Clerical Idol of Young

1914

Presbyterian Minister Inaugurates "Lovers' Night" At His Church

Philadelphia, Jan. 5. — Being the product of an era in sympathy with his advanced religious ideas, the Rev. Zed Hetzel Copp, pastor of Cohocksink Presbyterian church, is fast becoming the clerical idol of the community and the special favorite of the younger generation. A distinct hit with the latter has just been made by Mr. Copp in inaugurating a "lovers' night" at his church.

The Rev. Mr. Copp recently decided there was more talk about love in churches than there was of the presence of the commodity itself. His plan is the throwing open of the church doors every Friday evening to the young men and women who are "keeping company" or desire to do so, and of providing for them suitable opportunity to make love under proper conditions.

Comment: I probably should add that the phrase "to make love" back then meant something entirely different than now. It could be simply being together, sitting together without parental supervision. Or holding hands, looking at the moon together, etc. Even in the '60s, when Elvis sang "It's time to make love," he also meant these more moderate romantic exertions, kissing on the beach probably in his case, going by his movies. Although the song "Do Not Disturb," from which that lyric comes from, does say, "Hang a sign on the door," which is getting more serious. So the pastor's plan back in 1914, while apparently on the daring side, wouldn't really have amounted to that much. Sitting in the same pew sort of like a married couple.