Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-18
SUNDAY AND ITS SPORTS
Rev. jackson Favors FREQ Enjoy
msnt OF the Day OF Hest.
BASEBALL A CONCEIVABLE CANE
The sabbath shesid Net he 6s.sa ovss TO
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DIR. jackson prefaced his remarks last
evening with the quotation, The Sab
bath Was made FOR men and not men
for the sabbath" aud on that based his
remarks. "Chrlst Was not understood
in his tlme," he said. "Aen had built
their lives upon forms of religion, bat
Christ came TO teach the spirit. | will
not discuss the question as to why We
observe the seventh day instead of the
first. but will simply discuss the proper
methods of is observance. Among
men we observe two ideas, neither oil
winch | think would appeal 10 you as
anything but an extreme. They are the
Puritan idea and the Continental. The
old cavaliers whole idea was to make
il day of the wildcat jollity. Those
who objected soon followed the Puritan
idea. As Lord Macauley expressed 1t
they objected to bull batting, not be-
cause IL hurt the ANIMALS but because IL
pleased the people. Little children
were punished tor playing and the
Lords day was stern, sad and solemn.
Little children must have learned TO
hate the blessed day of the Lord. Then
there is the continental idea. IL you
want to understand II 90 to Chicago and
over on the North SIDE you viii see
it exempiitied IN the beer gardens.
The American sabbath.
Now, between these two ideas we find
what We may call the American Sab
bath. A day OF manliness, ana char
acter-bullding, q glad. quiet, resttul
nd hAtrs.a1 Axdta Hav Ifr1ar lNaSh
ington's administration We find almost
the ideal of this dearly bought Ameri-
can Sabbath. Now, what is the Sab
bath idea of rest? l do not AJAX you
what your opinion may he aboat reli-
gion or churches, but do you not realize
possibilities IN yourself that are higher
than mere money getting. A nobler
side which we may call character.
shall not say that Sunday should be
spent IN church-going. There may be
too much of church-going. But GER
tainiy church-going should have its
place on the Sabbath. There are many
grand books, the book of nature and
other things that will help in Sabbath
character-building. In sermon on
Sabbath, heard preacher say that he
wouldn't go TO q dying wife on Sab
oSsh ANYWAY 0ius 0tio S8Ao W lily eCsA
YOU'RE monster" There is no day
clerks. mechanics, etc., who ask
an honest question. 1t is our only day,
and can't We have it for sport? 1t re.
quires an honest answer. But here let
me say that the Woodworking men are
not the ones demanding sabbath break
ing revelry or sports. They are not the
A Il
say that among American workingmen
there is always chance for the more
boisterous sports on other days. In
some OF our large cities the Saturday
half-holiday has been established. II
may be devoted to the active sport that
nature sometimes requires. and Sunday
Is devoted to gentler recreations.
Admires Baseball.
The more boisterous sports are work,
and often capitalists have said. it is
better that they work. l ask you, as
American citizens, are you ready to
risk the American Sabbath? l do
not think much of Sunday laws.
/ believe in liberty, the separation of
Church and State. No man should
be forced to go To church. II Chris
| tianity must resort TO force ii will fail.
The sabbath will not be preserved 10y
law. Reason and conscience must be
appealed to. We must make it a glad
| and restful day. 1t is said that the
| masses are leaving the churches. Ii so
| 1t Is because the pulpit does not speak
upon living issues. So believe church
| should be attractive. 1t should have
the choicest music, free pews and at
| tract To rest and character building.
| Now about the worlds fair. Shall il be
| opened on tine Lords day? l hope tor
humanlty's sake, for the sake of busy
laboring humanity that 1T shall be
closed. Apart from church or religion
| 1t should be closed. Now about sun
| day base ball. believe base ball is a
| noble, manly amusement. l don't be-
lleve in Sunday base ball. We may
not care to 60 Sundays to see
them whipped as they have been. But
are there not six days to settle the
championship. Now our lovely parks.
Ii tits To be place for noise confusion
liquor selling ETC., 1t is too bad. A park
may be good or harmful as it is used.
The Sabbath is for rest. not for revelry.
Put before you lofty ideals and you
need not ask others If it be right to pur-
sue any certain course. Ask yourself
not only concerning the pleasure OF the
moment. bat of the happiness OF
eternity.