STANDARD OF MORALITY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5058, 29 November 1926, Page 4

STANDARD OF MORALITY.

EVANGELIST’S DENUNCIATION.

DANCING AND MOVING PICTURES.

A very candid critic of modern standards Of morality si Mr Van Eyk, a Du.tch Qvangeljst at present conducting a mission in Wellington, who told a “Dominion” reporter last week thaA he considered the modern dancing hall a,nd the modern picture gallery to be two of the greatest dangers that face the young people to-day. It is his opinion that something substantial. should be given the people to put in the place of these attractions, and that the should throw aside sectarianism and encourage .the practical 'application of the Word of God. Not four years ha,ve passed since Mr Van Eyk was a constable in the mounted police o'f Natal. According to his ora account, liq was no Christian in. those days, but at length he realised that his life was leading him into a wrong channel, and in May in 1923 he resigned from.the force, and decided to devote his life to the service. of God. A year after he had laid aside his uniform, he delivered his first public address in Johajnnesburg, following this up by making a successful tour of South African cities. He was then invited to visit Australia, which he did, and now he is carrying on his work in New Zealand. A WARRING WORLD. It is Mr Van Eyk’s opinion .that the day is not far removed when the promised second visit of Christ td the world will eventuate ; everything, he thinks, is pointing in that direction, .and the promises and prophecies of the past are soon to be realised. But he considers, .thajt the Church is not fulfilling the part which 'Should by rights belong to it. The churches, he

thinks, are preoccupied with the philosophy of religion, and do not givd sufficient consideration to its practical application. “Sectarianism is rife,” he says, “and this will never vanish until the churches reach the real essence of religion. And they must not only reach it, but they must give practical effect to it in the affairs of life. Right throughout the world to-day there is a deplorable deterioration in the Christian churches. The Bible pro-y phecy has come true, and men to-day are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud, 'adventurous, without natural affection, implacable, trucebreakers, no lovers, of that which is good, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. That is the condition of the today. We have got beautiful churchey, wealthy, rich —but where is their power ? Many say the. trouble is in the people. But it is not there. It is 'not within, it is without. My gospel is one of power, of deliverance ; that is what the people need just now.” . DANGERS BEFORE THE YOUNG.

The younger generation, according to Mr Van Eyk, is at present running down ah incline. “From my experience as a policeman, having served for seven years in that capacity,” he said, “my firm conviction is that our yotith is being dragged down into all the hells of a privileged licentiousness. If the churches do not do something to remove the dangers which face the young people to-day, then it is certain that oUr generation will be absolutely swept away.” Questioned as to. what he considered the causes of this moral degradation, Mr Van Eyk stated that the modern fashion of women had much to do with it. “They expose their bodies to the public gaze.’Lhe said. “They excite the passions of men, and

then, when the trouble .cornet they blame them. Once you get women tQ regard the sanctity and the reverence of womanhood the trouble will be solved. You have only to look at the nations which have disregarded this and you will find that they have been destroyed. Look at France > look at-Russia. They have disregarded the word of God, which is the Q'nly standard of morality. “The Bible has been banished from the rule of life,” he continued, "and in how many homes will you find it 1 There is no family worship these days; it is being banished from life. That is one of the chief pauses o'f the moral degradation to-day.” TWO PITFALLS. This, process Mr Van Eyk believes to be largely helped by the craze for moving pictures, and also by ballroom dancing, which, he considers are the chief pittfajls in the way of ,the younger generation. “There is not a picture you can look at,” he declared, “in which there is not at least the suggestion of immorality, and which does not influence the mind of youth to such an extent that it considers this the order of the day. I cannot too strongly condemn modern society ballrooms. Men would never dance if they had to dance with themselves. It is only the women who' attract them.” Speaking of his experience in Wellington, the missioner used it to illustrate his contention many a life had been ruined through the evils of dancing. “Since I have been here in Wellington,” he said, “I have had to listen to heatr-breaking stories of ydung girls whose livesi have been ruined as a 'result of it. 1 am a preacher—and it is always to the preacher that they come for help.” MUST SHOW SOMETHING BETTER.

Mr Van Eyk is s.trongly of the opinion .that the mere 'forbidding of such things OjS dancing is quite useless. ‘lf people want dancing to stop,” hei said, “they must preach the Gospel °f Jesus Christ and get the hearts of .the people changed. Then you will find that dancing will change. It isi no good telling them not to do this thing. Show them something better. In the Church there should be some hope. But young people do not find satisfaction in the Church ; its power 1$ lost, and there is nothing to get them there. So they naturally and automatically go off to the. dancing h'iajls and the picture galleries.

“I am absolutely against State legislation to prohibit anything,” he declared. “If the drunkard wants, to drink, let him drink; i'f the gambler wants to 1 gamble, let him; and if the dancer wants to dance, .then let him dajice. But try to show him something better —the truth of the Word of God. If the churches will only stand together and show .a united front, then this land of yours will be a heaven.”