The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-23
WORLDLWAR Is
CHALLENGE TO /
CHRISTIANITY
--BIsHoP CHAs. p. ANDERSON.
Hasn't the Church Failed?"
Queries Famous Chicago d.
vine. In MONDAY Lenten
Address
SEES DAWN OF
NEW ERA. HOWEVER
Church Of Today Is Conducted
Too Largely On Business
Basis He Asserts

EtVo0As WOAAo SoA0ltioub are y
challenge to Christianity and to the
church" said Bishop Charles p. An
derson. of Chicago. In the course OF
his address. opening the Episcopal
MONDAY Lenten services In the Miles
theater, Tuesday. The lower floor OF
the playhouse was well filed, and the
proportion OF business men In attend
ance was large.
Europe II involved In a war that
Il the crime OF the centuries" con.
tinued the bishop. Mexico 10 In q
hopeless condition. Here In our own
country we are beset with industrial
Ills that have resulted in bloodshed,
and are threatened with becoming In
volved IN the old world war. In
view Of al these conditions, men are
asking the question. Hasn't the
church fatledf' And, frankly. I am
much more inclined, as stand here
this morning. 70 plead guilty than to
offer Q defense.
"Still. there u . brighter side. One
Of the most wonderful things In his
tory has been the ability of the church
to resuscitate ITSELF Who In the az
teenth century would have believed
that the century was destined to give
birth to one Of the greatest reforma-
tons In historyf Who In the eight
eenth century would have believed
that the early part of the nineteenth
would see Q great awakening OF
Christianity ~ reflected in powerful
missionary bodies and the Wesleyan
movement? And we OF the twentieth
century. In spite Of the dark outlook
Of the present, are beginning to see
unfailing signs Of the dawn OF q new
era. and In preparation for II We
must be men and wome NOT faith,
hope and courage. We must bring
fresh religion into our homes and get
ready for the greater day Of the
Lord. which Ia at hand"
Bishop Anderson pictured the Len
ten season a. period when people
take . fresh moral start, witch, he
said, was merely in line with the
general schsme Of natur eand man,
kind In general. Civilization. he
pointed out, took q fresh start when
Christ was born, and the world 70 al
ways taking fresh starts a. great
men 20 out into the world and CON
Quer new fields In the interest OF hu
mainly.
Much Of his address was couchec
In interrogative form and some OF bis
questions were pointed.
Haven't we scandalously violated
Gods law with respect to restful
Sabbath!" he went on. 40 Just
what extent have you been IN asset
for good In your community Has
your home been the scene OF domes-
tic faithlessness and disloyalty? Have
you violated your marriage vow In
thought. word or deed? Have you
BEEN selfish?
Haven't. the churches generally
gotten into q rut? Haven't they been
content to be simply imitators Of the
past instead OF q great force for
moral uplift and an inspiration for Q
better and more glorious future?"
Church vestrymen, said the bishop.
in too many instances had come to
regard themselves merely a. direc-
tors of . business institution, and
were satisfied with the results attain
ed a. long 90 their books showed q
balance ON the right side. There must
be more Of Christianity and less OF
commercialism In the churches. he
contended.
Bishop Anderson win DO the speak.
er at the MONDAY services all week.
The services start promptly at 1906.
and are dismissed at 1890. They are
being conducted under the auspices
Of the Church club Of the diocese OF
Michigan.