The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-11-27
PAGANISM OF THE Y.M.C.A.

By vote of almost two to one, those who as
sisted last Sunday week at the evening debate of
the Young Mems Christian Association pronounced
against attendance at church. or rather identifica-
ton with any church. Here is the resolution car
RED IN favor of the affirmative by forty-six to
twenty-four votes: "Resolved That the average man
can be a Christian without belonging to any
church" We understand, of course, that this de-
clslon does not necessarily commit the association
to the views of the debating society," but it is very
large and conspicuously visible straw showing how
the stream OF thought is running in the association
Logically, the vote means the abolition of the
churches and the suppression of Christianity, for
even the stupidest clown will admit that there can
be no revealed religion without some visible and
recognized authority to proclaim it.
Fifteen years ago the Rev. DR.. Ker, rector of
very large and influential church in Ontario, Can
ada, said in our hearing: "The Young Mems
Christian Associations that are now so loudly ap-
plauded and encouraged in our Dominion, will
eventually disrupt orthodox Professionalism. know
/ would be communicated if publicly committed
myself to this statement, but mark my words some
OF the churchmen who are now so loudly trumpet
ing the tr1umphs of these associations will live to
regret their enthusiasm and encouragement"
Commenting this discouraging attitude of
the Y. M. G. A. debating society," the Herald-Repub
ican of Monday morning had this to say:
with all due Difference to the decision of the
voters who heard the debate on Sunday afternoon,
we believe that the who accepts the divinity of
Christ would get more out of his religion in the
church than out of it,
This is the view of influential secular news
paper, and all clean men must endorse it.
The second morning after this vote was recorded
our Salt Lake papers told US, just as piece of
every day news, that "the Juvenile court is being
rushed; it is getting congested with young Grim
inals." Eight boys and three young girls carry
ing with them key of beer, bottle of brandy and
flask of whisky, went to Bountiful on Saturday
evening and stayed out all night They were very
much the worse for their experience when they re-
turned to the city Sunday morning. Three men and
two girls, the latter under age took an automobile
ride to Ogden Thursday night returning Friday
morning. These girls are under age and the men
should be proceeded against"
Not so very long ago the juvenile court found
shocking condition of immortality to exist between
the young boys and girls of the west side Read
what appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune September
9th: Thirty boys and girls were charged before
the court with engaging in grossly immoral con-
duct. Another cesspool also of immortality, has
been discovered on the east side. Lena Denter and
Margaret Earle were two of the gang that fur
nished the information. After questioning the girls
shocking tale of immortality among young boys
and girls was unfolded. Lena Denter is 16 wears
of age and the Earle girl is only H."
How many more of these depraved youths there
may be in our city unknown to our police is en-
tlrely matter of conjecture
We do not believe that the fathers and mothers
of these hayward boys and girls care very much for
their future. From homes where there were no fam
lily prayers and reverence for the name of Cod
they passed to the public schools, where no respect
Tor rehglon or horror of sin was inculcated. and
from the public schools the boys were invited to
join the Young Mems Christian Association. where
they learned man could be a Christian without
belonging to any church
we are OF the opinion that the parents of these
impure youths are not members of any church Most
likely they belong with the crowd of whom De Witt
Ialmage said: "They show their Independence Of
God by shouting-to hell with the church and bera,s
10 SIM And what are you going to do about itg
Ihe Frotestantlsm of the Reformation is daad-
atrophied OF dry roland the Catholic church in
which the people do not believe, alone remains to
oppose the march of the anti Christian forcoo now
warning on Jesus Christ and his doctrines Whom
the reformers fanatically thought they were at
lacking only the Roman Catholic church, they were
unconsclousy, let us hope, undermining the founda
lions OF the Christian edifice. Their posteritv is
now laughing at their creduty and superstition
The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the
teeth of the children are on edge"