The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-11-28 00:00:00

Murat &mufti Exprtg.

DORCHESTER, NOVEMBER 28th, 1882.

Lord Shaftesbury gave some telling home-
thrusts in his speech at Wimborne the other
day, and one would fain wish that the noble
lord had taken • somewhat pessimistic view of
the religious condition of the country at the
present time. He pointed with stern finger to
thousands in our midst who are ready to curse
the Pope and yet follow the Pope's teaching,
who abominate Jesuits, and yet teach as much
Jesuitism as they. "There BOOMII little hope of
saving the Church or the country at large."
This, coming from such a man as Lord Shaftes-
bury, must be full of significance, and as un-
mistakeable sign of the times. And it is in the
same gloomy tones his lordship speaks of the
growing spirit of infidelity, scepticism. and
Irreligion, which must force itself on the minds
of everybody who will think seriously of the
condition of the masses; although it is not
among these alone that the blighting doctrines
of the freethinker are being scstte. It is a
pregnant fact that Oxford itself, with its theo-
logians and professors, end institutions of
learning, is stirred to its very doptlui by all
manner of strange teachings and wonderful
doctrines. Regrets are vain, and if the Church
—and this we use in its broadest sense—would
continue as the guide sad counsellor of the
people, all classes who owe allegiance to her
should face these insidious foes openly and
bravely.

The "Order of Merit," which has been con.
ferred by the German Emperor upon the Duke
of Connaught, has been worn by few English.
men before. Thomas Carlyle was its last
Engliah recipient. It is not, like meet Conti-
nental orders, lavishly distributed. A German
'prince would have had to perform more
distinguished military exploits than the Duke
of Connaught in order to obtain it.
Lord Salisbury's criticism upon the idea of
County Boards in Ireland is not altogether
unwarranted. The idea hes got abroad—we
know not upon what foundation of truth—that
the Government is in favour of a system of
county representation, which should comprise
the formation of a central board, holding its
sitting_in Dublin. A compromise of this kind,
with Rome Rule, might quiet the Pomonae
faction for a time ; but no one can doubt that
It would lead up to the establishment of a
separate Parliament.

There are certain social questions which are
so habitually avoided and evaded in the pulpit
and on the platform that it seems astonishing to
find them discussed in • mixed meeting in a
drawing-room by ladies. Yet if the responsible
authorities will not, or cannot, do anything to
lessen the crying social evil, there oan be no
'objection to the Moral Reform Association
taking the subject up and endeavouring to
Impress the public with their views. The recent
Bayswater meeting was addressed by Dr. Eliza-
bath Blackwell, whom. opinion upon the right
manner of dealing with the Social Evil certainly
deserve consideration. The association are per.
suaded that something might be done, and they
appeal to vestries and municipal authorities.
But an appeal to the Legislation Itself is
necessary.

Punch promises Lord Randolph Churchill the
leadership of his party some day, if in the
meantime he behaves himself with propriety.
But the young man is not physically strong. If
he means to make a name in the future as a
"serious politician," he will have to be more
careful of himself. A long illness was the result
of his activity last session, and he is again
unwell—overwrought with excitement, and close
attention to Parliamentary work. The leader
of the Fourth Party has done as much talking
aa Mr. Gladstone this session, and more than
Sir Stafford Northcote. His constitution is not
yet hardened to Parliamentary life like that of
these veterans. Yet this session has been try-
ing eves to them. Sir Stafford has had to give
In, and take a voyage for his health ; and the
visible fatigue and occasional indisposition of
the Premier have lately revived the report of
his impending retirement from public life.