The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-10-12
M,slOMAS TALKS
s. U. S. MORALS
French Voyager CriticiSeS
"AngIo Saxon PietiSm."
Deems II 'ViruIent.'

NJ Louis Thomas who recently voy-
aged in the United States and has been
writing his Impressions of the Ameri-
can people and Institutions in the
French weekly LOpinion, has not
yielded to any requirement OF false po-
litoncss. His articles are frank in the
extreme, He believes that in many par
ticulnrs the Americans would he more
agreeable people If they were more like
the French, especially If they were I'M
pregnatod with French literary and ar
tiStic tastes.
His lateSk article deals with Ameri-
can moral and religious conceptions. In
the held we are dominated by Anglo.
Saxon protestant "pietisn" or puritan
ism, especially in matters touching tho
relations of the sexes. We put detec-
tivcs in the hotels to protect us not
only against burglars but against
seekers after adventure" We CBll II
white shaving" to take "A shop girl
across a river that happens TO serve as
"A state boundary--thus opening the way
to blackmail: we tine honorable mer-
chants who kiss girls in public; we
forbid wine, beer and spirits-eiid "noHe
Of tins would be possible, however, It
may be required by reasons of state
hygiene, but Tor protestant pietism
which DEGREES that the greatest crime
is that which Contravenes the rules OF
the protestant church and which abrupt
ly turns into apostles, fanatics and per-
sccutors of their fellows the honest,
peaceful citizen, the gentle old folk. and
the women, who would do better TO tend
to their household duties and darn their
husbands socks" r.
Professionalism thus has a virile
"even a vrulent' influence in the land
where Rockefeller Jr., heads move
ments to build churches aud raise
the pay Of pastors1-Without being
prevented from raising Tie price OF oil
also" Nearly all the American re-
liGions, says the writer, hove caught
the Protestant contagion--even includ-
ing the Catholic. So tho Mormon
church had to abandon polygamy, "be-
cause polygamy disgusts the Prot
estant ladies" and the American
Catholics, l swear, are far from re-
scmbling those OF Vienna or Rome"
Denying Faith.
But with all its professionalism, the
writer goes on, America Is near deny
ing the Christian faith itself" The
Christian faith, founded on the con-
ception OF original sin, the unworthi-
ness of man and OF death and eternal
parts Of New England 10 "a religion
OF pleasure" The Americans are
folks who, in order to live more
agreeable on the earth, deny evil, sin
and human weakness.
II is not the Americans don't go 10
church. for they are more religious"
than. other peoples--bulding churches
endlcssly, and experimenting with new
doctrines and seCts; but they have
yitinted Christianity and now think OF
nothing but their present existence.
their pleasure and their comfort; all
their conduct denies death and the idea
OF death and all this separates them
moro and more from the austcrity OF
the Christian religion, OF which they
have nothing left but the externals"
DO they die? Behold them thrown
out of their houses. Crudelv pmhaImed
deposited the same dav with n dealer
in funeral rites; their family continues
its life; couple OF days later they are
they are drawn at quick 'rot to n
cemetery far from the city; II their
body has to he transported IL is mixed
mp in tho baggage car with trunks and
bags; one may even leave his fathers
body in the checkroom for 10 cents |
have been told; no respect for that
hody. which nevertheless iR to arise on
the judgment day: the obseques are
rado moro md more Comfortable" for
the survivors who must not on any ac-
count hc saddencd and 7 am Informed
that In California, in order 10 prevent
sight ot tho grave the coffin is low
cred down amid foliage. with which
The hole Ia 1llcd which Is Hmnlv pure
nnganism. - . And how tho dead are
forgotten in this new world how sell
dom they arc mentioned. No mourn
ing Is WON. Ouicltv Tho chose rccom-
mcnCCs after the sweet lifr of tho DreS-