A SOCIAL PROBLEM.

Evening Star, Issue 22627, 20 April 1937, Page 11

A SOCIAL PROBLEM.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —Contrary to the opinion of “Advance” in to-night’s ‘Star,’ I should say that the advice from the committee reporting on the abortion problem was most unexpected for these alleged enlightened times. If their recommendations are an extension of the prohibitions now in operation, and a tightening tip of the means of obtaining contraceptive devices, they are to be definitely commended for such. It is at least a step in the light direction, for it is obvious to the most ordinary man in the street that the huge growth in marital infidelity and divorce court proceedings goes hand in hand with the proportionate ease with which abortion and contraceptives are obtained. “Advance 1 ’ mentions the orthodox moralist being faced with “ the forces of our nature wjiich know nothing of religiously imposed moral conventions.” These so-called “ forces of our nature ” are just exactly what we make them, since they are -entirely under our personal control and training.' “ Advance " appears to have forgotten that greatest of all forces or powers, free will, that God-given gift which lifts man above the animals and makes him “a little less than the angels.” Whether man is to be .the slave or the master

of his passions remains always in his own hands. Yet fear is a powerful policeman, and policemen are as important to civilised society as an adequate water supply. Our passions are violent rebels that must be kept in check by every motive and power, and the fear of consequences acts as a check When sometimes all other motives fail. To say that “ we are suffering under the imposition of a religions moral code which has little or no relation to human needs or happiness” is ridiculous; and that “it was invented by men who were, of all men, the least qualified to lay down such rules, because they were supremely ignorant of and also quite as indifferent to humanity’s real sex needs ” is worse. I know of only one moral code—laid down by only one Man —it is the Ten Commandments of Christ; and the veriest tyro can see by His simple rules that He knew human nature better than anyone who was ever in the world or ever likely to be. One would not suggest “ clinging to the engineering ideas of 2,000 years ago,” although many products of those ideas live to this day for our edification, yet in the fundamentals wo find the_ ideas still of infinite use, although their application and mode of procedure may be somewhat improved or perhaps advanced. But, strange to say, the moral code of 2,000 years ago has not yet been improved upon; it is not even being used in any way. It is entirely ignored in every walk of life, and then a great cry is set up that the code is out of date and must be overhauled by man, the supreme egotist, to bring that peace and happiness which he has deliberately flung away. Could anything be more absurd? If you become seriously ill after disobeying a doctor’s orders, will you saddle the illness on the physician? Yet that is what some people are doing nowadays. They have rejected the Great Physician and scorned His remedies, and now they decry Him because He has not kept them well. Christ’s principles have not failed mankind; mankind has failed Him.—l am, etc., . Try Them. April 16.