The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-30
THE REVIVAL
OF RELIGION
Reaction Against Laxity in
Conduct and Opinion
THE MEN ARE THINKING
And Are Feeling More Deeply ON the
Great. Themes of Life-The
Moral Motive Power
Needs Reform
THE MEN ARE THINKING

From the Century Magazine.
Careful students of social tendencies
report reaction against the prevailing
Iaxity in conduct and opinion This is
sometimes characterized as moral rem
aissance. 1t goes deeper; 1t is nothing
less than a revival of religion. Yet 1t
does not appear to be the result of any
OF the ordinary evangeistic efforts or
agencies. 1t is springing up In unwonted
places, and is finding utterance by un-
professional and unfamiliar voices.
Any one who has ears to hear must
catch now and then in the common
speech of men note of unusual serious
ness. The facts which have been COM
ing to light during the last few years
respecting the terrible infidelity and
abuses of power in high places have
.touched the heart of the common man
with sense of soicitude. In days like
these the airy optimism which can see
no perils in the path of the nation is an
impertinence. Sensible men are not
ashamed TO confess their fears, and in
their study of existing conditions the
truth is brought home to them that the
remedy which is needed is a deepening of
the life of the people-something organic
and elemental which shall change the
common currents of thought and feeling
and renovate the springs of character.
Moral Motive Power
No doubt some correction in the COM
mon moralities is needed. To our complex
and cryptic financial system we must
learn to apply the principles of ethics;
the eighth commandment needs a large
new annexation. Human invention was
never so prolific as 1t Is today, and its
resources have been taxed In devising
new ways Of stealing. They must be
searched out and legibly labeled; that
is the business of the lawmakers. But
when all this shall have been done. the
deepest need of the people will still be
unsupplied. That Is the awakening in
their consciousness of the sense of the
great loyalties on which life Is built
Moral rules are not enough; what Ii
needed most Is moral motive power-the
love of righteousness, the impulse to in
tegrity the enthusiasm of virtue. And
this. as even the common man Is Begin
ming to feel. Is kindled only by religion
BY fellowship and communion with that
power not ourselves which makes for
righteousness
Thus, even those who have been sup
| posed to be farthest from the common
| creed are clearly recognizing that q
| merely secular morality Is not enough:
that there must be something sacred and
| supreme In it, else 1t will have little
| meaning for us and little power over us.
DR. Felix Adler. In his book on The Re-
| ligion of Duty" in which he powerfully
argues that duty must include religious
| element, says:
1.-THE moral law is not a convenience
| nor q convention; 1t Is not imposed in
| order that we may achieve happiness for
| ourselves or others. The moral law
| comes out of the infinite depths and
| heights. There is voice that speaks in
| us out of the ultimate reality Of things.
+ II is not subject to us, but we are sub
| iect to It and we must bend our pride"
| DR.. Stanton Colt OF London. another
Header Of the same school, declares:
The whole Of the moral law Is by no
means contained under the conception OF
love to ones neighbor II Christ
i meant righteousness, when He spoke Of