The Editor’s Page
Wake up America!
There appeared in the January 16, 1961 issue of the Pittsbugh Press, a full page challenge to the people of America to “Wake Up.” The page was announced by Moral Rearmament. Space doesn’t permit us to reproduce the page in full. There are some statements in it, however, we would like to pass on to our readers. These statements set the tone for the entire page. The article opens by calling attention to the lateness of the hour, saying:
“America is at war. A war we are losing. We are under attack by Godless Communism on a world front and Godless materialism on the home front. Selfishness, pervision, and divison within our borders are the forces through which Communism takes over. It’s an idealogical war. We are losing it because we aren’t fighting it. We move heedless and headless without an idealogy against an idealogical enemy. America is in danger of losing her life and the Free World its freedom.”
“Guns, dollars, and diplomacy alone are no match for an enemy who has all these, but advances because of the superarm of an idealogy. America needs an idealogy. A change of policy isn’t enough. We need a change of motives and character. A great cleansing and uniting force for the Nation. We judge ourselves by our ideals.”
“Others judge us by the way we live. Unfaithfulness in the home, perversion in high places, and low decadence in the arts, lawless youth, class war, race, and dishonesty. These are becoming the marks of American life. We are all responsible. These are no weapons with which to win the struggle for the hearts and minds of the millions of this world … The fact is that millions who would never join the Communist party make its advance inevitable by the way they live.”
Chancellor Adenauer of Germany said: “Communism is a false idealogy, but it’s an idealogy and can only be met with Moral and Spiritual weapons. We are in an Idealogicle battle. Therein lies the decisive task. It may last decades, but it must be won. A Nation with an Idealogy is always on the offensive. A nation without an Idealogy is selfsatisfied and dead.”
“Because we don’t have an idealogy, we fail to recognize those who do. We were fooled by Mao Tse-tung. We were fooled by Castro. In our blindness we are led by those in our own Press and Government whose task it is to make Communists look like harmless reformers until they are safely in power.” “Our greatest sin has been to cheat the World of the nation-saving truths upon which America was founded. Our destiny is to free the World of tyranny.”
“Instead, we have cashed in our fighting faith for a soft materialism and retreated before the greatest tyranny the World has ever known. Men must choose to be governed by God, or they condemn themselves to be ruled by Tyrants.” In William Penn’s words lies America’s death sentence, or her 1 hope. “The hour is late, but not too late to turn to the answer.” “Washington: Clean, straight, and God-directed would be an invincible force leading mankind to its destiny.”
“The urgent need is for Patriots, Democrat, and Republician, labor and management, black and white, young and old who will put right what is wrong in their own lives and in the life of the Nation. Such men will take on the task of arming America with her true idealogy. It means absolute standards of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love intionally. It means men accepting the guidence of God, definite, accurate, and adequate information can come from the mind of God to the minds of men. It comes to those who listen and obey. It’s the new dimension of Statesmanship.”
This article closes with these words from the address of Dr. Frank Buchman, delivered to a World Assembly for the Moral Rearmament o fthe Nations at Mackinac Island, Michigan:
“My deep personal wish is to have every American free under the direction of God to fight for America; so to fight that America really be free, free from the tyranny of sin, under God’s direction, the unsees but ever-present Power. I wish this no less deeply for everyone in the nation. I don’t want our sons, especially our fighting sons, to go about without an answer. It simply enslaves them. It’s not good enough. It will drive them to the same Philosophy that rules our opponents. We shall never create an inspired Democracy that way. Men must learn to have a faith that will create the right Revolution. If we can spread this Revolution fast enough, we can save America, and the world. Unless we have this Revolution, there will be a Revolution of Chaos.”
“It needs this stronger dose. Sin leaves us with such a dull, heavy thud. ‘The blood of Jesus Christ, His son cleanseth us from all sin.’ That’s the discovery everyone is looking for. That’s the answer. Then you will have a wonderful example that the whole world will want to follow. You will have an America to which the wise and the honest can repair, and that’s what the World expects today of America. You will have a battle-cry of Freedom, and that’s what America wants. You will have a Democracy that’s really inspired.”
“Then our young men and our old men will fight as Lincoln fought of old. Our young men will know what to fight for and our wars will be won, and we shall be at peace with all men and the whole world. To this we have no comment except to add our hearty “Amen” for, as our Lord tells us in the Gospel of John 3:17, “For God sent not His son into the World to condemn the World, but that the World through Him might be saved.” In Him is found the idealogy that’s all sufficent. In Him is found the answer. Wake up, America, the hour is late deed. Soon it may be too late.”
The 2 new folders are available from the National Reform Association. These are attractively printed in 2 colors so as to catch the eye and are brief enough that they can be read in 1-2 min.
One is entitled “What is Moderation?” It shows that moderation can’t be defined that the effects of the same quantities of alchol are different under different conditions and presents total constinence as the only safe policy. The 2nd one is entitled “The Problem of Alcoholism.” It presents some interesting facts relative to alcoholism.