New-York tribune., 1896-05-16
THE "BTCYCLE Gnu RCH."
ITS SPONSORS OF THE CHURCH CLUB TELL WHY
IT WAS PROTECTED.


IT WAS PROJECTED.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: | respectfully ask you to insert the follow
ing remarks called forth by your editorial or TINS
aate ON "A Bicycle Church.: The Church Club OF
tho diocese OF Long Island Is composed OF laymen
OF the Protestant Episcopal church. many OF whon
are wardens and vestrymcn. Every one OF them Is
Interested in keeping intact the congregation 10
which he belongs. and every one Of them believes
that people who can go to church should do so at
least once every Sunday. But the evidence OF their
senses obllges them to notice that stampede from
the churches has been going on steadliy IN sprlhs
and summer for some time. Congregations are be-
ing dsintegraed. pews emptied. Sunday-schools de-
serted by young men and women who until recently
were jealous teachers and all this they believe s
traceab BILE to thing-the fascination OF the wheel
The club recognizes In the face Of facts. that the
churches offer no lnducement strong enough 70 turn
a large number OF men and women from the cycle
path The aliurements OF an intellectual ana
musical treat combined not strong enough 20
check the stampede. II recognizes, moreover that
the cause OF the stampede Is not an irreli9'ous or
ungody one and therefore, denuncIation would De
out OF place so far as being a menace to morality
or the best interests OF society nothing In our time
has wrought more powerfully In tho opposite direc-
ton Bicycling trains our boys and girls TO keep
company together along the highways In the pure
air In open daylight, and encourages them to heip
each other. 1t promotes sobrety. chivary neatness
Of attire and good behavior In public. 1t Keeps
young men away from saloons and amusements
where tn, refinements OF woman's society are want
ing; and so far "a the charm of the thing for its
own sake Is concerned. never. not In the days or our
fathers nor In the old time before them. was there
ever any recreation pastime so exhilarating, 40
full OF 10y and happiness and AT the same time 50
beneficial to the development OF a sound mind In a
sound body as the noble art OF cycling.
H. then, some OF the and daughters OF the
hrrn in no
day IN seven-the only one they have In which
to recuperate after six days work in wage-earn-
lng-and spend that day In healthy and inno-
cent enjoyment. returning to their church duties
when "the leaves redden to the fall" shall the
Church care less for them than for those who stay.
and revile them for desecraton Of the Sabbath.
which was made for them, and not they for II?
When people go away from cities into the wds TO
found settlements the Church goes after them. In
a motherly way. with spiritual sustenance that
none OF them may be lost; and the Church Club
OF the diocese OF Long Island. representing all ITS
parishes has resolved that by means OF COM
mittee, 1t will consider the advisability OF estab-
fishing service for wheelmen. In some well-chosen
and accessible place. few miles from Brooklyn.
where under its auspices, towers OF the wheel may
have the opportunity OF worshpping on the Sab
What think ye' II man have an hUndrsd ho,S ed
o eaSs the UsG and ps and into %
mountains. and seeketh that which is gone astray?
you. he rejoceth more OF that sheep than OF the
ninety and nine which went not astray." How
much better people than sheep? And - not the
effort OF the Church Club in harmony with the
! work OF the Good Shepherd. Who came to seek
and to save that which is lost?
The committee appointed by President 4. \;
Low Will try 10 act dscreetly and revercntly. IL
the club. after hearing our report in the autumn,
shall resolve TO meet the cyclists halfway and
build for them n church. the services there will
be conducted decently and in order. they will
be discontinued 1t Is contemplated to have for
the present portable church. removable In the
fall but stationary during the summer.
HENRY NJ CALVERT.
Brooklyn. May 10. 1896. Chairman
(Our correspondent exactly touches the point Of
criticism in saying that "the churches offer
no inducement strong enough to turn a large
number of men and women from the cycle path"