The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-05
KEEPyOUTH
IN CHURCH,
IS THE CRY
MethOdists, In Confer
ence Here, Discuss
Ways and Means
SPEAKERS URGE
MODERN METHODS
Church Must Keep
Pace With the World,
They Say

lucy ody
Saving the young people for the
church Is The great problem which
Methodists face. and II this r. &C. Do
done. radical departures will have To
oe made from the present courses OF
SUNDAY school work.
This was the Warning delivered in
two different addresses, Monday
morning. before the distric; superin-
iendents 81 the Detroit AREA Of the
Methodist church. who have gather
e. here FOR The conference called by
Bishop Theodore Somers Henderson
The sessions arr being held IN The
/ Central Methodist church.
The Rev Peter r. stair. IN charge
of sunday school work in the De
uolt area. and the Rev. G. p Dur
I kin. in charge q BE young peoples
} &C. parfrenf. were the ones Who de-
clsred The church would nave "a
Z change IT'S methods 10 hold the
Young people ~ Stair reported
Ggures % survey in one OF toe
.frongest districts 81 the state. and
i he proportion OF so-eAlled interme-
dates. children between the ages of
y and ~ years attending school
vas 20 low az 70 De alarming. ~
said
he recommended hat the church
sponsor a movement that would cor
relate sunday school and public
high - hool activities 10 such an eX.
tent thar ths high schools ycui4
sive credits TO pupils for their work
IN Bible training
Twas Result o. Canvass
~Out Of total sunday school al
tendance q 4.S6p ihe district
surve, "a. raid " STAR. 4 fOuni
1ut as IN the intermediate classes,
an aYcraEa II bur - 20 a schnol
Only two of the SO schools had
training classes for teachers. This
viz sho~ you the creates; problem
a. The church - I'd hold is youth.
Today scarcely AIRY organized Effort
/. D. being made 20 take care Il chill
cr,n IN their teens an age when
tie rel dangers az life are thrnan
Ia their zay and when temptation
|, Is s'rorE
we might a Well come 10 the
realization that the church must
iuok afier the week lay activities OF
these children. We cannot expect
10 hold them by teaching them a
lesson or Two on SUNDAY We mus
look after their recrpa;ionai and
their social needs We have been
emphasizing ire inpre. ional life IN
trying 20 lead children n this age.
and have ignorct tEe expires si0nSl -
r. ffF- ryITETn n IHE1y Did The .uper
intendents The younr people ~ the
church had not teer used 70 the OK.
tent % their full resources He sra.
phasIzed the need &C finding rccres-
lions FOR ne children. and n the
church could aad no recreAuons OF
IT. own. he advocated adopting the
rscreations which are now popular
outside the church such a. base.
hsll. football tennE. and basketball"
World Hss Changed
The world has changed IN The
last 10 years D. said. and se must
keep pace with the changes"
The Rev r. A. Musser. In charge
Ct mission WORK ard the Rev J G
Penson, in charge CT social service
work. spoke in similar tone. each
declaring that the time had come
when the old idea must give way 20
modern demands II - church Is 20
d. is most effective work.
Two % the district superiutend.
ents were snow bound Follow ing
The morning session, luncheon was
served IN he Hotel Tuller After.
noon and evening sessions viii be
held.
The hrst nav ~ 'hs conference
"a devoted entirely 20 the meetings
VI The district ,upe-intenlenis Dur
irr the NEXT three days. an cKten
/ tivs program - no future activities
! I ~ tho detroit area Vill De decided
upon Methodist leaders. inciudiul
-n bishop. from various parts Of
tbe country viii attend The confer
,ncc 20 giss counsel Bishop IJuthei
! . Wilson, - Ses York city. VA
The only one vho had arrived In De-
2 troit Monday morning.
I Altho b. was -Kpscied that no
:. more than 1000 aspirations woul,
J. b, made oy those wishing 20 s,ten'
Z Tie conf renee sessions. alread'
p more than 900 have been received
}, n is probable TIA, fgple1 meeting
viii have 20 be held
. Tho new UefrCit area inciudes no
II cnly all NJ Methodist churches "
q Michigan out the German Methods
. churchcs OF Ohio and Western Penn
q .ylvsnia. and The Scandinavia
|, churches from The Appalschians :
n tho Rocky mountains.
!. The six bishops Who are 10 at.eu
% the conference arc bishop Williar
4 =. Mcdowell. Washington. d. q
- Bishop William Burt Buffalo. Bisl
i, az Luther T. Wilson. New Yor
. cts Bishop Edwin a Hughes, 30
ton. and BiAhob Henderson vino ~
. deliver the keynote address