The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-04-21

seems 10 be part Of our inner
itance from the late war, and the
tendency toward iewdness and gross
immortality Is the natural outcome
Of that kind 90 thing. I'm these re-
spccts we are following In the steps
Of decadent Earope. Olly recently
solemn warning was given by
French senator that France VIII
fall ~ Rome fell unless there is a
regeneration Of morals. 1.-The sem
ator handled the situation without
gloves, saws me news reports He
pointed out that the latest revue
in the bigges, music hall IN Paris
had ten naked women IN one scene.
This city,. the senator declared, rs
plastered with immoral theatrical
posters The dancing clubs are
filled with BALI dresEti women
Why, even the street costumes OF
women are immoral. Even women
who come from the best families
walk In the streets in indecent
gowns. Haunting heir physical
charms. Unless all this II stopped,
France will fall just as Rome fell
and for the same reason.
The time TO call hair b. when
there Is n fighting chance 20 remedy
the situation, and not after me
whole texture Of our civilization
has been corrupted and weakened by
rampant worldliners and unblushing
shamelessness. II The tendencies IN
our high schools pointed out above
continue unchecked, the. viii in
crease in strength until they be-
come dominant, and then indeed the
stream OF our national life VIII be-
come hopelessly corrupted near b.
source.
The tragedy Of all this is increas-
ed hv the fact that these young peo-
ple are right IN the midst 81 the
adolcScent period, when the emo
tions are deep and strong, when the
blood is rich, when the passions are
tempesfuous Il is the storm ana
stress" period. the period Of ''un-
stable equilibrium, when the moi
vidusl is peculiarly susceptible TO
debasing influences as well a. 20
high and noble ideals.
In seeking 10 offer remedy for
these ills, one could mention var
ious and sundry things l'ut the
case can be put m a nutshell ~ say
ing that the remedy lies IN Chris
tianizing the high schools. This, Of
course. viii be no easy task, for
various obvious reasons. Our pub
ne schools are, happily. not directly
under the control Of the Churches
or other religious organizations, ana
can be influenced IN matters OF re.
hgion only indirectly. II would
help immensely " Christian parents
should unite in vigorous protest
against the present order Of things.
They could make themselves heard
and their wishes would IN some
measure be needed But many who
profess to be Christians are them
selves decidedly in the minority.
perhaps no adequate and permanent
remedy can be looked Tor from this
source.
The Fundamental remedy lies IN
supulyinR all our public schools with
cousccrated cultured Christian teach
erS II this can be done, these
teachers will find a way 20 eliminate
many evils and substitute IN their
places things that are elevating.
or course here Is where the rub
comes. Tor sach teachers cannot al
ways be secured The supply u all
too limited. We have some Of this
tyne now, noble men and women,
who are rendering fine and sacri-
ficial service. All honor Co theml
May their number rapidly and large.
Is Increase But pi0us wishes VIII
not solve the problem. The prob
lem presses Tor solution. Let us
face Is squarcly.
/. Let Us make a clear and de-
fined and insistont call for some OF
our finest young people TO choose
teaching In the public schools as a
lie profession. While we are call
ing for ministers and missionaries
and deaconesses, let as also call for
teachers in our public schools. II u
high time for Us TO look upon this
form Of service, not as a side issue,
or AZ a stepping stone TO something
else, hut rather as a high and holy
task, worthy Of the best talent and
best energies Of our best young men
and women. We need our Christian
colleges for the training Of Chris
iian teachers for our public schools
lust as imperativcly as we need
them for the training OF ministers