Evening star., 1925-10-24
Less Governmental and More
Home Direction Needed,
He Tells Y. M. C.. A.
INTERNATIONAL SESSION
is OPENED HERE TODAY
No Other Lay Organization Asserts
So Much Influence Upon Young
People, Delegates Hear.

Declaring there are too many indica-
tions that the functions of parenthood
are breaking down. President Coolidge
told the fortysecond international
convention of the Young Mems Chris
tian Associations of the United States
at the New Willard Hotel today
that the youth of the country
needs mot more public control through
Government action, but more home
control through parental action"
TOO many people, the President
warned, ARE neglectinG the welbeing
of their children. shifting the RESPONSE
bility for their actions, and turning
over supervision of their discipline and
conduct to the Juvenile courts. 1t is
stated on high authority that a very
large proportion of the outcasts and
criminals come from the ranks of
those who lost the advantages of
normal parental control in their youth.
They are the refugees from broken
homes"
Probably no other lay force. Presi-
dent Coolidge added asserts So large
an influence upon the Young people
of the Nation as that represented in
this convention. 1T stands as A di-
rect challenge TO materialism, he
said. 1T is a constant assertion that
there is something more than the
things that are seen. II seeks to
overcome the tendency of an age of
profusion which is likely to develop
into d condition of luxury and pleas
ure, selfishness and ease, destructive
to the vitality of society"
Condemns Loose Tie.
The Presidents address was vigor.
Gus condemnation of the present age
of loosely joined home ties and frivol-
ity Nor were his words directed
In plain. unguarded language he
served notice on the more mature
citizrrlry that 1T is not enough that
there should be action in the pulpits-
there must be reaction in the pews."
Seldom before has the President used
stronger terms in denunciation of a
condition he looks upon as a menace
to society.
''One of the chief characteristics of
Christianity" he continued. lis that
it is a militant and crusading faith
Those who have become partakers of
its inspirations and its consultations.
since it first began have been
constantly spreading its truths
II that faith is to maintain its vitality
that work must 90 on. 1t is not
enough that there should be action in
the pulpits-there must be reaction
in the pews. 1t will not be sufficient
to have exalted preaching by the
clergy unless there is exalted living
by the laity.'
Such orga niZations as the Young
Mems Christian Association. the Presi-
dent went on, constitute direct efforts
in that direction. They are reaching
the boys in the high schools and the
industrial centers alike. they have
taken a strong hold in directing the
moral and religious life in many of
the State universities. they are in
trenched along the great railway sys-
TENS and along the docks, and now
they are reaching out to the lands
of the whole world, he said.
Churches Objective.
Special emphasis is being placed
upon the need of training for citizen
ship" Mr.. Coolidge added. Not only
by the general development of char
acter, by encouraging industry and
discouraGinS waste, are they strength
ening the community and raising up
leaders. but by informing the young
respecting the teachings of the New
Testament and of the Hebrew prophets
they are providing them with a grasp
on the principles which must underlie
all enduring civilization.
Amid all the divergent influences
that have been manifesting them
selves among the different peoples of
the earth in recent times. ii is ex-
ceedingly reasSuring to realize that
there is quiet and constructive effort
on the part of a worldwide brother
hood of Christian youth for co-ordina-
ton and harmony. The same factor is
at work in Dragging together the diff
ferent religious denominations.
Because so many of their leaders
have been accustomed to common
experience in their youth under the
leadership of the associations. a SYM
pathetic cord Of increasing strength is
bringing about a spiritual union of
North America with the nearby coun-
tries of Latin America, Europe and
the lands of the eastern churches of
Russia, the Balkans and the neigh
boring states. When the people of
different countries are finding so much
on which they can agree. it is more
and more unlikely that their govern
ments will disagree
Before closing the President eX-
pressed frank qualification that this
country has the resources that make
1t possible to be of genuine service to
the rest of the world, and he turned
the words of those who would criticize
this Nation for not doing enough back
on their own authors. America has
many reasons for pride and salts
faction in the spirit and character of
its citizenship, he said, adding:
1T is gratifying to know that it has
the resources with which to make this
outlay and perform these services
We ought to be thankful in remem-
bering that our own people do not
Iced to receive this kind of assistance
from any other people. We are able
to look after our own. But that which
rises above all other considerations
is the fact that our people are imbued
with a religious charity which makes
them disposed to extend these benefits
to those who are less fortunately cir
cumstanced at home and abroad
Answers Critics.
There are those who constantly re-
prove our people and our Government
for an alleged failure to assist other
peoples. l do not know that any one
could ever say that we were doing
enough, but it is my strong suspicion
that those who are making the loud
est complaints have never taken the
trouble 70 ascertain what we have