Get Back to Teachings of Christ, Christianity Will Live

1922

World's Need, Says Astor

Teachings of Christ Must Guide Awakening Christianity to Live, Thinks Viscount

By DAVID M. CHURCH
(Staff Correspondent I.N. Service)

LONDON, Nov. — World codes must be revived in conformity with the teachings of Christ, according to Viscount Astor, if Christianity is not to become a failure.

The world is described by new points of view regarding the position of women, class distinction, the movement against alcoholism, the relations of capital and labor, the brotherhood of man. Hosts of citizens are challenging these new advances, the viscount said.

America is now in the midst of a great moral struggle that may influence the trend of Christianity, the viscount said. America gave up intoxicants, but as with many a man who has done likewise, the American people are experiencing a moral struggle as to whether or not they are able to carry out their resolution. The cause of Christianity must be affected one way or another by the result of this struggle.

France is a drawback to the progression of Christianity, the viscount indicated.

"France," he says, seems often very materialistic. Women's outlook, which is usually more moral and spiritual than man's has but little influence on French national policy.

"Parisian life exemplifies too closely the saying: 'Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.'

"On the whole French opinion even in the provinces, considers man to be a sensual animal, and expects the government to make unchastity as safe for him as possible."

Through the world, as in France, temperance and chastity are challenges, the viscount said, but Christianity has not failed.

"What the world needs now is fearless leadership and honest thinking. Democracy and Christianity have not failed here and when they have been properly tried, Christianity has not failed. It cannot have failed, because it has not been really tried, fully applied and understood.

"Democracy is not wrong, because we are not yet able t or willing to apply the ideas of the brotherhood of man.

"There are indications of an awakening or resurrection from materialism, selfishness, self-indulgence and thoughtlessness, the awakening of our common conscience on the traffic in women and children, on the deception of alcohol, on slums and war.

"All these are hopeful signs that we are striving to arise out of mental satisfaction and our of more selfish physical enjoyment and are indications of vitality and progress."