New-York tribune., 1896-05-25
CYCLISTS AND SUNDAY.
PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER'S DISCUSS THE
GENERAL AssEMBLY'S ATTITUDE.
DO NOT DIsAPPROvE RIDING TO CHURCH o> n
WHEEL. BUT BICYCLING FOR AMUsE-
MENT Is CONDEMNED.

no NOT DISAPPRONE RIDING IL ChO MN N-' -
WHEEL. BUT BICYCLING FOR AMUsE-
MENT Is CONDEMNED.
Tho announced attitude of the General Assem-
b,v Of the Presbytcrian Church in Saratoga
Strings against Sunday cycling was widely as
cuesed among wheemen in Brooklyn yesleru'S
as well ae in Church circles
The Rev DR. J. +. Carson, or the C9Ht'ai
Church. has most decided views, and as 'hey
were uttered before the acti m OF the Assembly
they were certainly not inspired by any desire
20 be in harmony with the pronluiGatons OF t"a'
body. in commenting on the failure oi the sp'
claI church services for wheelmen whlch nan
been prepared and extensively advertised oy
como nostors he said he felt no regret at the re-
suit While he had no word Of censure for those
who rode 10 churcn on their wheels because l"ei
homes were remote from the sanctuary ne u''
rot oppr)ye Of unnecessary cycling on the SAD
bath and believed that any attempt 10 ehcour-
are pastimeg by holding special services in some
remote chapel as nducement to or encour-
agenent OF such reatiOn was wrong.
1T Is no time" SAID he Ito bring the Church
down 10 the level Of popular amuseNchts' OUT
rather time that such diversions were brought
I'D to the level OF tho Church or else abandoned
When talked with On sunday bicycling DR..
x,
II think in itself the bicycle is a useful inven-
ton and will prove Increasingly useful year b.
year The use of It on Sunday Is like the use OK
all other locomotive appliances, subject to the
law OF the day II used to promote the worship
of God AMI attendance upon public worship,
should rejoice In IT, and II can be so used in many
cases fenr that at present the novelty OF 1t
and the strong disposition TO neglect pubic "or-
ship on any pretext Is leading to some serious
abuse of the wheel. We regard the law of the
Sabbath Just as binding in the new dspensation
in the old"
The First Presbyterian Church. In Henry-st..
near Clark is the Oldest Presbyterian church
in Brooklyn and one Of the Oldest societies es-
tablished In this country. 1t was also the first
10 observe the needs OF its cycling members. and
provide wheel racks in the church building FOR
their accOmmo o1atlon. Several members ot the
choir go 10 rehearsal on their wheels and the
rack is convenient for some of the congrega-
tion as for the choir. When asked about Sunday
wheeling, the pastor the Rev. Dr. Charles Cuth-
bert Hall. said:
II would divide Sunday bicycling into two
parts; first. riding II church on bicycle; second.
riding for mere amusement on Sunday. AS 10
riding to the church on bicycle. a good many
Of my congregation ride To church in their car
riages. and cannot see any distinction between
riding To church fOuf wheels. or riding TO
church on two wheels | have little sympa thy
with the wholly artificial distinction which some
pious people make between the carriage and the
wheel
The other part Of the question, however. opens
mp a broad field. the whole question - sunday
keeping What !s sunday? Not the Jewish Sab
bath There is 10; one Christian In brooklyn
who keeps sunday according - tho strict letter II
the fourth comma lment sunday is the weekly
cofnmcmoraton OF III resurrection of Christ.
and only thore who feel personal love for Him
and have personal wish 70 pay homage T. Him
have n real Ineligible reason for keeping sun
day sacredly. The argument arainst sunday
bicycling therefore. Will have weight only with
those who honor Christ
DR. Hall docs not ride bicycle. because he says
ne Is too busy. but his assistant the ReV Gaylorl
: White ~ the city Park Branch. Is an eGthusi-
astic wheelman. and makes many OF his pastoral
calls on his bicycle.