The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-11-07
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or tneonsiderats

most OF his sins already committed. What is bother.
ing W. Durant is the hunger of his soul for the
abandoned bread of his fathers house; what dis
gusts him is the diet of husks he has wfuy chosen
to adopt Let us hope that before his hair is much
whittier he will find his way back to the, wholesome
ness and welcome of his only home.
Last Mays Rotdrian carried an article by Durant
which the National Association of Secondary School
Principals thought worth repeating, or reprinting
in their October journal Likely, this was a speech
made to the lads who lunch weekly under the sign
OF the Big Wheel 1t is easy, and not unpleasant, to
envisOn the chairman, rising across the horizon
of crullers and cups and crumbs, to announce the
speaker OF the day. In fancy can hear his voice
launching into the we-havewithus speech and catch
the gay flashing of rainbow of compliments with
which the visitor is decorated. We W D.
himself coming to full height behind his chair TO let
wisdom rotate among the Rotarians
The topic he has chosen is that of the amazing
and dlsmaying conduct of people. especially Of
young people His conclusion is that we must not be
cynical or pessimisuc about modern morality
the lack Of if, notably among youth, but that
we are to take heart and strive conSructvely 10
make things better all around He even suggests
Code OF Honor, in the form of ten specially design
ed commandments, to help the constructive effort
along.
Durant admits that good morals are essential,
that we have deep need of all that will establish
and support them. Personally we should be trained
to Honor (piousy repeating the items of its code
al frequent intervals); must seek adjustment
OF economic conditions to make them favorable to
moral conduct must encourage the enacting of
just and helpful laws; must marriage
established as the moral requirement of most
people and must work for fidelity in marriage
and for selfsacrificng devotion to the provocative
purpose of marriage. The home must mingle dis
ptp uif tn tt,tlr
some form of moral training
Strangely enough Durant works toward these
admirable conclusions from the premise that
are not any worse than people have been in ages
past. Indeed, he uses this irrelevant take-off to
launch into his Interpretation of morality as an
expression of the economic and social conditions
of civilization, or of an era. Formerly in our own
land the country boy had to be circumSpec because
all the neighbors knew him; and he achieved man
hood, economically at least very early, and settled
to married life by his early twentes or even be
fore them. II different with the city boy who
could cut up high jinks in a crowd of uncaring
strangers and who found abundant opportunity
for his didoes And gradually the city absorbed the
country, leaving only relative few upon the land
with multitude of highly moral machines 10 serve
them.
Then the wicked city found ally for its bad
influence IN the strong trend of young people TO
enter the professions This neceSstaed long periods
of schooling and apprenticeship, making early
riage impossible and lengthening the years of
moral insecurity, temptation. and responsibility
Crowded quarters in town and the cost of living
there made even married folk unwilling TO have
many children, or any al all The fading of religious
belief and activity more rapid in cities, too, and
parental influence decreased in force and value as
Spouses were less faithful more inclined to break
up and marry anew Schools we're almost power
less IN Influence hc
since the direct forming of character and the i'm
parting of religious standards were considered out
side their province
II u.s. of course idle to deny that there are large
grains of truth in all this But the point that ought
To be made here is that Durant tells us list of
things that happened as though the list were
explanation OF holo the things happened. And il is
not strictly Az best Durant lists happenings
and minor influences that had little to do with
them; he docs moi strike fairly al the great major
influence that always works against morality He
speaks vaguely of religion, when he should speak
plainly and emphatically For IL is here that the
secret of the trouble lies.
Man needs God Man needs religon,-not any
sort Of religion, but the true religion Economic con
ditionS cannot ruin the morals of who under
stands the main business of life, and who looks
to judgment with its eternal outcome Social situa-
tions, and all in them that fosters personal empa-
ions 10 evil cannot prevail over the morals of per
who has clear and unwavering faith in God
and who calls upon Him for aid This does not mean
that even religious is uninfluenced by the
forces of evil which Durant mentions, docs II
mean that even Of faith will not sometimes
be weak enough to succumb TO them. But it does
mean that the only firm basis Of morality is the
living faith the true religion, which is the safeguard
of the upright and the hope and help of the fallen
Durants proposed measures for improving the
morals Of modern people, especially young people
are mostly good enough in their way. but they do
not 90 the whole way. As crcumStantia aids to
renewed religious faith, they may do much. OF
themselves they only palliate, but never a
bad situation.
Incidentally Durant's notion of morality Is itself
somewhat unusual II appears to be kind of ANAL
gam of Boy Scoutism and the rigorous Journalism of
the Puritans. And il is Just little silly in modern
individual to suppose that he formulate ten COM
mandments TO shore up and supplement the Ten
Commandments revealed for mans moral guidance
by Almighty Cod