The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-02 00:00:00

LECTURES TO YOUNG MEN AT
ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

These lectures were resumed on Tuesday evening— I
the commencement f the winter series and aboet
1,000 persons, consisting solely of ffien- -fmnaLa hot
being admissible- wore stsendied Meier the dome.
The usual shot setviSe effinruenced at the very con-
venfent hsnr o. eight, thus enabling many connected
inith City offices and warehouses to attend who, had
the time been earlier, would have been precluded from
doing so.
The lecture was the trot of a eoilrae
Canon ef.rT.gorr, on " Tte Bohffs of Saciety—Past and
PrcAnt." Tlyi Canon olist4.-ed that he intended that
egeuins togimisart, our social condition with that of a
neighlsag Potion. Silva the revolution of
.1.6.5 q
tinch he g nsidered last winter, there hed hest leany
and great changes in this gstelay. The personal in-
fluence and resitaffilbility of the Crown were very
differe.ht l.rom what they were then ; the relative posi-
tions of the two Houses of Parliament were reveled,
and the Church of England mOsupied an elffilnel poe.Lson.
For the most part* trisolltflils were gradual, but each
had ail importahto—ce to fiLl. The question arose, what
effect esould these changeo have on the permanent state of
society? Amid the conflicting claims of rich and poor.
and other causes of disturbance, on what did society
depend for its stability On submiosion tsthe
Mere stationary power,. howeller, lhau7lcient of
itself to ward pff etaince, or he histories of France
and. SPaih, would present vpry different spectacles.
fel,- +People were so mad ais to wish society to be
always beginning afresh, and great obariges would.
therefore, aeldom be made except to redress great
grievances ; but the French Jlevolution !bowed
that some better firetritles hilre required to Bind
oocietar turnstile'. As force alone could not be re-
upon, he would tiffin in the next lecture to
those ties Which bound society together. Some- ,
thing more was reciuired than Ole tsromptinon of
self !uteri:et ; moral innuenceo were necessary, liel
his third lecture would he devoted to that point, lie
then proceeded to consider the present external instru-
ments of social as curtly, beginning with the standing
army. The military system of England, from the
feudal period down to the present, was rapidly sketched.
Tile rulers of this country had, it was iffirserved, affintys
depended on the patilotisin ef thc pr-ple latlier than
on miliarlr tkoiver, !Ind all had been made to feel that
the nntioli was most secure when all classes were best
satisfies!. In France the King ruled of his mere will,
and the changes required by society were never made.
The peasant was made to repair tise coeds tleaout pay,
and ouch things necnsariln kluilled a feeling of hatred
which nopoWer chtt.e restrain. UnlL‘e those of Eng-
laffit the nobles did not form an integral part of society,
but were a class apart, caring only for the smiles
and favour of the Crown; and at last it was found
that external force was not sufficient th bind society
together. The lecturer thsn letereed to our Police
system in nonnentfolt with crime, and traced its history
from the :taxon ases to the present day. Every year,
he observed, saw an extension of the police force, even
relatively to the increase of reffinlation, as if crime
ever required more pollee to keep it in cheek, and the
number of pate was proportionately greater in towns
than in the country. In 1870-71 more than half a
million persons were proceeded against for various
offences, and three-fourths were convicted. ifficipily
they could congratulate theme-4"m that ',ley did not
rely solely on milltnry tiro°. The reign of law was
supreme, satd no difficulty was experienced m enforc-
ing its de Tees; but this arose from other causes than
external force, and into these he proponed to inquire in
his next lecture.

The lecture and service occupied only about an hour
and a quarter,