The record-union., 1896-06-14
BICYCLE AND CHURCH.
The Wheel Approved in a Brooklyn
CONGREGATION.

The young people of the Westmin-
ster Presbyterian Church, First place
and Clinton street, Brooklyn, are en-
| thusiastic wheelmen and have started
a movement for the construction of
| racks in the church edifice for the ac-
commodation of those who desire to
ride to divine service on a wheel.
The bare idea may shock a few of
the staid old members, but as the ma
lority of the congregation and the pas
tor. the Rev DR.. James w. Gilland,
regard wheeling with favor, the indi-
cations are that the average wheelman
passing the church on a Sabbath in
the near future can take rest and
drink in some theological truths at the
same time with the assurance that his
bike" is safe in a rack near the vesti-
bule door. There was a time when the
Westminster Church was not popular
with the younger Persbyterians of
South Brooklyn, but that was before
DR.. Gilland was installed He soon
showed that he believed in the interests
Of the young people and favored every
move that had a tendency toward their
happiness and Improvement. The re-
suit is that he is immensely popular
The Westminster Cycle Club was or
ganized among the young men of the
church and is now one of the crack
wheeling organizations of that part of
the city. Parlane Davidson is Presi-
dent; John Dunlop, Vice-President;
Bert Goodson, Secretary, and T. f. Jor-
dan, Treasurer. The club makes long
runs. There is one iron-bou clause
in hn 1xy1 = a;1l,
club runs. The individual members
can ride as much as they see fit on the
Sabbath, but the club as an organiza-
ton must not turn out, neither must
the uniform or emblem be worn by the
members.
THE subject of Sunday riding is one
OF individual conscience" the Rev. DR.
Gilland said. Bicycle riding would
he wrong if it deprived an individual
of privileges for which the day was in
stituted Many people regard Sunday
as day of worship and others as
day for rest and recrea tion l do not
see why bicycling riding on Sunday
should be singled out for criticism any
more than many other matters which
have been permitted for years. So far
as church worship is concerned it does
not interfere with the service as much
as the trolley cars do.
"As to coming to church on a bicycle,
do not see that it is worse than on any
ether conveyance. If a man resides
within walking distance he certainly
should walk, but if man does not live
within walking distance think for him
to come on his bicycle is far less OBJ
Jectionable than to come in a car
r1age. l should be glad to accommo-
GATE all wheelmen at the church"
Dr. Gilland has some excellent Wheel
men among his congregation. H. Griffin,
one Of the principal members of the
choir, is an expert rider. Walter Kipp.
Wilmot Moorehouse, John Gray and
Asa Randall are others who have won
local distinction on the wheel. While
at the present time a wheel seldom if
ever seen in the vestibule of the
church on Sundays, on prayer-meeting
nights it is different, and on the oc-
casion of any special event of the
church during the summer evenings,
wheels about the edifice are much in
evidence
II do not ride myself on Sundays"
Treasurer T. E. Jordan of the West
minister Cycle Club said because 1
gave sufficient time on week days. /
live within walking distance of the
church or perhaps 1 might ride there
to service. There certainly can be no
more harm in it than riding there in
a carriage. 1 think it will only be a
matter of time before we have accom-
mcdations for wheels at the church" =
There Is growing sentiment in the
same direction among members of other
South Brooklyn churches. The young
people of the Strong Place Baptist
Church are beginning to agitate the
subject, as we'll as a Presbyterian
church in the same location-New
York Journal.