MOB-MIND RULE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20990, 18 December 1939, Page 9

MOB-MIND RULE

A SOCIAL MENACE

DANGER TO YOUTH PICTURES AND RADIO “Intelligent parents cannot reflect upon the present tendencies in society without feelings of alarm for the future well-being of their children,’' declared Mr W. H. Stevens, Wellington, principal of Wellesley College, in his annual address to parents. He referred particularly to the dominance of what he called the “mob mind,” already so obvious in politics, sport, and recreation, which was now being felt in education. Challenge Not Met “And unfortunately,” Mr Stevens went on, “education is doing very little to meet the challenge of the ‘herd’ influences. Indeed, I am not at all sure that teachers have not come under the spell of mass-sugges-tion and, forgetting their role as educators, have become passive instruments of a bureaucratic machine.” He found today an increasing number of boys who had no real interests beyond the picture theatre and the radio, and he considered that the toointensive organisation was defeating its own object. In addition, he observed an increasing number of young people who were satisfied with routine jobs, lacking the pioneer spirit of adventure and daring. “They have no desire to go out and meet the challenge of the world in open combat,” he went on. “No; they prefer to stay at home and listen to highly-paid political humbugs snivelling over the air about social justice. What a pity they couldn’t have it!” Return to Christianity As the only remedy for this state of affairs Mr Stevens saw a return to the Christian religion. He did not agree with those who said that the churches were empty because the clergy had been slacking on their jobs. “The churches are empty,” he said, “because Christianity makes no appeal to the mob. Its challenge is to the individual and that challenge has not been met. In the welter of confused ideas and conflicting emotions, and amidst the din of propagandists, Nazi and Communist, there is little opportunity for that individual thought which is the basis of true Christianity. But when the tumult and the shouting die I feel certain that the Christian philosophy will rule in the world again. 1 believe there is still hope for our children.”