New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
BICYCLING on SUNDAY.

There Is one aspect Of bicycling that Is worthy
Of more than passing notice We refer to the
effect that 1t Is to have in modifying the OBJ
servance Of Sunday. The great majority Of men
who have made bicycling an avocation find Sun
day the only available day on which to ride. 1t
Is true this will not be admitted by strict OBJ
servers of Sunday who will contend that most
men can find enough time during the six days
Of the week for all the wheeling that Is good for
them. But, however true their contention may
be in the abstract. 1t is fact that Sunday Is
coming more and more to be recognized as the
great day Of the week for whcelmcn. The ten
dcncy Of the age both in the churches and out
Of Them Is toward more liberal observance OF
the first day Of the week; and this fact is giving
a powerful impetus to the special movement In
favor Of Sunday cycling. If the men who ride
wheel on Sunday were all irrellglous men, II
would be easy for the churches to make re-
lgous issue of the question: though even theh
II Is hard TO see how they could stem the tide IN
that direction. But this Is far from being 'he
case. As a matter Of fact, most whcelmen VINO
ride ON Sunday are either church members or
nominal professors Of religion. They nave III
least a traditional respect for the beliefs mat
cluster around the observance OF Sunday; ana
they would not willingly do anything that would
array them as opponents Of rellg ion and morality.
How TO deal with these men Is the problem
which the churches are called upon to-day 10
solve: and It must be admitted that 1t Is one OF
great difficulty, demanding the exercise or WIS
dom, tact and Christian charity.
IL rs we believe bicycling on Sunday cannot
be prevented II seems 20 us that 1t would be the
part Of wisdom for the churches 70 make the
host of the situation. a few churches have a.
ready. in a tentative way arranged spccal ser
vices for whcelmcn, inviting certain clubs, at the
beginning or the end Of Sunday run. to attend
service I'm body and listen to special sermon
onnroprate TO the OCCASION While there may
he difficulties IN making feasible arrangements
for such services. the idea is one that can prob
ably he successfully developed in many places II
tbc churches and associations Of whcelmen VIII
get together and arrange a suitable programme.
There are Of course. some whcclmcn who would
not 90 to church anyhow; unfortunately, that
is true OF many protesting Christians. But we
believe that many wheclmen. If not the majority.
would gladly welcome the opportunity of attend
ing church on Sunday. II such attendance could
he so arranged as not to Interfere with their
Sunday run.
Hilt 10 carry out SUCH scnchc sn'c'sSi"'!
II will be necessary for the churches and wheel
men Of various districts TO cooperate together
In preparing n schedule Of services. In some
cases It might be feasible for the whcclmcn to
attend I'm early service IN a home church before
they start out, but probably In most instances
il would be found more practicable to have
service at the middle end Of the run. 1t would
not. Of course, be proper for cycle clubs to make
attendance on such services IN any sense obi
gatory: nor would II BE- AT all necessary All that
they need to do would be to recognize such an
arrangement. and recommend Attendance to
such members as might bc so disposed. II this
were done. and II the churches would provide
a short and interesting service. with an appro-
pirate sermon for such occasions. the result
might be gratifying alike to the churches and
the whcclmcn.