New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-27
"TO HEAVEN ON A BICYCLE"
WHEELING CONSIDERED AS A MEANS OF
GRACE.
THE REV. ARTHUR JOHNSON. OF HAcKENsAcK.
breaches ON AN INTERESTING ToPIc-AD-
vANTAGEs AND DISADVANTAGES OF
THE POPULAR PAsTIME-suNDAY
RIDING A DESIGNATION OF
THE SABBATH.


THE SABBATH.
Hackensack, April 2s (speciaD.-The Rev Arthur
Johnson pastor Of the Second Reformed Church.
faced an unusually large congregation this evening"
many strangers being attracted by the announce
ment that the preachers subject would be ITO
Heaven on Bicycle" Mr. Johnson is an en-
thusiastc rider. being member OF the Hackehsach
Wheelmen, and takes almost daily exercise on the
wheel. He said In part:
To heaven on bicycle-but not In defan cer, OF
Gods laws. We should never forget we are Chris-
tians. whether we go 10 heaven on wheei OF go
in the old pilgrim style. afoot The bicycle mas
come to stay 1t is grand machine. II IS me
next thing to wings 1t is going to be an important
factor in the making OF new race The coming
man will be harder sturdier. The young America
of to-day is riding into physical equipment that
will furnish nerve and endurance for the sterner
work OF life tomorrow.
from his burdens. multiples his joys ana DIVIDES
his trouble Then the bicycle has S vne
day riding on his ministry from house TO mouse; a
man san CON as Hitch
wagon to star" II you can't do that, the next
best thing is to buy bicycle Under the reisn q
man all head Is a monstroshy; a man all heart Is
weakly sentimental. The wheel is a cure for those
two common diseases-"blg head and enlarge
ment Of the heart" 1t Is fatal to the dude God
means that all our powers shall be In harmonious
It's appropriate care. We should never despse the
body even though il Is destined to the worm
nifty 1t is the temple OF His indwelling Spirit, and
as such this marvellous piece OF mechanism must
fulness. and the bicycle puts us In the way Of keep
ing the body In perfect TRIM 1t takes the rider out
nature. and so in touch with Cod it hlls his lungs
poisoned by fetid air OF the shop. with oxygen II
as his SS tbs his s
broad and deep the physical founaa ton OF MS
work.
II we 20 to heaven on a bicycle must put
into practice spiritually he principles that govern
make up the movement Of the wheel, The force Of
counteracts by momentum. To stand still is to
fan: safety lies in moving States Is power in
equilibrium. dynamcs Is power In motion. The
bicycle combines both Sin is gravitaton down
ward; 1t is an attraction earthward; strenuous
enable us TO counteract this downward tendency.
We stand We keep moving The moment we
cease to be aggressive the force Of evil drags us
down and we fall. Paul reveals the secret OF tho
Christians progress-"I live yet not l. but Christ
ITO heaven on a bicycle" but not on Sunday
run. Intending to neglect the sanctuary and with
there is no more harm. in Itself in riding a wheel
on the Sabbath than In taking walk In the green
which every man must decide for himself.
Paul has laid down the broad principle In Cor. VI.
such things not in themselves wrong. Some
things are always wrong. other things are wrong
under certain conditions When Paul was living
right to eat meat offered to idols Paul said Eyes.
the idol Is nothing; II II was good sound meat
there was nothing wrong In eating II. AT the same
time II the eating OF meat was going TO hurt some
body's conscience he would abstain from
long the world stands given act may be
right. yet under the dominance OF Christian love.
II may be ineXpedient. do not dance. play cards.
or ride the bicycle the Sabbath. not because these
things are wrong in themselves. but because they
are associated with evil. have the liberty 10 do
these things. but II my doing them works harm 10
another will sacrifice my liberty for a brothers
good Let every, man be fully persuaded in his
own mind God has given intellect and conscience;
we each sovereigns In our own little realms
Let exercise kingly prerogatlves. our
God-gven faculties. and each decide what Is right
in the light OF this Christian principle.
There two evils growing out OF the mania
for bicycle riding The frs; is physical. the danger
OF excess in long runs. and "scorching" when the
body Is distorted into unnatural, postion any
physician Will tell you this is bound TO work harm
In the healthiest physique. The second evil is
moral bicycle The Lords day result in
Sabbath Dissertation. Against this enter pro-
test In the name OF the American people. who are
by great majority. loyal 10 the American Sab
bath. enter protest in the nametof American |
homes. The Sabbath Is home day. and FOR very |
many the only home day. Sabbata bicycle riding |
breaks up the home life. | thank God FOR the BIZ |
cycle. but let us be guard against these evils