Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-20
Nation Will Decay
IL Homes Cease
to Revere God"

New York. July 19.-Uttering a
solemn warning to the men and
women of America" that this ma
ton will decay and finally perish
when American homes cease to re-
we're God" the report of the Joint
Commission on Home and Family
Life. which will be presented to the
triennial General Convention of the
Episcopal Church meeting in Port
land, Greg. September 8 next, was
made public today.
Advanced culture did not save
past civilizations. did not prevent
Germany plunging into a gulf Of in
fanny. Upon Americas conservation
to God depends her fate" says the
report, which contains an exhaustive
study of social and industrial con-
ditions in the United States. with
particular reference to home life.
The commission was appointed
by the Episcopal General Convention
six years ago, and includes in its
personnel some of the most distin-
guished of the bishops. clerical and
lay members of the church. Among
other subjects which are frankly
treated are those of marriage, di-
vorce and birth control. The report
contains a strong recommendation
against the latter. Rev. Charles
| Noyes Tyndell. S. T. D., of Williams
port, Pa, secretary of the commits
sion, in transmitting the report,
says that the whole effort of the
| commission has been to present to
| the country a vital message in as
concise form as possible.
Even a cursory glance at condi-
| tions in the average American
home reveals evidence sufficient to
warrant the most careful study of
those influences now affecting these
homes from the standpoint of morals
and religion" the report continues.
1.-THE attitude toward youth, even
more than the attitude of the youth,
will scarcely bear severe scrutiny.
1--WE touch the root of our family
problem when we point to the lack
of religion in the home. 1t is para
living to think of the average Amer.
lean family going on from the rising
to the retiring hour as If God had
no existence. Sunday is day FOL
extra sleep, motoring, Sunday papers
in many volumes. comic supple
ments. If American children are
not to be taught of God in the
schools, and He is unnamed in tie
home, what can we expect but thai
at this moment the United States Is
actually developing into a non
Christian nation?"
Touching upon domestic life In
America, the report says:
where family life is dishonored
wedding unfaithfulness lightly re-
garded, parental responsibility neg
lected, tiial respect and obedience
sighted. there, we may be sure. So
ciety is rotten at the core. we
tremble for the future of state OF
nation where lax theories concerning
domestic life gain ground. Even
laxer practice will certainly prevail
THE remedy for the frightful dis
solution of the marriage tie gong
on in America and its inevitable
consequence of race suicide is to be
found in Christian training alone
Remedial legislation while imposing
difficulties in the way of easy an
nulment does not go to the root OF
the evil. 1t attacks many outward
svmntoms of the disease and is OF
undoubted value, but it does not de-
stroy the germ of the evil or cure
it at its source.
"Bovs and girls must be taught as
early as possible that the CHIEF pur-
pose of marriage is the perpetuatloh
of the race, involving the begettine
and education of children for the
work of the world- Marriage is a
high and holy vocation. because the
married pair are cooperating WIFI
the Creator in the continuance Of the
human race.
"This commission heartily en-
dorses the warning uttered by the
great Lambeth Conference OF Blsh-
ons. gathered from all over the
world. in London in 1920. against
the practice of means for the avoid
ance of conception as involving
grave dangers to physical health as
we'll as moral innocence, and
threatening the future of the human
race. We make our own the words
of the Conference Committee, as ap-
plying in particular to the United
States"
The report is signed by Rt. Rev.
William H. Moreland, D. D., bishop
of sacramento, who is chairman OF
the commission; Rt. Rev. Sidney
Catlin Partridge, D. D., bishop OIL
West Missouri: Rt. Rev. David Lin
coin Ferris, D. D., bishop OF west
ern New York; Rt. Rev. Walter Iay-
lor Sumner, D. D., bishop OF ore
eon: Rt. Rev. Charles Fiske, D. r.
bishop coadjutor of Central New
York: Rt. Rev. John c. Ward, Dish
op of Erie; Rev. J. H. Mellish' OF
brooklyn; Rev. Edwin S. Lane or
Los Angeles; Rev. E. S. Travers' ID.
d.. of Pittsburgh: Robert A. WOODS
clinton Rogers Woodruff. James M.
Bull and Frank Spite.