The Lincoln times., 1954-08-09

toured Britain and Western Eu-
rope, preaching to an estimated
2,0OO,000 persons. He returned
early this month, was hospital
lied for a kidney operation and
now. in calm retrospect, tells of
what he learned of Europe and
its peOple-and especially of his
impression that Communists
are definitely losing prestige on
the Continent" as Europeans
measure spiritual values against
the materialistic preachments
of the Reds.
BY BILLY GRAHAM
l spent five months of this year
in Great Britain and Europe. Dur
ing this period. which for the
most part was spent in intensive
evangelistic work, I learned a
great deal about what is going on
in the British and European
mind and heart.
1t was my privilege to mingle
with lords and ladies, soldiers and
laboring men, politicians and just
plain people. My work took me in
to palaces and pubs, to cathedrals
and open-air Stadiums; and ev-
eIyWhere my impressions were
confirmed and in agreement -
they all pointed to the fact that
and spiritual awakening in Eng
there is beginning to be a moral
land and Europe.
Make no mistake about it, it is
in full swing. Quietly. without
fanfare and without visible Or
sanitation. a Twentieth Century
renaissance may be in progress.
I do not mean to say that there
is no moral filth on the Continent,
OF that Communism is not max
ing a bid for Europe, or that all
of Europe'S problems are being
resolved in the magic of a Spiri-
tual awakening. But it is my op-
lrion that there are encouraging
signs in Great Britain and Eu-
rope that the secular surge of
materialism is in its death throeS
in the Western world and that
Christian democracy still has a
chance of survival.
MARXISM SLIPPING
One Of these signs is the notice
able fact that MarxiSm is begin
ming to loosen its grip on the
European mind.
saw a Communist parade
march past our hotel in London,
and as l looked up and down Ok
ford Street l noticed to my
amazement that there were few
people watching the demonstra-
ton. According to nv obServa-
ton, there were many more peo-
pie in the parade than were
watching it.
And as a final touch of unique
ness. a recOrd-player carried by
one of the marcherS was blaring
olt loudly above the shouting of
the Reds: When the Saints Go
Marching In.
1 wondered about the signifi-
canoe of that old song in Com
munist demonstration. but as l
went to Harringay Arena that
night and saw the thousands try
ing to get in, l concluded that
some Red must surely have gotten
lis records mixed or that that
song must have had a prophetic
portentouSneSS.
was told that several Brit
ish servicemen watching the
parade took full advantage of
the occasion in waging an un-
censored war of words. Ban
nerS carried by the Reds IRON
ically read: I'VE want peace"
The British boys. quick with
the pun, cried What do you
want piece of now? South
America, Europe, or Indo-
China?"
The point I'm trying to make
is that Communism is losing
some of its frightening omin-
BUSINESS. The English people are
not by any stretch of the imag-
inatiOn afraid of Communism;
they are disguised with it.
We were told everywhere that
the Communists are definitely
losing political prestige on the
Continent. They suffered heavy
losses everywhere in this years
elections. A true picture of living
conditions behind the Iron Cur
tain is beginning to take shape
One German leader told me that
Communism is definitely failing
to produce economically The
world is catching on to her false
boasts and claims"
MATERALISM RECEDING
The second sign l observed was
that the world is emerging from a
prolonged era of materialism.
For so or more years the intel
lectual world has been dominated
by the doctrine that all processes
including thought. consist of OF
are entirely dependent on matter
and energy. This teaching ques.
toned and caused people to doub'
the supernatural.
1t produced its share of so.
called atheists and infidelS and i
Weakened and made in effective
the faith of millions. Despite
strong traditions. it enuptied oul
churches and weakened our spir.
itual bulWarkS which ha6 beer
built at such sacrifice by the Pill
grim fathers.
We know the rest! DEPRESSION
wars, internal strife and initiation
observing men believe that theS,
ere symptoms of a deeper diseas'
called unbeli2f.