SWING MUSIC A SYMPTOM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 9, 22 October 1940, Page 4

SWING MUSIC A SYMPTOM.

A word of advice to American youth was offered in a recent broadcast to the United States by the Rev. Dr. John Heenan. “I detected in my last visit to you tAvo years ago a certain lack of discipline,” he said. “The übiquitous swing music, to me, Avas symptomatic. It Avas a danger signal. kou cannot sAving your AA’av through life. To the youth of all religions and of none, I say that it is time you began to take life more seriously. Your immortal souls are Avorth some little thought. The cult of the body and of the social graces is not more important than your spiritual and moral health. Youth is idealism in action, hut idealism is moulded according to a model. You must choose your model. Choose; Christ, Our Lord. American youth ! you have not yet been called upon to make supreme sacrifices. Twenty years of irreligious, easy-going life left Europe Avcak to resist the forces of evil. One day, perhaps soon, you, too, will have to take up the struggle. Maybe by then the Nazi spectre will have been laid, but Communism and other atheistic obscenities are lurking in your country, as in our own, to trap, delude and enslave your spirit. Harden yourselves. Learn discipline. Refuse to alloAV the corruption of soured age to tarnish your ideals. Know Avhat true Christianity stands for and do i:<*t ho misled hv perverted intellectuals who would make you cynical and oittor by tolling you that religion is Avhat they so beautifully call a ‘racket.’ ”