The herald., 1895-06-02
0, YOU SINFUL BIKERS
Rev. ROssiter Says You Are
Too, Too Wicked
ONCE YOU SKATED, NOW YOU BIKE
"Might as Well Break Family Peace
and Honor" Says This Divine.
Has no Use For Bicycles

Bicycle riding on Sundays was the sub
ject of II sermon recently delivered by
Rev. S. b. Rossiter. d. d.. at the North
Presbyterian church, Ninth avenue and
Thirty-first street, New York. Dr. Rossi-
ter vigorously denounced the growing
popularity of the wheel upon the Sabbath
day, and appealed to the rising genera
tion TO check the wholesale breaking of
the fourth comm andment, which he de-
clared TO be underm lining the constitution
of our country and ieopardizing the prin
cipes of liberty which Americans so
cherish.
The reverend doctor took his text from
the book OF Isaiah, chapter 5S, 18th and
14th verses. In opening he sought to es-
tablish proper conception of the Sabbath
and its observance. He pointed out that
the word itself means rest, and con-
tended that if all men would observe the
Sabbath day none need be overworked.
lie claimed that to break the Sabbath is
as bad as to break the family pc-., and
honor.
He then reviewed the holiness OF the
Christian sabbath. and asked his congrega-
ton not to be afraid of the word "holv,
which merely means set apart
''Iou all have a room in your house
reserved for special occasions, " said the
preacher. You have silver cup for
honored lips, or best dress in your
wardrobe for occasions of ceremony.
These are set apart; these are holy. and
God only asks you to set apart one day
for Him that you may stay with lin. as
the young wife stays at homo with her
lord and master who is tired and jaded
after hard days work.
"helgion is lis necessary to the soul
as air to the body. Religious activi is
as essential to the health OF the soul as
muscular exercise is beneficial to the
human frame"
The preacher then pointed out that the
Bible truths are being substantiated by
the researches Of science. Land. he said
must be iule one year in seven to be
productive, and Il wise horse-owner will
rest his cattle one day in seven. lie
claimed that the great fact that man
must res6 one day in seven, if the race
OF humanity is not 10 be degenerated. Is
coming to the front through scientific
channels.
Approaching the main point of his ar
gument, DR.. Rossiter sail:
Presentations Of different kinds sweep
over the people. Not long ago the roller
skating Iaged and killed itself of it's own
excess. Now cycling holds our youth
in its despotic thralldom. | admit its
charms, but | claim that it is the gift of
God. God made thelbicycle. The wheels
are made according to his laws. The
beating of the air in your faces as you
dash through space, the exhilaration of
being thoroughly oxygenized is but Il de-
vice of God to make you happy. Then
why do you take all His favors as means
to break His orders?
"If | rode wheel, drinkingthe cool air
and feeling the delights of rapid motion,
| should feel inclined 10 take off my hat
and go down on my knees in thanSfu-
ness, but | would not ride my machine
over the commands of God and hear them
shrieking beneath me in their ruthless
breaking.
Our boulevard is black with Sunday
riders. among whom excitement begets
forgetfulness of the g.ver of all their Joy
Young men and women absent them
selves from church and Sunday school.
but God will not grant them special
disposition because they own bicycle.
There is no more harm in playing
baseball or lawn tennis, in attending
Il ohowder club. or in going down the bay
with brass band OH Sundays and sing
ing and dancing than there is in riding
bicycle" he declared "Where is this
going to stop?" DR.. Rossiter closed with
the statement that the future of this
country is being menaced by the almost
universal breaking of the Lords conf
mandments. For this he holds the
bike largely responsible. and made an
appeal to the young to henceforth refrain
from desecratIng the day of rest. which
the Christian religion demands shall be
kept sacred.
ir fha C.sf