
 care of themselves must be taken care of by others. 
 
 Great Britain is being urged by Australia to take posses- 
 sion of New Guinea and the New Hebrides. The United 
 States intend that Mexico shall form part of the Union. 
 French possession of Tunis has created an appetite for Mada- 
 gascar and a slice of the Celestial Empire. Germany would 
 like to secure sea-ports by acquisition of Holland and Bel- 
 gium, while Russia is lying in wait to see the result of Eng- 
 land's ultimatum with Egypt before putting in a claim for 
 her share. Great Britain has hitherto had it all her own 
 way in making these acquisitions, continually adding to her 
 Empire ; but France has now initiated what she calls a 
 Colonial policy, and regards with no favor England's ascend- 
 ant position. Current events represent that nation as ex- 
 ceedingly chagrined at having outwitted herself by her 
 
capricious abandonment of England on the occasion of her 
 going to war with Egypt, and as only appeased by the sooth- 
 ing declarations of Premier Gladstone, that Great Britain's 
 occupation of Egypt was temporary and exceptional, at- 
 tempting in the meantime to reconcile herself to loss of for- 
 mer influence in Egypt by waging war against Madagascar 
 and Tunquin. 
 
 The i ite Emperor Napoleon said "the Empire was 
 peace." It is difficult to say what the Republic is. It is 
 just ossiV'le that France does not at present comprehend her- 
 seli i but evidently her ministry are bent upon attempting 
 to gain popularity by being on the war-path. The restless- 
 ness oi tJie French character necessitated that excitement be 
 provided : the government had the choice of two alterna- 
 tives, war at home or war abroad, and very naturally pre- 
 ferred war at a distance, and with the view of gratifying the 
 natural propensity for fighting have done what, it is said, no 
 nation should ever do, viz., embark in two wars at the same 
 time. Some aver France was never so well governed as 
 under a Republic ; but will she be satisfied to continue under 
 a Republic and be thus governed ? contending factions are 
 ever busy at work — ^there prevails great unrest in France, 
 and there is no knowing what a day may bring forth. The 
 plain facts are that France, notwithstanding her splendid 
 attainments, is deficient in the art of self-government. In 
 former days the restraining influences of Monarchy and 
 Imperialism kept her in check and prevented such de- 
 ficiency being apparent, but no sooner did France try her 
 prentice hand upon the self-government involved in Repub- 
 licanism than her unfitness for such character of govern- 
 ment became self-evident. 
 
 At thi9 period of the world's history nations thus want- 
 ing may be regarded as on the decline, for in the present 
 day it is by their capacity for self-government their endur- 
 ance will be tested. I have spoken thus prominently of 
 France because of the important part she has played 
 amongst nations ; so long as there is a France the world 
 will never be wanting for a disturbing element, nor danger 
 be Incurred of surrounding nations going to sleep. Even at 
 the present time the unsettled state of Europe arises in great 
 
8 
 
 measure from the uncertainties prevailing in that country. 
 
 If present aggressions against Madagascar and Tonquin 
 are representative of the new colonial policy France has 
 initiated it will be ominous of trouble in the future, for it 
 will often come in conflict with British interests. Germany 
 it appears regards with complacency these aggressive move- 
 ments, commending France " to help herself as freely hh she 
 " likes in other parte of the world, and in those effbrteto ex- 
 " tend the spnere of her influence will never be met with by 
 " German rivalry." But Great Britain cannot afTord to as- 
 sume such indifference, for in both the welfare of China and 
 Madagascar she is deeply interested. In China owing to 
 her commercial relations with that country ; in Madagascar 
 resulting from it having been for many years the field of 
 superhuman effbrte on the part of her Protestant Missionaries 
 to introduce Christianity into that benighted region, and 
 from the gratifying evidences of success that were just be- 
 ginning to reward their labors. 
 
 Current evente show much indignation being expressed 
 in our country that present important relations with China 
 should be disturbed by these wanton and capricious move- 
 mente on the part of France, and obstacles be thrown in the 
 way of interesting progress now going on in Madagascar 
 from barbarism to civilization ; for what after all does 
 French colonization mean ? simply the establishment of a 
 military settlement to keep the inhabitants in subjection, 
 and by enforced taxation establish French rule and govern- 
 ment. At this period of restlessness on the piirt of France 
 the full value of the of the consolidation of thf^ German Em- 
 pire becomes strikingly apparent, enabling t)iat nation by 
 her central position and power to become the hoad pacifica- 
 tor of Europe, and thus keep France in check. 
 
 Unquestionably England's occupation of Egypt is not 
 only a source of continued irritation to the T'rench mind, 
 but of anxiety to Groat Britain, for arising from it therw 
 looms up for consideration one of the laost important ques- 
 tions our country has had to deal with for many a long day. 
 Premier Gladstone ha a promised that Great Britain will 
 j^ive up possession of Egypt when good government has been 
 established in that country ; but the insurrection in the 
 
9 
 
 Soudan, and defeat of the Egyptian army will necessitate 
 the intervention of British aid, and consequently prolonged 
 occupation. England has too far committed herself with 
 Egypt to be jTustifled in leaving it, she has taken in hand 
 the regeneration of Egypt and is bound in honor to accom- 
 plish it, and which for its consummation present indications 
 seem to say will require nothing less than permanent occu- 
 pation and that Egypt become British territory. If I right- 
 ly interpret the British mind respecting Egypt it means that 
 sentiment once uttered by Earl Beaconsfield in regard to 
 India, when he said, " we have got India and we mean 
 to keep it," and now as applied to Egypt it also means 
 we have got Egypt and we mean to keep it, and thus another 
 trophy be added to British achievements, and the ancient 
 throne of the Pharoh's be occupied by one representing the 
 interests of our country. 
 
 History, that is modern history, places before us the 
 past careers of the present governing powers of the world, of 
 their struggles for ascendancy, of their victories and defeats, 
 from the conflict there comes to the front the survival of the 
 fittest represented by Great Britain, Germany and the Unit- 
 ed States of America, and it is this triumvirate that will hat^e 
 to fight the impending battle for civil and religious liberty, 
 for current events foreshadow such conflict. 
 
 With regard to the conciliatory policy of Premier Glad- 
 stone to meet the emergency time will tell whether it had 
 not been better from the very outset that he had acted upon 
 the advice Lord Palmerston once gave to the English 
 ambassador at Paris, viz., " Sir ; put a little more starch in 
 your neckcloth." 
 
 Leaving the solution of these troublesome matters to the 
 future I noW recur to the remark previously made that not 
 only in the present day was there evinced a grasping desire 
 amongst nations for aggrandisement, but a growing disposi- 
 tion amongst individuals for inordinate acquisition, and to 
 become millionaires, for which so many facilities in the pre- 
 sent day are affbrded from the large undertakings and enter- 
 prises in operation which scientific knowledge in these days 
 of advanced civilization has introduced. The magnitude of 
 these enterprises have served to revolutionise former rela- 
 
10 
 
 tions between employers and the employed, former intima- 
 cies and recognitions no longer prevail. Both parties meet 
 so to speak on a new platform. Capital represented by a 
 syndicate or company in its anxiety to secure the largest 
 possible dividend seeks for labor at the smallest possible 
 amount of cost. Labor with the view to increased happiness 
 desires the largest possible remuneration for its services. 
 Hence a species of antagonism arises, capital regards labor 
 merely as a machine for its enrichment. Labor compre- 
 hends such is the estimate in which it is held ; hence we 
 have strikes and contentions, and former respect and sym- 
 pathy between master and man becomes a thing of the past. 
 Such are the effects which present advanced civilization with 
 its vast undertakings has brought about. 
 
 Volumes have been written without effect to regulate 
 these differences, but so long as human nature continues 
 what it is they will prevail to the end of the chapter. Never 
 at any time, whether as regards employer or the employed, 
 was there less disposition to be easily satisfied. The rela- 
 tions between capital and labor resolves themoelves into an 
 affair of demand and supply, and whichever has the power 
 wil> be sure to exercise it for advancement of their particular 
 interests, and the only way of settling these troubles will be 
 by resort to amicable arbitration. Notwithstanding the 
 grumblings so often heard in the present day of labor being 
 inadequately paid that capital gets the lion's share, and that 
 recourse must be had to communism or legislation to rectify 
 present disproportion there cannot be a doubt, but within 
 this past quarter of a century there has been marked and 
 general improvement in the condition of all classes of society 
 resulting from better remuneration ; and this observation 
 naturally leads to, and brings before us that, in the present 
 day, most Important subject, viz : 
 
 SOCIAL AMELIORATION 
 
 And whether there has been as marked an improvement in 
 the manners of the age as progress in material welfare. 
 Never were there more ample means and appliances for the 
 accomplishment of such improvement, and yet when the 
 morning paper is laid upon the breakfast tab there appears 
 
11 
 
 the usual record of murders, suicides, defalcations, drunken- 
 ness, etc., and so far as improvement is concerned the posi- 
 tion, to use a military phrase, is " as you were." That we 
 shall ever arrive at that happy period when no such offences 
 prevail could only be the dream of some visionary enthusi- 
 ast. But surely in these days of universal education and 
 other influences in operation, not forgetting Blue Ribbon 
 Societies, indications of more decided improvement might 
 reasonably be expected. But with the view of ascertaining 
 whether we are justified in forming such expectations let us 
 deal with the given position of any community. Now in 
 order to arrive at a correct conclusion of the state of things 
 there prevailing, it will not be necessary to enquire what 
 those who compose this community do when they are at work ? 
 for at such times it always means pretty much the same 
 thing, varying only by being more or less toil involved, or 
 number of hours engaged. But what will be essential to 
 know with the view of obtaining a correct estimate will be 
 what this community do when their day's work is over? for 
 the character of a people depends not so much upon what 
 they do when employed, but how they fill up their leisufb 
 time when not employed. It is the idle hour that tells the 
 tale. Tell me of a community who, when the day's work is 
 done, are busily engaged with healthy pastimes or instruc- 
 tive recreation, and there you will find the elements of a 
 well ordered community. But if on the other hand you 
 point to a community who when the hour of leisure comes 
 every one is at his wits end to know what is to engage at- 
 tention, in such community the advantages of Public School 
 education will be powerless to prevent irregularities, and 
 Blue Ribbon Societies will not be wanting for subjects to 
 operate upon. Never need we look for any material change 
 for the better until more importance is attached to the man- 
 ner in which the leisure hour is occupied, for there Is so 
 much of truth in the old saying, "That an idle man's head 
 is the devil's own workshop," and mark you, the devil in 
 the present day is a much more formidable opponent than 
 in the past, for he has had so much more experience. Mater- 
 ial improvement does not necessarily also mean moral im- 
 provement, for taking a broad and general view of what 
 
12 
 
 is going on in the world, not forgetting ourselves here in 
 Victoria, the improvement in material welfare resulting 
 from the better remuneration of modern days has not been 
 followed by adequate improvement in the moral and social 
 tone, consequently social amelioration afTords abundant 
 scope for philanthropic operation. At this interesting period 
 of British Columbian history, when after so many years of 
 quietude and disappointed expectations when there is open- 
 ed out for us by the developnients in progress a new future, 
 one fails to see any accompanying aspirations for improve- 
 ment in the popular mind, which, with tew exceptions, is 
 simply an affair of animal existence. 
 
 Noticing some few days since a lad apparently absorbed 
 in deep thought, prompted by curiosity I took the liberty of 
 asking him what he M'as thinking about? " Nothing !" he 
 said, well, I replied, that must be an interesting subject, and 
 it appears to me, that, to a very considerable extent, is the 
 subject that engages the attention of many of the rising gen- 
 eration, and also of many of our citizens in their hours of 
 leisure after day's work is done. The poet Cowper in one of 
 his poems in an illustration places before the reader the pea- 
 sant, his wife and family gathered round the evening fire 
 wrapt in sleep. " Sleep, he says seems their only refuge, 
 ** for alas, where penury is felt the thought is chained, and 
 " sweet colloquial pleasurea are but few." 
 
 With many of our citizens ins^p-xd of " sleep " behig their 
 only refuge, it should be drink, the sleep coming afterwards. 
 Our city has now passed the pioneer stage which required 
 every faculty to be absorbed in the struggle for existence, 
 and we have arrived at that period in advance which should 
 speak of something better for our young folks, and the gen- 
 eral community than hours of idleness, and refuge sought in 
 drink and sleep. The plain facts are, it is indispensible to 
 the happiness of communities, as well as individuals, to have 
 "an ideal," some excelsior — some standard of excellence to 
 excite ambition, and the more excellent the ideal, the more 
 excellent the influence. In tlie United States the spirit of 
 enterprise prevailhig leads to accuiiiulated wealth being 
 their ideal. The Jay Goulds and Vanderbilts occupy a posi- 
 tion akin to that of the God's in heathen mythology. Amer- 
 
 1^' ' 
 

 here in 
 resulting 
 not been 
 id social 
 .bundant 
 ig period 
 years of 
 
 is open- 
 V future, 
 improve- 
 ►tions, is 
 
 absorbed 
 iberty of 
 ing !" he 
 jject, and 
 t, is the 
 sing gen- 
 hours of 
 in one of 
 • the pea- 
 ning fire 
 ly refuge, 
 ned, and 
 
 elug their 
 ter wards. 
 
 required 
 existence, 
 ch should 
 
 the gen- 
 sought in 
 ensible to 
 Is, to have 
 ellence to 
 the more 
 I spirit of 
 dth being 
 ipy a posi- 
 5y. Amer- 
 
 18 
 
 ican newspapers frequently put forth for admiration the 
 varied amounts their millionaires are supposed to be worth. 
 In France it is glory that constitutes the national ideal, no 
 man was ever more the subject of hero worship, than their 
 first Napoleon, because he administered so fully to the grati- 
 fication of this desire. In Germany they have for their ideal 
 military excellence, and Count Moltke is idolized. In Great 
 Britain the excellence that constitutes their ideal is unsullied 
 honor, and in whatever rank of life found the subject of 
 respect and esteem, amongst her public men a stain would 
 be felt as a wound. Here in this our city we seem to have 
 no aspirations, or conception of an ideal, but in its place 
 vague and indefinite generalities worthy of no especial re- 
 gard. Two chimney sweep boys meeting each other in Lon- 
 don one of them taunted the other by saying, ** Your Master 
 never gives you any of the fine work, he only sends you up 
 the kitchen flues, my Master sends me up the parlor and 
 drawing-room chimneys. I do the fine work." It is the 
 wholesome vanity here displayed, and satisfaction at being 
 able to excel, it would be well if more forcibly impressed up- 
 on the minds of many of our rising generation. Henry 
 Ward Beecher in his lecture remarked that every city with 
 a population numbering five thousand ought to have a Free 
 Public Library. Unquestionably such an institution seems 
 a necessary addenda to our Public Schools. We are amply 
 provided with all other institutions, but free Public Librar- 
 ies are now the order of the day, and when we get such an 
 institution in our city, it ought to be such a one, both as re- 
 gards the edifice and the manner in which it was sustained, 
 of which our citizens might be proud, and there prevails 
 ample wealth for its accomplishment and which, if estab- 
 lished, might occasionally, nay perhaps, very often be favored 
 with help from money bequeathed, and from contributions 
 that in process of time might cause it to become a truly 
 grand institution, one that by its infiuences might have the 
 happy effect of giving quite an altered tone to the liabits and 
 manners of the general community and furnish us with an 
 ideal worthy of contemplation, making our young people 
 pleased to avail themselves of the privileges afforded, and 
 proud to be identified with a city having such advantages, 
 
i 
 
 14 
 
 and thus in due time it might come to pass, that just as it 
 was said, " Athens was the eye of Greece," so eventually for 
 intelligence and moral worth, our City of Victoria might 
 become the eye of the Pacific Slope. 'I'hese perhaps may be 
 thought to be optimist notions, but it is by contemplating 
 the optimist we conquer, but by dwelling on the pessimist con- 
 tinue to drag our slow length along. Our city, with its pride of 
 place and suburban charms is entitled to be regarded as the 
 pleasure ground of the Pacific Coast, and every efTort should 
 be made by attractions oflTered to cause it to become the re- 
 sort of pleasure seeking visitors, for such visitors when they 
 come are not like the celebrated John Gilpin, " who though 
 on pleasure he was bent, yet had a frugal mind," but are 
 generally liberal in expenditure, and thus become a source 
 of wealth to our citizens. Doubtless the influx of casual visi- 
 tors to our city has been a considerable item in its prosperity 
 and which solves the mystery of how a city with such a 
 limited population could sustain such extensive commercial 
 establishments, visitors then, whether casual or pleasure 
 seeking, are of importance. 
 
 It may, perhaps, be yet early days to talk of a Botanical 
 Garden to add to present attractions, but as many of our citi- 
 zens by the erection of elegant villas and palatial mansions 
 evidently intend to make Victoria their home a botanical 
 garden will follow as a matter of course. It speaks volumes 
 for the general welfare, that so many mean permanent resi- 
 dence, and also speaks well for the adaptations of this dis- 
 tant British Province to make happy homes. Truthfully, 
 indeed, has one of our native poets sang, 
 <^ 
 " Vancouver ! Nature with a liberal hand. 
 
 Has thee, the most remote of Britain's isles, 
 Dower' d with her richest gifts, and brightest smiles. 
 And those who wander hither from her strand. 
 Behold another England in the west, 
 With sweeter air, and rival scenery drest." 
 
 But I must not dwell longer here, for current events intro- 
 duces us into a busy world full of Interesting incidents. By 
 every mall steamer there is wafted the Intelligence from the 
 Old Country that religious enthusiasm has created Salvation 
 
1 
 
 15 
 
 Armies, with a General, Colonels, Captains and Rank and 
 File, parading with all the pomp and circumstance of mili- 
 tary life, with colors flying and beat of drum to combat 
 against sin and wickedness, and to carry heaven as it were 
 bj' storm. It seems to me if this movement were resolved 
 into a debtor and creditor account of good and evil, the bal- 
 ance would be on the wrong side, for that good, if any re- 
 sulting, would be more than counterbalanced by the danger 
 incurred of religion by the means resorted to being made a sub- 
 ject of derision. When I read of the eccentric doings of these 
 fanatics, I am forcibly impressed with the truth of a well 
 known couplet, viz : 
 
 *' That for virtue's self may too much zeal be had. 
 The worst of mad-men is a saint run mad." 
 
 I feel that I should be open to a charge of reproachful 
 omission if I neglected to mention that recently the subject of 
 Female Suffrage has been brought prominently under notice? 
 both in England and the Dominion of Canada. The editor of 
 one of our newspapers some ten days since in alluding to it, 
 in a leading article concludes his remarks with what he 
 terms " the comfortable assurance that if Womans Suffrage 
 does not do much good, it will do no harm." It appears to 
 me legislation is not justified upon any such supposition, — 
 that legislation is a more important matter than to be made 
 the subject of experiment for it is so much easier to pass laws 
 than to repeal them, and remove objectionable influences 
 resulting. I am of opinion that the interests of women are 
 in safe custody when entrusted to those so closely con- 
 cerned in their welfare as fathers, husbands and brothel's, 
 that there can be no real necessity for woman mixing in the 
 angry arena of politics, and if permission were granted it 
 might introduce discord into many a household were peace 
 and happiness now reigns. For an allwise purpose it has 
 pleased the Creator to diversify his gifts. To the man he 
 has given strength — to the woman beauty. To the man 
 strength that he may flght the rough battle of life— to the 
 woman beauty that by her endearments she may Min man's 
 love, become the wife of his bosom and mother of his chil- 
 dren, but if not occupying such happy position, present days 
 
» i 
 
 I 
 
 16 
 
 of advanced civilization have opened many new sources of 
 employment for female industry, wliich will be continually 
 on the increase, arising from the creation of artificial wants. 
 But as to causing woman to become politicians that will 
 never be regarded with favor in British communities. But 
 there are other candidates in the field catering for the good 
 of the human family, viz., the advoca^s of total absti- 
 nence from intoxicating drinks, not now presenting them- 
 selves as Teatotallers or Good Templars, but metamorphosed 
 to gratify the taste for novelty by being called 
 
 A BLUE RIBBON SOCIETY. 
 
 Experience shows that this panacea of total abstinence as a 
 remedy for prevention of drunkenness has thus far failed to 
 fully accomplish its object, the disease increasing with the 
 remedy, and whenever a vacancy occurs in the ranks of the 
 bachanalian army by the death of a veteran, there are always 
 recruits springing up to fill the vacant place. Some few 
 years since a young friend of my acquaintance who had be- 
 come a victim to intemperance accosted me with the remark 
 that he was going to turn over a new leaf, and that he had 
 taken the pledge. Well, I replied, and what else are you 
 going to do? Don't I tell you, he answered, that I have 
 taken the pledge. Ah ! my friend, I replied, that will not 
 be sufficient, you must do something to fill the void of 
 former (ionvivial excitement, — learn short-hand writing — 
 learn to play the fiddle — write a history of your life — the 
 moral might be useful — in short do something. He did 
 neither one or the other. The poor fellow had no resources; 
 the pledge was broken again and again, and at the early age 
 of thirty he ended his days in some miserable hut at Nanai- 
 mo. I do not mention this circumstance in disparagement 
 of the value of Blue Ribbon Societies, but merely to show 
 that when the pledge alone is relied upon as sufficient security 
 against intemperance there will be frequent disappointments. 
 I have often heard It said that because of the prevalence of 
 Intemperance It is a duty Incumbent upon every one to be- 
 come disciples of the Blue Ribbon movement. I by no 
 means subscribe to that doctrine and regard such assertions 
 as a reflection upon the Intelligence of the age. To say that In 
 
 
 ■mm 
 
mrces of 
 tinually 
 1 wants, 
 hat will 
 js. But 
 ;he good 
 al absti- 
 ig them- 
 jrphosed 
 
 nee as a 
 failed to 
 ivith the 
 ks of the 
 •e always 
 ome few 
 had be- 
 e remark 
 b he had 
 are you 
 t I have 
 will not 
 void of 
 ^'riting — 
 life— the 
 He did 
 ■esources; 
 early age 
 t Nanai- 
 ragement 
 to show 
 b security 
 ntments. 
 alence of 
 le to be- 
 I by no 
 ssertions 
 ly that in 
 
 tMhlM'deA^ry heh&i^sh'nii^^^^ had been atfensed, 
 
 there is nootker' tehiedy than Its abihdonittient, Is to repre- 
 i^ent the w'orld as Inits dotage. ' (Granted that indulgence to 
 e±<ie6§'iri the cixiiiiiititttig beverages has been productive of 
 misery, on the other hand tfefeir reasonable enjoyment has 
 been a sourioe of much happiness. , Excess In anything ie of 
 course hurtful, but in these days of advanced intelligence, 
 the world mttet Mueate itself Up to the proper use of things, 
 and avoid the abuse not only as to what is drank, but in 
 other matters. Such educating influences are at work, and 
 when ftiUy developed will furnish more substantial security 
 for the maintenance of temperance than the administered 
 pledge. In the meantime Blue Ribbon Societies do good 
 service, and meet a requirement, but it by no means follows 
 that because of such usefulness they should be so extended 
 as to become of universal adoption, and the liquids partaken 
 of should be limited to lea, coffee and water, and why not ? 
 because wine, beer and spiritous liquours are the legitimate 
 beverages of civilised man, and when taken in moderation 
 are conducive to health and happiness. 
 
 Continuing my observations upon current events I must 
 not omit to mention amongst the eccentricities of the age 
 what the inarch of intellect is doing with the letter R in our 
 alphabet, causing it, in certain circles to sound as if it were 
 the letter U, and thus depriving it of present force of expres- 
 sion. I will illustrate what I am speaking of by placing be- 
 fore you a verse every line ending with the letter " r." In 
 the first place as generally rendered : 
 
 "This very place now covered over, 
 
 Was once sown with wheat, or perhaps of clover, 
 With a tree here and there, for the cattle to get under, 
 Out of the way of the lightning and thunder." . 
 
 I now give the verse as adopted by certain select classes, 
 pretending to superiority : 
 
 *' This very place now covered ovau, 
 
 Was once sown with wheat, or perhaps of clovau, 
 With a tree heau sCnd theyau, for the cattle to get undau, 
 Gut of the way of the lightning and thundau* " 
 
18 
 
 u\ 1 
 
 Parsing from these affectations of elegant reflntiment 
 which though trifles are nevertheless entitled to notiv^e, I 
 now come to speak of more important matter. Amongst 
 current events there are few occurrences attracting greater 
 attention th^n the influences arising from the 
 
 CLOSE CX)NTACT*OP THE WEST WITH THE EASTERN WORLD 
 
 which the quickness of transit of the present age has brought 
 about. Western civilization has now the opportunity of re- 
 paying some of the obligations that in former days it received 
 from the East. Great Britain from her vast possessions in 
 India, and from her recent acquisition of Egypt has contin- 
 ually manifested such disposition by efforts to introduce 
 Western civilization amongst the people of the East. But 
 turban and flowing robe are very slow to recognize its advan- 
 tages ; hence issue is joined. If there be one thing more 
 than ai^other distasteful to the Eastern mind it is innova- 
 tion which Western civilization pre-supposes. TLore still 
 exists former antagonism of crescent and cross, while the 
 Koran entering as it does so largely into all the relations of 
 Eastern life, with its indifference to the moral influence of 
 woman, and countenance of the Harem stands right in the 
 way of Western civilization. At the present moment India 
 is in the throes of excitable agitation arising from apprehen- 
 sion that the Ilbert Bill which proposes to extend the juris- 
 diction of native Judges, and give them power over the lives 
 and properties of Europeans, may, if adopted, loosen British 
 hold of India ; while the difficulties in the way of establish- 
 ing good government in Egypt seem almost insurmountable. 
 Thus it will be seen that our country in her endeavors to 
 regenerate the East by implanting Western civilization will 
 have difficulties to encounter which are continually increas- 
 ing ; but the genius of Christianity will give her a power 
 that will be equal to the emergency. What a matter for 
 congratulation that Eastern civilization when spreading to 
 the Western Hemisphere became purified by the change. 
 In the first page of the New Testament it is written, " Wise 
 men came from the East to Jerusalem, saying. Where is he 
 that is bom King of the Jews, for we -have seen his star in 
 the East, and are come to worship him," and when they 
 
 ; 
 
n'diuent 
 
 OtivTC, I 
 
 juongst 
 greater 
 
 WORLD 
 
 brought 
 ty of re- 
 received 
 eions in 
 i contin- 
 atroduce 
 ist. But 
 B advan- 
 tig more 
 I innova- 
 j^ore still 
 hile the 
 atioQS of 
 uence of 
 it in the 
 nt India 
 pprehen- 
 he juris- 
 the lives 
 a. British 
 »tablish- 
 mntable. 
 lavors to 
 ition will 
 
 increas- 
 a power 
 atter for 
 ^ing to 
 
 change. 
 "Wise 
 ere is he 
 star in 
 lien they 
 
 19 
 
 were come to the house and saw the young child with Mary 
 his mother, they fell down and worshipped him, and open- 
 ing out their treasures presented gifts of gold, and franlsin- 
 cense and myrrh. It is that star of the East extending its 
 illumination to the West, and shedding its effulgence upon 
 our beloved country that has contributed so powerfully to 
 her exalted position. In the past it has nerved to action, 
 and to victory in many an hour of trial, and is still by its 
 influence sustaining her. It is that star of the East that has 
 followed our people round the belted globe, and wherever 
 the British race have established themselves, whether amid 
 the blazings of a tropical sun or the snows of an arctic clime 
 there by its heavenly inspiration guiding and controling and 
 enabling them, though far away from the fatherland, to sus- 
 tain the honor and dignity of the national character. 
 Some three weeks hence will occur the anniversary of 
 that great event which led to the appearance of the star in 
 the East. That anniversary will be celebrated in Christen- 
 dom by general rejoicing, and no where more joyfully than 
 with the British people. Amongst the various gifts then 
 presented to relations, to friends and suffering humanity 
 which have bepn prompted by christian love and kindness, 
 it will only be in thci power of a few to present such costly 
 offerings as those presented by the wise men of the East ; 
 but it will be in the power of all and everyone to offer up to 
 the Supreme Being that which will be not less acceptable, 
 viz., the adoration of grateful hearts for blessings innumer- 
 able received.