Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-04-27
THE SKATING Kinks.

Jottinxs From n sermon by Rev. Mr..
Bray Last Night at the East Church
A CommOn.Sense View OF Amuse-
ments.
Last evening at the Humphrey street Con-
gregational church Rev. Mr.. Bray, the pas
tor, spoke upon ga common-sense view of
amusements with especial reference to skat-
ing Kinks" The text was from Ecclesiastes,
iii, 1. "To everything there is season and
time to every purpose under the heaven"
The question of amusements forces itself
upon the church and all who have the young
under their charge We live in fast age
in the age of steam and electricity. Every
| one is under a mental strain. This question
| is one which above all others needs the
gospel of common sense. Play as well as
work is part of mans nature. GAN work
| and no play makes Jack dull boy" and all
| play and no work makes Jack q dude or
Ounce. But, what recreations are to be al
| lowed7 Re-creations are those which renew
and invigorate. A well known writer has
| given two tests. Those recreations are to be
| allowed which are within ones means and
not inconsistent with their morning
and evening devotions; and all rscreations
/ AOooe -
| to be chosen" The fact is that the skating
rink is doing for young men what the law
has failed to do, that i, is keeping minors out
| of the saloons If the skating rink will hold
| the young men from the pool rooms and
saloons, it is doing good. Armies must be
recruited; the army of drunkards places the
hope of the traffic in the young men, these
thousands that will be in worse places if they
are not in the rink. 1t is said that the rink
is the school of immortality. He who
has a tendency to immortality has no
need of the rink to develop the
badness which is in his heart. 1t is said that
| it is not conducive to health. The physi-
clans testify that the movement is delightful
and the exercise is invigorating; that it is
beneficial to health. Then, too, it is not
expensive in comparison with other recrea-
lions. What shall we do7 If you wish to
perpetuate the rink, oppose it. It is more
table Kinks; if they cannot be found prohibit
your children from going. When they are
found indulge moderately and always have
your children properly attended. We
see people riding in their carriages,
on BICYCLES and tricycles and say
which makes one healthier and happier
There is a long list of them, but opposite
each one should be written, ''Let your mod
Grafton be known" A new conner has ar
| rived in the world of amusements. 1t has
/ come on wheels-four on each foot. 1t is
| yet to be decided whether the modern skat-
ing rink is merely an American craze or has
come to stay. The rink is sharply criticised
by ministers, saloon keepers, theatrical man
ayers and proprietors of pool rooms. 1t is
lawful to investigate everything-that is, I'M
| der proper guidance. These who say the
rink is ''the gate to hell" and is "worse than
gambling bells" will not win people to the
church because the saying is not true. 1t is
| a sweeping statement which is not founded
on fact or investigation.
/ 1t is a fact that young men are drawn into
the places which are the brightest and most
attractive. Let ministers remember that
they were once young and away from home
and that the young men of to-day as those of
the past will go to the places which have the
most attraction for them. The saloon keep
ers pool and theatrical managers oppose the
rink. Why? Because the patronage is
withdrawn from them. There is a sense
| eight wheels, and we say ''he is sinner. y
Why 50? The danger lies in the line of ex-
cess and in the circumstances and environ
| ments. If the etiquette of the street and
| parlor is introduced into the rink and the
| sport is not INDUCED in to excess no fault
can be found, and the rink will be one of
| our most healthy, common-sense and helpful
| sports.
Mr. Bray spoke in commentator of the
management of the New Haven Kinks and
| said that men of upright Christian character
| were at the head who strove in every way to
maintain the purity of the place and to keep
the Kinks free from all those who do not
conform to recognized and popular degree
/ af efinuAtfa and morality