Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-10
THE GAME Of FOOTBALL.
It's Discussion In the Methodist conference
"Doctrine Worthy of All Acceptation."
rr ~ rvJ,,o- sc Aha nfanat,h.

"Doctrine Worthy of All Acceptation."
To the Editor of the Dispatch;
Allow me to thank you very sincerely for
vonr excellent editorial i'll Saturday. issue
Of the Dispatch on Football and the
Church" You say lit is not the game so
much az the excuses. now so common
In connection with it. which excites puo-
lie criticism, not 10 say execratlon. =.
Execrationn is q strong word. ana ~
we'll expresses the public adherence and
detestation of the shameless excuses now
40 commonly connected with foot-oall ,
especially with intercollegiate contests al
that strangely popular sport.
That your readers may have q more per-
feet understanding of the action OF the
Methodist Conference IN Danvllle, Va, on
this subject | would ask attention to the
following extract from the conference
journal. which says:
= Alexander G.. Brown offered a paper
condemning the abuses OF certain games
now praetced in the intercollegiate con-
tests of our colleges and schools, which
was read and amended.
H. NJ Hone moved TO lay the whole
subject on the table, which was lost.
Nv. j. Kilby offered the following SUBJ
stitute for the whole. which was adopted ;
" Resolved, That while not opposing in-
nocent games. properly conducted, but
heartily commencing the same. we sim
cerely regret and earnestly oppose the ex-
cesses INTO which the games OF football
and baseball have run, and we respect
fully and earnestly request the trustees
and faculties of our institutions OF learn.
ing 10 repress the same. See Journal OF
Thursday. November 30, 1898.
"Repress" is one of the strongest words
in the language. and IS synonymous with
u,
strain. check. This. you regrettully say,
will give the trustees and faculties "a
hard lob TO do" But in the doing of II
they will be butressed by the powerful IN
fuence of the conference. one OF the old
est and largest ecclesiastical bodies IN ouI
southland; and will they not have the
moral support of the press. the pulpit. and
the good people of every class and CLINE
You pay Judge KIlbya Just tribute when
YOU say that he very skilfully guided the
Methodist Conference TO correct cOnclu-
sion, and take great pleasure IN saying
that his substitute, which was adopted
with singular unanimity, was heartily sus
tanned By the authors of the original reso.
lutions. Indeed. the doctrine OF the sub
stitute, which Won think worthy OF all ac
ceptation, is also the doctrine of the orlgi.
nal paper. which was not against football
per SO. but against the great excuses
into which it has gone"
Judge Kilbys resolution is carefully
guarded with respect TO innocent
amusements and manly sports; and the
movers of the original resolutions just as
heartily approve and commend them, but
they protest strongly against intercol
legiate games of football which, as com
monty played, are neither innocent MOI
manly, but vicious, degrading. anamali'
zingl IL is the excuses connected WIFI
these intercollegiate contests which, more
than ANYTHING else, has excited public
criticism, not to say execratlon," and
caused football. which as played OF old
time was a healtbful sport, TO be classified
of late with prize-fghting and to be de-
nounced as exceeding III some respects the
barbarity of the Sanlsh ball-tiGnt aud the
heartlessness of the gladltorial combats OF
Greece and Rome.
The rapid growth of the spirit and prac-
tice of improper games among the students
of our chief Institutions OF learning, oOtn
of the State and of the churches. may well
alarm the friends Of higher education, and
parents NAV well pause and ponder before
paciug their sons where, instead OF de-
yeloping their mental faculties, storing
their minds with useful knowledge. re-
fnIng their tasto. and forming their char
acters after the nobler models ofmanhood,
they ere allowed 70 spend much OF their
time and money on muscular amusements
and violent athletic exercises winch I'M
peril their limbs and lives, put them IN the
way of powerful temptation TO nameiess
vices and educate them IN the direction
of q degrading anlmallsm.
ALEX. G.. BRowY.
Ashland. Va, December 4, 1898.