THE MORAL DRIFT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1937, Page 15

THE MORAL DRIFT

NEED FOR URGENT ACTION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, .This Day,

"The most ominous symptoms in the realm of public morals today is the widespread departure from the observance of religion," -said the Rev. E. D. Patchett. in opening the annual Methodist District Synod today. "A state of semi-paganism weakens the moral fibre of a,nation. Real religion and a lofty moral standard go hand in hand. When a nation exhausts its spiritual capital it lowers Its power of resistance to inroads of moral infection." .

Mr. Patchett added that with a natural pride in our country and its people 'one hesitated to review some of the recently-published evidence of the moral drift, yet to open up this festering sore was the quickest way to its healing. "The report committee set up by the. Government to investigate the problem of criminal abortion: constitutes a sad cshapter Jn the story of widespread national delinquency," he said." "Looking beneath the surface it becomes apparent that the crux of. the problem is the home* The Christian home is the best place • on earth for character-building. To enlist the practical sympathy of the womanhood of the country gives ; the greatest, promise of solving this many-sided problem. We need legislative.: action r but a more urgent need is.a quickened public conscience and. the lifting . of, moral ideals in. corrupt society. ..Man, cannot escape blame, but it is.'one of. the chief, glories, of woman-.thatin,th,e moral realm the race is fundamentally. in her keeping." . .-•'•■■•".'

After referring, to ..other social evils, Mr. Patchett said there was need in the Dominion for, a branch of the-Bri-tish Public Morality League to give coherence and unity to a growing volume of opinion in favour of public action. '"