WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1953
3 Speakers Discuss
American Morals
. Three speakers discussed “Is There a Crisis in American Morals”
Sunday night at the Hillel Town Meeting. Henry A. Finch, associate
professor of philosophy, William G. Mather, professor of rural so
ciology, and the Rev. Andrew E. Newcomer Jr. of the Presbyterian
: Church, spoke on three aspects of the problem,
Finch recognized the crisis and
advised that it be met with re
sourcefulness lest “all be lost.”
He said there has always been a
crisis in morals everywhere, in
all periods of history. He added
that the realization of such a prob
lem should not lead to “nihlism,
failure of nerve, or retrogression
of any kind.”
Morality 'Low' Then
He alluded to ancient Greek
literature and .to the sayings
of the prophets which indicated
that a similar condition existed
in their times as well as in our
own. -According to the writers of
the Middle Ages, the morality of
the people was seemingly as
“low” as it is now.
Finch reminded his audience
that when we speak of morals,
we must realize that human prob
lems have characteristics that are
not found in. mathematics, as
tronomy, or any other definite
science.
. “Humans are required to act
on incomplete knowledge,” he
said. A mathematician may post
pone his decision because he lacks
sufficient information, but an in
dividual must make his decisions,
facts or no. Risk is involved in
error, but because of urgency,
acts must be completed with
speed. Finch stated.
Everyone presumably knows
the ' necessary factors to a deci
sion; whereas, few know the lim
its. According to Finch, it is ob
vious that a parent must love his
child, but the degree is uncer
tain.
American Illusion
Many Americans are under the
illusion that they are immune to
change, both in religious and so
cial life, he said.
The modern age is very ra
tional, and is under the influence
of rational actions. We are living
in the time of a movement from
“ecstacy to calculation, from the
personal to the impersonal, from
myth to science,” Finch said. Our
sentiments remain in the school
of the “personal, mythical and
non-rational,” he said.
Today there is a definite de
cline in supernatural sanctions
according to Finch. People are
not, acting on the aspirations of
receiving heavenly blessings for
their deeds.
Finch concluded that conditions
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By BOBBIE WEINBERG
in the United States are favorable,
our vices c'orrigible, our sins—
those of American generosity and
liberty—our progress not leading
towards the illusion of Utopia. .
The second speaker was William
G. Mather, professor in rural so
ciology. Mather noted that each
generation tends to worry about
the one following. Mather said,
“What we have In sexual morality
is merely more frankness.”
In one generation the people
of the United States have seen a
tremendous change in the physi
cal culture of our country. The
many inventions, plus the changes
in the ideas of what is right and
wrong, the revision' in our every
day pace, and in our relationships
with those who live at a distance
from us, have accounted for this
mild revolution in American so
ciety, Mather said.
Previously, the personal basis
upon which all affairs were con
ducted led to an integrity not
found today, Mather pointed out.
This lack of honesty is due to the
presence of many in our daily
life and to the freedom of adver
tising. •
Professor Mather hoped that
“aging morals” would soon catch
up to the pace of life, but ad
mitted that the race will probably
continue endlessly.
The final speaker was the Rev.
Newcomer of the Presbyterian
Church in State College. He was
not willing to admit that a crisis
in American morals existed, but
he added that if such a crisis did
exist, then we must deal with its
symptoms. These include delin
quency, both adult. and juvenile,
corruption, alcoholism, and pro
miscuity. He spoke of “morality
by majority.”
Revealed Religions
Newcomer based his talk on
what he termed “revealed reli
gion.” This revelation is that
which God has made to us, rather
than our discovery of Him.
Newcomer suggested that low
morality could be “discontent
with what we are, but not*want
ing to change in the pretermined
way.” He quoted the commefit
that we “love God and do as we.
please.” If we follow the moral
law, the way of God, no crisis
will exist, he said.
Merry Christmas
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STUFF
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
Personal Basis Gone
Cjfanctng uncl--
- (Continued from page four) i
look the same as everyone else. 1
including the officers.
Unfortunately this idea became
tangled with a few other concepts.
One such concept is that few peo
ple like to look like everyone else.
And in the army this idea is rec
ognized by the issuance of var
ious bits of material for actions
somewhat out of the ordinary.
An example is the shoulder tab
that was available shortly after
World War 11. It read “Regular
Army.” Unfortunately, friends
and neighbors were still abduct
ing one another for the frugal life
at the time. The idea then came
up that me man’s being able to
wear a patch that said, “Look, I
enlisted,” would make the draf
tees feel bad. Nine months later
the draftees were discharged.
They sure felt bad.
The Pentagon was silent for
Santa Claus to Visit
Ed College Students
Santa Claus is going to visit the
students in the College of Educa
tion from 7:30 to 9 p.m. tomorrow
in the Temporary Union Building.
As part of the evening’s enter
tainment members of the Educa
tion Student Council will present
a skit. Music for dancing will be
provided by Lynn Christy’s Cam
puseers.' Members of the council
will serve refreshments.
Prof to Discuss Yule Art
Harold E. Dickson, professor of
fine arts, will present an illus
trated lecture on “Christmas in
Art” at 7 tonight at the Penn
State Christian Association As
sembly in 304 Old Main.
GRAD STUDENTS
SQUARE
DANCE
Friday 9-12
TUB
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a. while after that. But not for
long. A hew idea came to the
fore. This was a combination of
two previous ideas. Everyone
must look the same. But the
man who has the privilege of
sifting in mud regularly must
be designated differently than
the man who is deprived of this
1 diversion.
Solving this problem wasn’t
easy. But, it was done. Stripes
were reduced to postage stamp
proportions so the enlisted man
looked almost like the officer who
didn’t wear stripes. Different col
or stripes were available for the
troops depending upon their prox
imity to mud.
And so the pendulum swings.
Today we have yellow signs. I'm
looking forward to tomorrow
with great anticipation. Ameri
can ingenuity is not dead. It's
been drafted.
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. OOt.
Independents f© Held
Carole Sing, Social
The councils, of Leonides and
the Association of Independent
Men will meet at 6:45 p.m. Sun
day inside Old Main to begin
Christmas caroling. Independent
men and women may join the
groups to carol and attend the so
cial which will be held in McEl
wain lounge after the caroling. •
Independent women may still
order Leonides pins. Orders will
be .taken by Leonides representa
tives.
WSGA Senate Meeting
The Senate of Women’s Student
Government Association will
meet at 6:30 tonight in the WSGA
room in White Hall. .
The
Student
Shopper
QlfisforSii
If your sister likes sweat
ers, you can stop at the
CHARLES SHOP and pick
from their selection of wool,
nylon, either plain or jew
eled, and cashmeres. Or you
can find in the SMART
SHOP other gift suggestions
such as belts, leather col
lars, and knee socks. At
SCHLOWS you can pur
chase beautiful silk head
scarves, wool stoles, sweat
ers including Hadly cash
meres, and a wide selection
of man tailored blouses.
Maybe Sis would like a
leather or dressy handbag
or. something exclusive from
their exclusive line of shoes
at SIM O N S . At ETHEL
MESERVES you will find
irradescent brocded slim
fold wallets for evening
wear or something in the
line of unusual jewelry. For
nick nacks, paintings, and
vases you will find a great
selection at the TREASURE
HOUSE. If you would like
to purchase something with
a sorority crest, stop in at
the AA STORE and make
your selection.
If you are feeling crea
tive, make your purchase of
yard goods at EGOLFS. The
exquisite jewelry at the
BLAIR SHOP might be just
what Sis wants. They also
specialize in wrapping and
mailing gifts until Decem
ber 15. To end your shop
ping trip, stop in at the
CORNER ROOM. If you are
hungry, their chopped steak
sandwiches are delicious.
PAGE ETVE