Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-11-15
MIR. LEAvITT ON CHRISTIAN C1T1.
ZENSHIP.

A large audience gathered at the Unitarian
church last Sunday evening 70 listen 10 the first
Of Rev. +. b. Leavitt series Of five plain talk.
on Christian citizenship" Mr.. Deavitt said ir
beginning his address that bis purpose in giving
the series was that he might say some 'straigb..
forward and earnest words that seemed 10 him o.
need TO be said. He did not expect his hearers d,
agree with all that be said. His object was no,
TO make people think moe as be did about these
things, but 10 make them think more about these
things. The subject Of the address was "a mans
duty TO his body" The fret topic taken up was
athletics, and the remarkable interest which We
a nation have developed 10 recent years no
sports OF every kind For this interest in atb.
letic sports there are two good reasons. one Is
that IL keeps men well. strong. good natured and
wholesome the other is that il trains men to bear
hardship and helps them 10 throw on the s0th
and luxury Of our comfortable ways OF living
Just as soon as sport does not accomplish these
two results It leaves the domain Of morals and
becomes merely brutal Therefore. when q man
trains his body not for the sake Of keeping we'll
not for the sake Of a little wholesome hardship
to teach and help others, then he is doing not
a manly but beastly thing By this rule the
whole subject must b. judged The speaker
strongly de Jrecated the Introduction Of the ele-
ment OF money and Of professionalism into our
sports. AS soon as any branch Of athletics BE-
Games hippOdrOme affair where thousands
watch a few play. instead OF the thousands play.
ing themselves. then IL ceases to do the good 1t
might. We must never forget that the purpose
Of exercise is not to make big muscle bat to train
the mind and body 80 that they may best serve
their ends. When encourage men TO 20 into
these sports for a living we change a means into
an end. The teri question for all the various
forms Of athletics is whether they make the body
stronger. the mind clearer. and the heart cleaner.
BY the same test must the questions which arise
in the cities. especially in the West, about SUNDAY
ballplaying, b decided If had lot Of fell
lows in my parish who we're obliged to work in
factories shut up from seven in the morning till
six at night and sometimes later. every week
day, should not only approve Of their playing
hall fartAa aFf Nfrf I had and
strength would play with them, because be-
lieve that would accrue to their benefit. But II
am asked about the advisability Of having pro-
fessional games on Sunday, where men who do
not need the exercise take il, and men who do
need the exercise smoke. then there can be no
question in my mind that such Sunday exercise
does harm"
Coming TO that part Of his theme in which he
discussed the general question Of the use OF ner
Temperance" the broad general ground was
taken that the use Of tobacco and alcoholic
stimulants is not wrong in itself and the fight
against these evils must be made on other ground
than that they are poisons from hell The human
body accustOms itself TO almost any condition or
treatment. Men Of world wide prominence in
religion. in letters, in philosophy, have used to-
bacco. or drunk stlmulants, but their example
counts for nothing so far as nabits are concerned
For a young man TO set himself up to initiate any
Of them would be the height Of folly. Each
must be a law TO himself 70 what constitutes
his own best manhood In this as IN sports and
| athletics the only way IS 20 find out what makes
II
| that way OF life.
There is no one potent way Of dealing with the
/ great evil Of intemperaBce. Once il seemed 10
/ the speaker that the only way was through pro-
/ hibitiou and teetotalism. Now be believed that
the essential work was in helping men 10 cleanli-
/ ness and whOlesomeness Of life, and giving them
higher ideals of what makes for true manhood.
What can the young do to help in the work
/ that confronts US. Much If they only wish 10 do
and long 10 do. You may not BE- able TO BE-
/ lieve that all these things are posons. and
/ they ought TO BE- disus-d by everybody: and
/ yet you may BE- sure, as / am. that the use OF
| them is a great deal too common. and that the
| best thing for you to do is TO leave them alone
! There Is a struggle for today and for to-
| morrow aud many tOmorrOws to have our laws
| ooeyed. TO prevent men making gain and profit
| out Of temptation and vice: and want you to be
| prepared soon As your voting time comes
now il il Is come-to take your part in this strug
gle and to let il be the Intelligent and fearless
| part Of Christian citizens" In order to respect
! our bodies we must remember that they are yer
| lis the temple of God -he viRor OF the mind and
| the peace of the soul and the usefulness Of the
| life depend Gu the way set ourselves 10 make
! il habitatiOn for him.