The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-17
BIRMINGHAM MINISTERS
Who Have Joined the Vast Army
ofWheeImen.
THE CUSTOM is GROWING
Bike Racks Now to Be Seen at the Churches
Riding Them Not Necessarily An Evil,
But Can Be Made So.

|
ular craze. Among the enthusiastic
wheelmen of Birmirgha are some of the
most prominent ministers of the city.
They can be seen during the day wheel
ing along the streets engaged in their
pastoral duties, and on fine afternoons
spinning away the miles upon the beau
tiful pixies, breathing the exhi-aratlng air
of the open country evidently enjoying
the recreation like ordinary men from
the common walks of life.
tan Age-Herald reporter saw during
the past week a number of the leading
ministers of the city and elected the fol-
lowing opinions from them concerning
the bicycles:
Rev. o. P. Fftzsimmons pastor of st.
Mary's Episcopal church on the South
Eighla nds, was found in his study and
said,
"I ann an enthusiastic bicyclist I be-
|
means of grace. I find it a most pleas
| ureable relaxation from the tension OF
work, and derive much enjoyment from
my wheel. The Bible says that anything
that contributes to the JOY of man is
more so than the bicycle, and it is con-
ducive to companionship, and compan-
ionship is joy. I know of no better cure
for the blues than bicycle ride When
feel as If the bottom were about to
drop out of humanity, I generally take
my wheel, ride out eight or ten miles,
come home, take a bath and my fears
are dispe1led. can go at my work with
new vigor and vim. believe the bicy-
Gle has come to stay, and that at no dis
| tant day every church will have a BIZ
cycle rack for the use of it's worshipers.
'T hear that the Archbishop of Canter-
berry, the head of the Church of Eng
land, rides the wheel Yes, you can put
me down as an enthusiastic bicydlist'"
Rev. G. C. Kelly, pastor of the First
Methodist church, said: II ride the wheel
and find II great convenience In my
work. Itsis timesaver, and it's mod
crate use is the means of much pleasure
and enjoyment.
when my study work becomes dull
and irksome, I have but to ride my
wheel out for a few miles and return
! with new spirits. I believe the bicycle
is a great thing, and approve it,
Rev. A. B. Curry, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, corner of Fourth
avenue and Twenty first street, said: ct
do not ride the wheel now, although 1
formerly did so while in Florida and
found it a great convenience. have not
| ridden since I have been in Brming-
/ ham, because it is very convenient to
| get around otherwise, and coming here
! as a stranger and knowing there was
some prejudice against ministers riding
the wheel. / did not care to excite the
disfavor of people who were strangers to
me. I heartily approve the moderate
use of the wheel, but of course it can
be abused by excess like anything else.
My children ride with my consent and
approval l disapprove of the desecra-
ton OF Sunday by the use of the wheel,
but the same can be said of horse or
buggy. While don't ride myself, I be-
lieve the wheel a healthful and pleas
ant means of recreation
| Rabbi Newfield, of Temple Emanuel
who is an enthusiastic bicyclist, said:
find riding bicycle healthful di-
version for mind and body. 1t affords
| a pleasant relaxation from the tension Of
brain work. and is to me- an invigorating
exercise after the close confinement of
my study hours.
''It is the means of bringing people
into the fresh and pure air of the coun-
try, who otherwise would barely ven
| ture beyond the city limits.
| Individually I may say that ere I
| mastered the pneumatic stesd our ada
cent country districts were well-nigh
unknown to me save by name, while
since my acquisition of the art of BIZ
cycling I have frequently wound my
| way on the roads and parks of Jefferson
county and thus become familiar with
the beautiful surroundings of the city,
Mfere lonely walking would prove unin-
viting and uninteresting. The compan-
ionship of the silent swift steed drew
ever new charms from the rapid chang
ing scenery and made me long to ex-
plore farther, penetrate deeper into the
solitude, and breaths more freely the
ibalmy breezes waited from field and
forest"
II Rev. R. D. Wear, of the Cumb srland
presbyterian church, said: 81 think
that bicycles are great inventions, and
| that great good may be obtained from
them. They save time, labor and ex-
| pense and at the same time give pleas
urable exhilaration; so it seems to me.
from observation and the testimony of
others. I do not ride the bicycle my
self.
"Of course It may be put to evil pur-