Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-21
BASEBALL AND LIFE
Rev. Mr.. Hope Discusses the Analogy
Between The Two Games.
TALK ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK.
baptist Pastors Unwilling That the
society shouid Suspcnd-T>vo In
tercstIng sundny-schcoI Meetings.
Notes About Church Services.

Rev. Herbert NJ. Hope Of Clay-Street
Methodist church, preached a sermon oil
unusual interest Sunday night on 'rhe
Analogies Between the Game OF Ban ana
the Game of Life"
A more popular theme could hardiy
have been chosen, and 1t would be ex-
ocedingiy dificut TO discuss the subject
In q more helpful ana beneficial manner
There was a large congregation. and the
sermon, entirely devoid OF sensation was
an able one. Astounding in practical les
sons drawn from the national game ana
expressions familiar to its devotees. Many
bali-players were In the congregation
Rev. Mr. Hope took for his text Ro-
mans xiv. IA: Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind" and /. Corin-
thians, tx. and part Of he 2Hh verse;
$50 run that sc may obtain"
lie began his sermon by explaining tha'
II was not his purpose TO create any SEN
sation, nor was It his intention TO oe-
nounce the sport or outdoor recreation
He recognized tho fact that there was
great diversity of opinion as to the soou
or evil results Of baseball. and gave as
hts reason for selecting this theme tha'
IL was not only recognized as the ma
tlonal game, but growing in popularity
every day.
ITS PATRONS AND CRITICS.
The sneaker proceeded TO show that
the patrons of baseball included people
of ali classes and condition., from the
Governors mansion to the humpiest
street laborer-the judge. the lawyer the
banker. tn Iairest ladies. and innocent
LITTLE childrtn--and II was encouraged oy
nearly az the newspapers in the ianu,
He believed the people who olsapproNeu
of the sport "a majority az leasp "oae
honest. but said those critics We're ul
yiced into several classes-the ignorant
critic. the inconsistent critic, the pious'
the nercepaly and the quallned crllic.
The ignorant Chose VINO nave hefel
witnessed gane). VINO p!aee II Oh ~, q
Level with horse-racing and theatres; the
inconsistent, who disapproye OF the sport
ard lndulge In pleasures themselves 9u-
xn,,tedly immoral The inconsistent critic
could not listen 10 q preacher VINO wouiu
courtsnhrce baseball. but he Uhe onticl
would attend Sunday excul slons. inc
pioxfs critic was opposed TO about every
,isssura a ,erson could conceive in this
wor,S->eames of any kind especially.
VEs preacher took OCCASION 70 say ne hAu
ACTUALLY been snubbed by some good
pssls. sovr-faced Christian people while
ovt on his bicycle, so bitter was their op-
position 20 the eo-ealied worldly pieas SURE
The ,neTcenary critic canrot spare Tune
fl ON business for such sport Money 10
his c9fy thought-how 10 make dollar'
II Doesn't matter whetSer :. is silver or
gold, 70 the government stamp OF dohar
is on II. fhe qualified critic UNDERSTANDS
the game. bat thinks Il demoralizing from
the fact shat Il will encourage It's pa
treEs TO bet on tho results. If We uis-
approve Of everything that encourages
betting. how about our elections and con-
ventions? And he ventured ~ say a lot
Of money was staked on the recent con-
ventions ana would be on the coming
election. 1t is our duty TO frown upon
gambling Of every form. particularly at
our ball parks.
WHEREIN THEY ARE ALIKE.
The speaker then went on TO show now
the game Of ban reminds one Of the game
OF life. The mans first aim In a game
Of ball is 20 reach home as with the
Christian. II he fails to hit first time
at bat. he must not become careless ana
Indifferent. but try the harder next time.
A Christian, because he cannot be perfect,
must not give up, but try the harder every
time he loses a point.
There were many terms in baseball
very suggestve--a Sacrifice hit" for IN
stance II in doub. as to whether ne
could hit safely for himself he would sac
rlace his own chances IN order TO ad-
vance or promote a brother member OF
his team, which, he argued. was good
example for Christians 10 follow. Coach
ers" who were ever watohful Of the IN
terests OF a brother member of the team
when putting forth every effort 10 reach
home. Umpire" he said, was a most
undesirable place sometimes. but what
ever judgment he possessed as 10 the
meI,ts or dement's OF a player was law.
II made no difference what the crowd
around the player thought about It. Inc
pastor closed his sermon by saying that
the Great Umpire above was watching us
IN this game Of life. and would pass
iu6anent upon us in the final day. so
we ehould try 10 reach home by making
safe "hiis" and aiding others also, even
N we do have 10 make sacrifice now
and then.
Baptist City Missionary Work.
The discussion Of the needs and work
Of the Baptist City Missionary Society
was the feature of yesterday morning S
session OF the Baptist Pastors ConfertIss,
and consumed the greater part OF the no
hours sitting. This was the last meeting
before the summer recess, and there was
full attendance. a committee was pres
ent from the Missionary Society 10 advise
with tho conference as 70 the suspension
OF the society's work. because Of the lscs
OF funds. President Josiah Ryland. Jr.,
as chairman OF the committee. read a
resolution that had been adopted by the
society at its quarterly meeting Sunday
afternoon authorizing the Executive Com
rittee. after conference with the pastors.
10 discontinue all work and expenses and
to dispose of the tent and other property
OF the society. and apply the proceeds 10
the liquidation OF its Indebtedness.
There was full and FREQ discussion
OF the matter; deep interest was mani
tested by the pastors. and they urged
the committee not TO discontinue the work
which has been prosecuted with such
gratifying results. After a long discussion
the following resolution. offered by rev.
" A. Bagby was unanimously adopted
Resolved. That we say 70 The city Mis-
sionary Society that thcy ought 20 20 for
ward with their work and that we VIII
undertake 10 see that the necessary funds
shall be raised.
2 That committee OF three De ap7
pointed TO apportion the amount among
the churches.
Rev Messrs. H. A. Bagby. L. II Thorn
hill. and j. r. Tucker were appointed as
the committee.
The quarterly meeting OF the Missionary
Society, held Sunday afternoon at the
tent, on Marshall street. back Of Elba
Station, was given up chiefly 20 a dis
cussion Of the question Of whether the
work OF the society could be continued
and II was apparent that II could not I'M
less the churches could be induced 10 give
more hearty support than they have been
doing. Rev. Dr. w. w. Landrum made a
highly interesting address, ana the report
OF the missionary, Rev. w r. Leake
showed that the tent meetings and othei
a. -.