New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
BROADWAY AND 14TH-ST.
CLERICAL SPORTSMEN.
SHOULD FISHERS OF MEN BE HUNTERS OF
GAME?

THE CASE OF THE RECTOR OF ST. GEORGES
CONSIDERED.
To ne Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir 1t has shocked and gieved the public in general
10 read in the papers that the gh artcd and popular
rector OF 1t Georges in this city TO appear before
a magistrate TO meet charge OF having shO. quail
out Of season. 1t is altogether PROBABLE however
that the charge IS unfonded fer Dr. RansfOId IS not
the kind Of man who would violate tho law. There 3
undoubtedly mistake somewhere But the issue of
the trial is of comparatively little importance except
as 70 may serve to call attention TO the fact that We
have game laws that ought to be enforced no natter
who violates them.
The really important question suggested by the
Incident is this: Is it just tho right thing for Dr.
Eainsford or any other Christian minister to become
a member of sporsmans club. and to engage In the
practice of shooting inofcnsive animals a. sport
Is such sport In keeping with calling whose Sprl'
and atmos phere should be peace and goodwill take
II that very large proportion If not paJoHty Vi
Christian people generally would answer these lue'-
lions with an emphatic No! And am free to say that
agree with them
should be sorry TO appear as critic OF DE- l'di"'
fond whose earnestness zeal and devotion most
cheerully recognize and admire. But think he ought
10 know that his 1OndnesS for hunting sPrlhe"7
,bourb II does from most praSewOrthy love OF oul
door life and manly exercise Is imparng his hnuen'c
And therefore simply on the ground OF eApe"eu'1'
te ought TO forego this particular sport All 4
fooI,sb nreiudce some one will say. We'll even
II II were a clergyman cannot afford 10 Ignore d
nraiudice so widespread, affecting a. II docs HIS
.tanIilg and usefulness in the Church All th'"7'
are lawful for me- said the Apostle. Dnt AZ 'ni"7'
are not expcdent." The very fact that c'ersSi't"
WIN hunts IS liable to be accused, whether falsely
or not docs not matter Of breaking some game la"'
make, his indulgence in the practice OF douoiui pro
rtctv II is his duty to his church well as 10 MIN
self not TO do anything that may by the Shsh''S'
feasibility involve him. and therefore IT, IN te u''
pleasant scandal and notoneiy that "ou" W ''''-'
Iv his arrest and trial as law-hlcaher
Rut Their, IS a higher view Of the matter thah even
that Killing animals for sport is simply OIL Oh
,,rid barbarfsm. II belongs to past age ana Is al
aacbrorism TO day. 1t is opposed TO all me Det'er'
ohI.r and NOR, humane tendencies OF our u'W'' ann
ba no proper place in or relation to ths DusH' prdo
,,csl industrial age. surely then, clcr6ym'H ou5i1'
IN he the last encourage or engage IN inns spol'
rhtcb only finds H. cOnsummatlon IN The death Oh
~ har,,Icss beast or bird. Cannot DR. RainstoId,
1o IN o,rer matters 50 clearly notes the trend OIL
o,e,n thought, sec that hunting 40 Sport / oP-
cscd 10 the humane spirit that Is glofliyhs anu e'-
rotlinr modern life ? some two years d." many VI
~ wcT, inexpressibly shocked TO read III one OF inc
,incs an article by DR.. Rainsfod, In which he
Inei,cd with great sympathy and gusto his hunting
io,ccs I'm the Rocky Mountains. Inc slchehlhs
III fl, that article Of ue way In which the sood
c,or cot the drop poor bear whlcn ldu nci,hur
't.t" nor harmed him. and shot OIL lafSe p9fuon
Lcod named and gllcNed mulllluue OF
VI af nqciclous as we'll "a religious, anu PIONohIeu
lcoPc, "a crIticsm I'm the press In my opinion that
rnlch 9Iiu - f1llIy deserved The spectacle OF "A
81 ia ,ia minister Of whom everybody WShed 10 thnk
III naaring 10 goat over the suHcrlhEs ana ucSn
w iaI. which he had travelled thousands o mlieS 10
OF %l'' I'd KIN was painful, not 10 say cN0lllnS
mamv of lis hoped that Dr. Rainsfou "uum lcdAc ulls
si'E iD no more but IN this, unfortunately We were
mi,tahen. 80 I'm paipsford Is reported to have
al
sdl ~ ao,cr,1 tho sublime figure OF huduhd. but To
am 49, a sportsman who killed animals Tor rccrca
buuus, %d amusement would have been an OBJECT or
llC, ~ .nd detcetaion. The saccdness OF even the
ioa'Iii5 ,JIe life was a fundamental principle of his
mos and 10 nut any living thing to death was I'm
itAE'oii n,or one Of the greatest OF crimes II IS
nm ,isIv Inconsistent, Therefore, Tor one Sho reves
sr5l 50 IN violate of his most cherished pHn
cipcs p,.,.,. .oto and lost ve eIov
rio m"ancst thin; on lis upward way"
oed NOT take up your space 20 prove what We
. - that the rector OF ST. Georges has the
all Nv NJ" s,-d Goodwill Of everybody. We have fol-
fcsPd Ms career In Ncw-Hork win sympathetic pride,
am vort he Ia. 50 brayely undertaken but TO-
n o,io ,crv reason, grlry'd, ana may ! add
ma -; when thou ghtlessly know, he indulge
fuls I'm nj amusement which dins The brightness of
IN chIs tie enthn iasm OF his friends and puts
~, ~, ' jn a false Hight before the unlhlnhns world;
hii me would Ike to all the clergy more fond
j, To- eathv innocent outdOcr sports than they ar.
~, Iet tncm engage Oty In such Sports as are en-
10 sugeestiOn Of wantOn and unnecessary cruelty.
Nm, moi Dr. Raiusfort therefore, Tor his own sake,
W. ,be sake of his great work. and ont OF derence
IN the humane spirit OF The age, gNs up
VIII nraciised rs our barbaOus and cruel ance tors
Nc'y.N orl, Dec. Z, looH. "