New-York tribune., 1922-11-05
BY Harold E. Scarborough
LONDON. October fs.

<kFrS PUT the matter blunt
ly, religion attracts; the
Church repels."
This is not the hercsy of
some agnostic or extreme freethinker.
u is sentence used by the Archbishop
Of York, one Of the two most highly
placed men In the Church Of England,
10 a speech before the Church Confer
cree at Sheffield this week.
Before the war such declaration
from an archbishop would have pro-
voked storm Of controversy which
would have taken months to abate. Now
1t has produced no more than passing
ripple In newspapers filled with Near
Eastern and domestic political ques-
tions, and it's effect on the public at
large has been almost imperceptible.
There seems to be general public
agreement with DR.. Lang, but hardly
interest enough In the subject to pur-
sue It further.
Yet the Church Of England has not
been disestablished. 1t retains it's
position as an integral part of the fab
ric OF tho state. It's dignitaries sit in
the House Of Lords and its archbishops
take precedence at court next after the
royal family. 1t must be understood
that the warning sounded by the Arch
bishop Of York 10 more than a mere
pisa for popular support. The Church
could 30 far more unpopular than It 10
to-day and yet fear no menace to It's
continued existence.
"Ws who are identified with the
Church," Dr.. Lang proceeded, "have
become 90 accustomed to Its unreality,
its dullnoss, its utter lack Of likeness
TO its ideal. that We tend to acquiesce.
We sit at ease In Zion. But to the
eyes Of men who stand without and
watch and yearn for q real religion
these things stand out clear.
God forbid that should seem to speak
with any sense Of superiority. I
frankly confess that, measured by this
standard, after thirty-three years of
active Church life, have scarcely be-
gun TO be disciple. It 10 only be-
cause know my own need that l dare
to press on my fellow churchmen the
present crying need Of the Church"
The reason for this appeal DR.. Lang
based on the belief that "men want a
true religion as never before, but they
do not fnd 1t in the Church."
"A vast system Of beliefs and prac-
tices and policies" he said. industrial,
political and international, has arisen,
which we may roughly call Western
civilization.
Spiritual Motives Needed
To Save Civilization
at reached its zenith in the last
century. Il wss admirably contrived
fo' the production Of wealth and power
with magnificent enterprise, but its mo-
t'ves. governing individuals and classes
and states, were non-Christian.
"They were seif-interest, compet;-
tien. the struggle Of rival forces.
NOW these motives have oveYreached
themselves. They are breaking the fab
TIC which they built. If civilization Ia
to be saved these motives must be
made spiritual.
"The war has shaken not only nerves
but ideals. 1t has broken the old, con-
fdent faith in an ever-advancing social
progress. The drinking Of the dregs Of
postwar confusions has left q taste of
moral failure"
In so FAR Is the Archbishop Of York
advocated positive program, 1t was
for che evangelixation Of the Church
"a return TO the fundamentals OF re.
ligton." rs tho Bishop Of Sheffield
termed it.
Somewhat in tbs light OF an ironic