The New York herald., 1922-10-13
ARCHBISHOP OF YORK
SAYS Church REPELS
Western Civilization on
Verge Of Collapse; Moral
Awakening Needed.
IDEAL SHAKEN BY WAR
Men Want True Religion as
Never Before, but Fail
to Find 1t.
COUNCIL is SUMMONED
IDEAL SHAKEN BY WAR
COUNCIL is SUMMONED
International Gathering to Be
Held to Revive Spiritual
Motives.

Special Gable to TIE New YonK HERALD.
Copyright, 1899. By THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Oct. IL. J
Western civilization is on the verge
OF collapse. declared the Archbishop
of York at the opening Of the Church
Congress at Sheffield this week. in
what some assert is the most remark
able sermon since Luther. Speaking
frankly and fearlessly, the Archbishop
made plea that the energies of the
church and the laity be galvanized into
new life for the salvation OF Chris
tianity.
"Can the Church save civilization
and in doing so save itself?" he asked.
"The time has come in the West when
sober, responsible men are asking, not
so much how the progress of civiliza-
ton can be maintained, but how can
its collapse be averted.
"A vast system has arisen which be-
lieves and practices international indus
trial and political policies. and this we
may roughly call civilization. This
reached its zenith in the last century.
1t was admirably contrived for the pro-
Guction of wealth and power. with mag
nificent enterprise. but it's motives In
governing individuals and classes and
states were non-Christian. They were
for self-interest In the competition and
struggle of rival forces.
"Now these motives have overreached
themselves. They are destroying the
fabric with which they should build. If
civilization is to be saved these motives
must be made spiritual
WAR has shaken not only the nerves
but ideals. 1t has broken the old con-
fident faith in an ever advancing social
progress. Drinking Of the dregs of the
postwar confusions has LETT the taste
of moral failure. Men want true relig-
ion as never before. but they don't find
1t in the church To put the matter
bluntly, religion attracts. but the church
repels.
Church a Stumbling Block.
Church, to men and women, espe-
cially the younger ones. Is not wit
ness to the truth of its gospel, but it is
In it's duilness. It's divisions. its unrelia-
bility, stone, a stumbling block, an
offense IT, therefore, the church is to
preach eternal gospel to this generation,
not in word only but in power. 1t must
evangelize itself We who are Identified
with the church become so accustomed
to It's utter lack OF a likeness to Its
ideal that we tend to acquiesce. we
sit at ease in Zion. But these things
stand out clear to the eyes of men who
t1h
real religion. l have never forgotten
the words of an agnostic friend. true
seeker after truth. He said. I would
like to be a Christian and think l could
be IL IL were not for Christians
Righteousness u not religion. The
ecclesiastical conscience has throughout
history been chosen as the home Of sub
tlety and sophistry, where the name OF
God Is continually taken In vain. 1t is
possible even for those whom we call
devout to cultivate assiduously the most
holy rites in spirit with an effect on
their minds scarcely distinguishable from
idolatry."
The Archbishop's whole demand was
for the evangelizatlon OF the church
and he summed up the task as the CHIEF
one for the Congress to set for Itself
this year Controversial subjects OF the
popular type have been cut out OF the
program and the church Is determined,
IL possible, to return TO It's religion.
Appeal Called Pathetic.
Commenting on the Archbishop's ad-
dress. the Bishop OF Sheffield In his
presidential address said: This ap-
neal Is pathetic. 1t comes from an un-
expected quarter With some il APP
pears to be reversal of their former
opinions with others, It is the last de-
spairing clutch at a faith they never
made their own
Following the Church OF England'a
summons to revivify the churchs infiu-
ence in everyday life. the Council OF
Public Morals has summoned an inter-
national council to meet next week In
Caxton Hall. Westminster. to ''reaffirni
the worlds moral ideal and advise how
II can be better attained" The councils
summons says the chief cause OF the
present day lack of moral ideals Is the
general lack of the sense OF responsi'
bility evident through all human rela'
tions between the sexes and the failure
to bring up children properly. II says
II the present economic and social con
dtions initiate against large families
the conditions should be changed rather
than permit race suicide and lax re-
lationshipS between the sexes Wlthlh
and without wedlocl<.
The Bishop of Southwark will pre-
side at the meeting OF the council which
will include among its delegates dis
tinguished churchmen, statesmen, stu
dents and social workers from England.
Canada. America, France, Belgium,
Holland and Germany. The conference
will continue three days. The Rev
w. ADAMS Brown of New York is repre-
scnting America.