Evening star., 1926-04-04
BISHOP MANNING PINS FAITH
In HONESTY OF MODERN YOUTH
Claims Fears About Younger People in Age of Jazz
Are Without Cause, and Some Alarmists Would
Be Aided by Sense of Humor.

der that schoolboys carry TASKS If
they know that their parents patron
ize the bootlegger. Liberty depends
upon obedience to constitutional law
Against the fiippant statements on
this subject just now 80 common let
US keep in mind the words of Abra-
oam Lincoln: Let reverence for the
avs become the political religion of
he Nation. and let the old. and the
young. the rich and the poor. the
crave and the gay of all sexes and
tongues and colors and conditions sac
.ifice increasingly upon it's altars.
Ideals No Lower.
As to the present situation among
our young people. let me give answer
TO three or four questions which are
often asked. The first is: Are the
ideals and standards of our young
people today lower than those of the
preceding generation" ! do not think
so. Some of our young people are
foolish and lawless and selfish. but
there is nothing new about this, 1t
was so when we were young and has
always been SO.
On the whole, / believe our young
people today are singularly responsive
to higher ideals. They have far more
freedom than we had in our time, but
I believe they will show themselves
able to use this rightly. From my own
contact with many of our younger
people and from what l find to be the
judgment of teachers and others who
are in close relation with them I be-
licve that our young men and women
generally are better prepared to meet
the tests of life than we were at their
age, and that they will do their part
better than we have done ours.
The second question I am asked is:
What about the present revolt of
youth of which we hear so much in
our magazines and other literature?'
My own opinion is that we hear too
much about it. Certainly this Is no
new thing. Youth has always been in
revolt, and always will be, and in the
right sense ought always to be. We
to be completely satisfied with the
world as it is 1t is the part of
youth to challenge conventional
standards and existing institutions,
and if our young people are giving
this challenge honestly and vigorous
ly this is q good and wholesome sign.
If our standards and institutions are
true and worthy to endure they can
meet and welcome such challenge.
Failure of Parents.
AS our third question 1 am asked.
"Is the relation between young peo-
pie and their parents as satisfactory
as it was in the last generation?''
do not think it is. and the re.
sponsibility for this rests upon the
parents far more than upon the chill
dren. am certain that the relation
between parents and children can be
just as satisfying today as formerly
if we will give the necessary time
and thought to it. The real weak.
ness of the situation is that many
parents today are themselves adrift
without clear religious faith and the
moral convictions, and where this is
the case we need not wonder that our
young people fail to find the help in
their homes which they have the
right to expect there
Our young people today are put
| ting us to a severe test. Above all
things. they demand reality and sin
cerity. They are thinking clearly
and freely and honestly. We must
be willing to meet the standard which
they demand Of us.
Copyright. 1e26)