The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-09 00:00:00

THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK ON
SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

In London, on Sunday afternoon, the fourth sermon of a
series now being preached at St. James's, Westminster, on
" The Use and Abuse of the World and the Things that are
in the World,' was delivered by the Archbishop of York on
"sports and Pastimes."
There are (said his Grace) not wanting at the present
time symptoms that the Church is holding herself
aloof from the great problem of modern culture, and
yet, if it should ever come to this, that the science
and employment of the world should be ranged on the
one side and theology on the other, and the gulf be-
tween them be widening daily instead of tending to
close, a worse evil will have befallen the Church of
God than States and Governments can inflict. The
Dives of to-day is a thousand times richer than
his ancient namesake ; the Lazarus is just AS poor.
A fiercer competition for the means of life by incessant
toil is on one side, whilst on the other is leisure, that
knows no toil, but only amusement. The subject of
"Sports and Pastimes is a difficult one to treat in a
religious point of view, for the world's pleasures seem
at first to be outside the sphere of the Bible, which is
our law. That Jesus wept we read, but never that
Jesus laughed, or that he recreated himself when
he was weary. Now every creature of God is good,
and "unto the pure all things are pure." The
child, and the aged, and the sick have each
their special recreations ; but they may be harmless
pursuits, outside the range of binding duty, and
they must be judged by the personal needs
and capacities of those who use them. That
sport which the scluolboy may pursue with eager-
ness would be accounted frivolous in the statesman.
In dealing with amusements the first proposition that
one must lay down is, that a life wholly spent in them
is quite unknown to Christianity, and must not be.
The very name implies that we pursue the Muses or
studies when we are set free. Relaxation is the un-
bending of the muscles from their state of exertion ;
sport ',resents the limbs tossing themselves wildly in
free play ; diversion is the turning aside of the mind
for a time from its serious aims; and play mean
exercise. Recreation is the restoration of the weary
~. by pleasure, and pastime is a temporary relief
from the solid pursuit of the time. Many a life,
however, is passed wholly in amusement and in one
common round of enjoyment. What can you say
to such a life as that which knows nothing but
amusement ? It cannot do anything to advance the
mighty purposes that go through all this meaning
world. It is not of God, and therefore must be against
Him. Augustine said, "Only love, and then do as
thou wilt." Dilige et quid via far. The misunder-
standing of that maxim has hindered Christianity more
than any other causes ; it has established tyranny,
justified lawlessness and religious persecution, embit-
tered controversy, and made theological hatred
proverbial. Proper amusements are resting-places
in your life of duty, but a life wholly spent
in them is commt and false, for there can be
• NOTICES OF MOTION. I neither love to God nor man in it. It is not
In tie HOVSE OF COMMONS, Mr, Pease gave notice that on difficult to see that amusements which educate
Tuesday, the 2nd of June, he would call the attention of and strengthen have a different footing from those
the House to the present position of certain tenants under more passive recreations which only tickle and
the Ecelealastical Commissioners, and to move a resolution, amuse the mind, and make the day pass idly by.
Sir E. Watkln- -In committee on the Intoxicating Liquors Games of chance can never he played on equal terms,
Bill to propose the insertion of a clause to abolish billeting
npon licensed victuallers. for the loss is always greater than the gain can be. The
motions of the stars in the heavens are not more certain
Mr. Leeman—On Monday neat, to ask the First Lord of the than the rain such games bring at last. If the chances
Treasury whether the Government are prepared to recom-
mend the adoption of the prayer of the memorial presented at the table or the bookmakers superior skill are put
to the Foreign Secretary, asking for a grant of money to the av an advantage on one rii le, ruin comes to the other
family of the late Dr. Livingstone. with slow and sure feet. The slight dreams of success
Mr. Fawcett In the event of the Nine flours Bill being are only phantoms that lead in one downward direction
read a second time, to ask the if amiss to affirm the incr. to an abyss. Religion cannot regulate these forms of
pedieney of passing those clauses of the bill that impose new amusement, but to those who are following this kind of
legislative restrictions upon the labour of adults. pursuit the only advice to give is, abandon it altogether,
ARAB SLAVES, for it leads the soul to sure end certain death. Then
Mr. Gilpin asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign t,,ere is amusement which springs from cruelty. With
Affairs what truth there was in the statement which has ap- respect hi, this, the law aof the countly are so confused
peared in the Augoburuhe Allgemeine Zcilvag of March
, to the effect that
ded the English Foreain Office hare issued that it is very hard to find one that Can be properly
25
apldiell. It has been laid down as milswful to pursue
Instructiona, (ban upon the aon3 of the '
lawyers, that only those slaves whopini were found inCrown i
slaves rats nan enclosed place, to their destruction. but the
dhows who bail not become the property of resident Arabs other day it was made lawful for men to pursue rabbits
were to be freed to their death in a somewhat larger space. Thus it
Mr. Bourke said no instructions bad yet been issued by the mayto. m;tfm'ly said that some of the pursuits of the rich
Foreign Office upon the subject. QueStiuns upon it ‘‘',E, nN Worse than those for which the poor are punished.
now before the law offices of the Crown, who would shortly To plll.Klto a wild creature in its natural haunts and
reply, and it would then b considered it it wore nec,esary conditions, setting po
to send further instructions to Zanzibar. time the srtsman's skill against the
alertness of e animal, Is one thing, to alter those
conditions, so that there is no room for alertness and
no escape is quite another. I venture to hope that the
time ie not far off when it will be matter of cisrious
history that English gentlemen once used to publish it
aim ad with satisfaction that they and their friends
hal in a couple of days killed 2,000 head of
game that had been driven together into a wood for
certain ierirtli. Then, again, the trapped bird, re-
leased without a chance, wounded again and again,
and picked up fluttering and suffering, is made a
pastime for strong men. and when women make a
holiday over such a sport it shows they are without love
or pity. It reflects a shadow, and becomes S ',4inful
study indeed. If the sport were fair then there would
be cothing to condemn; but if you alter the condi-
tions DE bird:: and beasts and pursue them to death,
then it is quel and immanly. As the poet says,
"lie ptsycln welt wtm loveth well
'iledn bird, and man, awl iame-A."
In conclusion, his Grace eanoitid all to let their lives

THE LAND TITLE. 4 AND TRANSPER BILLS.
In the HOCSE or LOAM. May 5, the Lord Chancellor's
Land Bills were considered in Committee.
Before the Land Titles and Transfer Bill went into Com-
mittee, a brief discussion arose, in the course of which
general approval of the principle of the measure was ex-
pressed, but some suggestions for its amendment were offered
by Lord Batherley and Lord O'Hagan. After a reply from the
Lord Chancellor, who pointed out objections to the proposed
amendments, the several clauses of the bill were gone
through in Committee and adopted without substantial
alteration. •
THE REAL PROPEfiTY LIMITATION BILL, &C.
The Beal Property Limitation Bill and the Real Property
Vendors and Purchasers Bill also pasi.ed through Committee.
The Courts ,Colonial.) Jurisdiction bill and the Game Birds
(Ireland) Bill were read a second timc.
The Hertford College Magdalen Hall', Oxford, Bill was
passed through Lommittee.
The Harbour Dues Isle of Man Bill was read a third time,
and passed.

CHURCH PATRONAGE TN MC(TLANI).

_
The Duke of Richmond gave notice that on the lsth inst
he would call the attention of the House to the subject of
Church patronage in Scotland.
The other business having been disposed of. their lordships
adjourned.

LOANS AND PUBLIC WORKS.

Mr. Pell asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether
her Majesty's Government would take steps to empower the
Public Works Loan Commissioners to make advances to the
authorities iD counties and boroughs in England awl 'A ales
on the terms and conditions contained in the forty-fourth
section of the Public Health Act, 1072, fimt, for the con•
version of outstanding Mans raised for the construction cf
lunatic asylums, gaols, sod police headings ; and, secondly,
for the expenses which such authorites may hereafter have to
Incur on these objects.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the tendency of late
years had been to throw a great deal more Lesiness on the
Public Loan Commissioners. It would not be possible to
add to the duties cast upon them without reviewing their
position. Ile could give no promise on the subject, but the
matter would be considered by the Government

WRITERS IN THE CUSTOMS.

The Chancellor of the Rschequer, replying to Mr. Ritchie,
said there were some writers in several departments of the
puhlic service, including Customs, who were appointed prior
tt) June, 1576. and whose annual increments of salary had

be lives of love unto all things, not forgetting the Di% ine
injunction, "If any man ilconic after Me, let him
deny himself and take up his ores." Then all doubtful
and cruel amusements woula be east aside, and the
heart would respond, "My Lord and my God."