The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-07-20
The VIM Pecks Bring Progress To Church And Business World
Bethel Advances Under Sincere
leadership Of Pastor And Wife

Peck came to Detroit from Ebene-
ger Church in Kansas CITY in 1928
Greater Bethel had Just been built
and was saddled with a debt OF
$l34, 900.
Bishop Carey was later appoint
ed 10 this Episcopal district. He
consulted with the officers and
members rs 10 their desire In the
minister who should serve them.
Out OF this conference the call went
forth 10 thee Rev. MFR. Peck and he
entered upon the work here in
1923 when he took up duties at
Bethel. the Rev. Mr.. Peck faced a
congregation discouraged with a
debt OF $4,000. payments OF 81 ono
month due on the mortgage in
addition TO other incidental ex-
penses.
Before the work could he reor-
ganized the great depression came.
But the. Rev. Mr.. Peck had glor-
ious faith. He faced the difficulties
OF the situation and conquered them
all. The Rev. Hr. Peck has reduced
that debt 10 S26 900 Or. Peck told
this writer how only few months
ago how bv an extra effort thay
raised $4,000 and bought up ter
thousand dollars worth OF old notes
This Is typical Of the ways in which
the Rev. Mr.. Peck has carried on
his constructive program to make
Bethel sound. stable and pro-
gressive religious institution. n
was also stated how last vcar 5000
was raised for redecorating the
church from TOP 10 bottom. Look
NJ Greater Bethel today more than
fifteen years after It's construction
and II looks as though II were only.
yes'e-dav that the construction was
completed.
The Sermon
The Rev. Mr.. Peck took his text
from ST. Luke 11:35: Take heed
therefore that the light which IL In
thee he not darkness.
am giving to you condensed
accornt OF fine sermon and pay
tribute 10 the Rev. Mr.. Peck. The
nhIlosophic pulpit orator. described
light spoken OF ny 81. Luke In men
tai and physical sense. The latter
comes from sensations upon The
optic nerve and the former Is fhe
mental ordinations OF impressions
that come into our minds. Incor-
rect sight and incorrect under
standing are as the darkness that
flood the body with evil thatethe
light OF truth would dispel. Just ne
correct sight makes for correct
physical adjustment with the world
so will correct moral and spiel
tual understanding light m the
pathway Of Christian conduct"
I'VE must see clearly IN order 10
believe implicitly. II we believe In
the Christian RELIGION we will know
how 10 live" The Rev. Mr. Peck
challenged the mental activity OF
man as the great source Of evil to-
day. He referred to the conflict in
Europe pc heinz more Obstructive In
the conflict OF ideas than IN the
conflict Of arms. In referring 70
Hitler. Dr. Peck quoted passage
from Meir Kamrh on the absurdi-
~ OF the theory Of the equality Of
man. He read: 20 further example
may show how houndlesslv today's
sins In this direct on FROM
time 10 time II ls demonstrated IN
the German petty bourgeois in
illustrated periodicals that for tne
first time here or there Negro
has become a lawyer. teacher or
even clergyman or even an opera
tenor or something OF that kind
II does not dawn upon this boGr-
geois world that here one has
actually to do with sin against all
reason: that Il Is criminal absur-
dity 10 train a horn half ape until
one believes lawyer has been
made OF him"
The Rev. Mr.. Peck also pointed
10 the mental darkness in America
after the light Of the constitution
had shone forth in this American
democracy. He cited the record Of
all the northern states nnssinr re-
strictive and disfranchis'ng laws
against the Negro. When the thir-
teenth and fourteenth amendments
passed. the Rev. Mr.. Peck pointed
to the record OF all the southern
states passing disfrsnchisment laws
to get around the Constitutional