The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-23
CHURCH is SUFFERING
FROM HIGH COST 0E
LIVING AND SOCIALISM
laboring Classes, Says Rev.
George Clark Peck, Are Sacri-
ficing Worship To
Economic
AGE TO MATERIALISTIC
More Preaching of Doctrine of
Brotherhood of Man Suggested
To Combat Worldly Influences

The high cost OF living. material.
ism and Socialism are robbing the
church OF many men" said the Rev.
George Clark Peck, d. d., pastor OF
ST. Andrews VI. F. church. New York,
in the course Of an interview with
The Times. Mr. Peck has been In
the city all week, conducting the in
ierdenominational Lenten services in
the Detroit opera house, and has also
been oficiating at special evangelis-
tic meetings in the Simpson NJ. l..
church His congregation in New
York Is one OF the largest and mes;
fashionable In the metropolis, and he
is regarded as one OF the leading
clergymen OF the country in his de-
nomination.
The present age is certainly ma.
terialistic," Mr.. Peck continued,
Money Is dominating everything, my
services and your services. In the
, ministry, man nowadays seems TO
be valued for what he can give in
return for what he Is paid, how well
he can Ill the -pews, etc. Idealistie
views, which once held sway over
things materialistic. seem to have been
crowded out OF the realm of cons.d-
Grafton. Few appear to have any more
time for ideals; II Is now a furious
rush for material advancement. or
course, the high cost OF living IL
accountable. In q large measure, for
the conditions which obtain. Man
must have money; he needs more than
he did a few years ago, and the ques-
ton or economy grips him, if he is
at all self-conscious. He wonders how
he can economic, and various meth
DDS are employed In the undertaking.
Many men find II an easy matter to
forget the church, reasoning that they
can AFFORD to sacrifice a little wor-
ship for saving OF 500 or so year.
which amount he might be paying for
his pew. The lack OF the idealistic
spirit allows him to sever his connec-
ton with the church, whereas, few
years ago, his conscience might have
dissuaded him In such q course.
The women, at -lsast many of them,
are also materialistic. Mothers look
10 the young mems means, rather than
their standing, when they seek the
hand OF their daughters. We have at
least one glazing example ~of this IN
the last year or SO. Parents are lit
orally selling their daughters into
wedlock.
There are. other things, too, as +
have said, which are working against
church attendance, Socialism, for in.
stance. leadsA-a man 70. believe that
Christianity doesnt-ado as much for
him as he thinks IL should. The men
who get that idea are fast Increasing
in numbers. Many churches now have
few OF the laboring class within their
walls on Sundays"
What do you think the clergy ought
to do to combat Socialism," was ask
ed Of Mr.. Peck.
Preach more OF the brotherhood
OF man." Mr.. Peck replied. The
unique message. OF the Protestant and
Roman Catholic churches is brother.
hood We have been preaching about
the brotherhood Of man, as set down
by Jesus Christ, In a sort of way, but
not vigorously enough to make it at.
tractiye to the average man. There
Is justice for all in Christianity, and
1t is the duty OF the clergy to make
the fact known to men in as forceful
and impressive q manner as possible.
Socialism, on the fact Of Il. is mighty
attractive to the workingman, and
many subscribe TO II without taking
the trouble TO investigate. The Pro-
testant church has, as have said, lost
many former adherents to the cult, and
II has also, made inroads on the Ro
man Catholic faith. The Romanists,
however, have thus far managed TO
hold their following pretty we'll in
check. and they are to be congratulate;
ed on their ability to 90 80.
yet. In spite OF the lack OF church
going on the part OF so many men in
this country. and abroad, too, the
world In really getting better. II ia
Infinitely more moral and less vicious
than II was twenty years ago. But
there are still many bad Influences, OF
which the stage In one OF the worst.
IL In true that there are good plays
but these are offset by large number
ofyery bad productions. The men who
promote theatricals say that the pop1-
lar demand Is for something of the
risque variety. and probably that is
AeNO had AuNu SdI W ule ITdI
they wanted TO 90 10 the theater 70
laugh, not to be serious. The aver.
age man is 80 engrossed with the big
problems OF the day that he feels ex-
hausted after the days work and
Graves for a little relaxation. That
Is doubtless why he wants TO be anus
ed In the theater. II Is a pity. nov
ever, that so much OF the vulgar and
degrading is put on the stage. How
much better Il would be IL all the
suggestive features or modern amuse.
ment were eliminated We should all
be the better for IT,"
Mr.. Peck has talked to large con.
gregations in the MONDAY Lenten ser.
vices during the week. and his ad.
dresses have all been of a practical
nature, calculated 20 give the hearer
something to think about for HIS ply
steal and moral as we'll as spiritual
welfare. He Is the author of seyeral
books and spends much OF his time
An literary work
The Presbyterian Brotherhood Of
the city will give a supper Thursday
evening. March %, in the new church
house OF the First !. Presbyterian
fhnrch 20 which Nil prashvtart a