莱尔主教upper_room-第104章
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such as the lives of some of the Plantagenets； Tudors； and Stuarts； I
doubt extremely whether the royal standard would have been flying at
Windsor Castle this week。
（b） In the next place； let us be thankful for the singularly long
period of time during which God has permitted our gracious Sovereign to
sit on the throne of her ancestors。 Of all the kings of Judah who
reigned in Jerusalem； Uzziah and Manasseh were the only two who held
the sceptre for more than fifty years； and even David and Solomon's
reigns were only forty years long。 Our own kings； Henry the Third；
Edward the Third； and George the Third； each reigned more than fifty
years。 But； since the world began； we know of no female sovereign in
historic times； on the face of the globe； who has worn a crown so long
as our good Queen Victoria。 I am sure we are not sufficiently grateful
for this。 Even under a constitutional monarchy like oursin which
everything does not depend on the whim of an imperial
autocratfrequent changes on the throne are calculated to have a
disturbing influence； and a new sovereign's views of his power and
duties may not always coincide with those of his predecessor。 There is
a deep meaning in Solomon's words…。〃 For the transgression of a land
many are the princes thereof〃 （Prov。 28：2）。 In early English history；
the bloody wars of the Roses swept away the flower of our nobility； and
struggles between the rival houses of York and Lancaster frequently
shook the throne； and desolated the realm。 At a later date； the unhappy
monwealth struggle overturned for a time our long…established
institutions。 Happy is the land in which there are few changes on the
throne。 〃 Grant our Sovereign a long life；〃 and 〃God save the Queen；〃
should be the daily prayer of every British patriot。
（c） In the next place； let us thank God for the enormous growth in
national wealth and prosperity by which the half century of Queen
Victoria's reign has been distinguished。 It is a simple matter of fact；
that in no preceding fifty years of English history has there been
anything like it。 To use a well…known phrase； the capital or ine of
the country has moved on 〃by leaps and bounds。〃 In spite of occasional
cycles of bad times and mercial depression； in spite of bloody and
expensive wars； such as the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny；in
spite of providential visitation； such as cholera and the Irish potato
famine；the progress of the nation and the increase of wealth have
been something astounding。 The waves on the shore have seemed to e
and go； to advance and retire； but on the whole the tide has been
steadily rising every year。 In 1837； the sums of money deposited in
Savings Banks were only 14 millions。 They are now 90 millions。 In
1843； when the ine tax was first imposed； each penny in the pound
brought into the National Exchequer �772；000。 In 1885； each penny
produced �1；992；000。In 1843； the assessable value of lands and
tenements was only 95 millions。 In 1885； it was 180 millions。 The
assessable value of trades and professions in 1843 was only 71
millions。 In 1885； it was 282 millions。…The population of the United
Kingdom was 25 millions in 1837。 It is now； in spite of the Irish
famine and a ceaseless emigration； 37 millions。 In our own city of
Liverpool； the population in 1837 was only 246；000。 It is now；
including suburbs； 700；000。The tonnage of shipping at our port in
1837 was only 1；953；894。 It is now 7；546；623。The number of ships
entering was 15；038。 It is now 21；529。In 1837； Liverpool had 9 docks；
with a frontage of two miles and a half to the river。 There are now
fifty docks and basins with a frontage of six miles。In 1837；
Liverpool dock dues were 。！�173；853。 They are now �694；316。 Surely
we ought to be thankful… This is the finger of God。 It is 〃the blessing
of the Lord that maketh rich。〃〃 Both riches and honour e from Him〃
（Prov。 10：22； 1 Chron。 29：12）。 ＇32＇
（d） In the next place； we ought to be thankful for the extraordinary
advances which science has made during the half century of our gracious
Sovereign's reign。 We have bridged the Atlantic with our steamers； and
brought our English…speaking cousins within a week of our shoresa
thing which I well remember Dr。 Lardner declared to be impossible。 We
have covered the land with a network of railways； making journeys
possible in a few hours； which formerly occupied days。 We have opened
munication with every part of the world by electric telegraph； and
can send messages in a few hours； which formerly would not have been
conveyed in as many months。
All these things； and many others； have budded； blossomed； and bloomed
since Queen Victoria ascended her throne。 They have added immensely to
the fort and convenience of modern life。 They have practically
annihilated time and space； and lengthened life； and enabled us to do
an amount of work in twenty…four hours； which our grandfathers would
have thought Quixotical； romantic； absurd； and impossible。 But they are
simple facts。 Surely we ought to be thankful…
（e） Finally； and above all； we ought to be most thankful for the
immense advance which the cause of religion； education； and morality
has made throughout the realm since Queen Victoria came to the throne。
Human nature； no doubt； is not changed。 The millennium has not begun；
and much evil abounds。 But still； that man must be blind or obstinately
prejudiced； who does not see an immense change for the better； both as
regards duty to God and duty to our neighbours throughout the country；
in the last half century。 Church building； no doubt； is not everything；
and bricks and mortar do not constitute religion。 Yet the mere fact
that 2000 new churches； besides Nonconformist chapels； have been built
in England and Wales during the last fifty years； by voluntary efforts；
and nearly thirty millions of money have been spent in restoring old
places of worship and building new ones； speaks volumes。 Even here in
Liverpool and its suburbs； there were only 36 churches and about 70
clergymen in 1837。 At this moment there are 90 churches and 185 clergy
in 1837； the ine of the Church Missionary Society was �71；000。 It is
now �232；000。 The Pastoral Aid Society only received �7363。 It now
receives �50；122。 In 1837； there were only 58；000 children receiving
education in all the schools of the National and British and Foreign
School Societies throughout England and Wales。 In 1885； there were
nearly 4；000；000 under instruction and inspection。 It is a striking
fact that during the half century of Queen Victoria's reign； her
Governments have spent fifty millions on education。
As to works of philanthropy and efforts to promote morality； time would
fail me if I tried to recount them。 The labours of men like Lord
Shaftesbury and others have raised the condition of the working classes
cent。 per cent。 The Ten Hours Factory Act； the legislation about women
and children working in mines； the creation of ragged schools and
reformatories； the rise and progress of the temperance movement； the
many efforts to ameliorate the condition of the working classes by
education； sanitation； public parks； and recreation grounds； hall these
things have been the creation of the last fifty years。 I call them
healthy symptoms of our condition as a nation。 I humbly confess that we
are still very imperfect。 There is still a vast amount of improvidence；
wilful poverty； drunkenness； impurity； and Sabbath…breaking in the land
which is greatly to be regretted。 But these evils are less than they
were in proportion to the population。 And； at any rate； we see them；
know them； and are honestly using means to prevent them。 Surely our
hearts； when we pare 1837 and 1887； ought to be deeply thankful。
On a day〃 like this it is meet； right； and our bounden duty to praise
God。 Let me earnestly entreat all whom I address to…day to
