The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-30
SERMON BY DR. PHILLIPS
"CHRISTIIN -ATHLETICSo HISSUB-
 JECT YESTERDA MORNING.

"CHRISTIAN ATHLETICS" HIS SUB-
 JECT YESTERD4Y Y MORNING.
 The Prominence of Athletics at Al
 Functions and How It Has Developed
 Christian Life Compared Wish n
 Race-Cannot Run the Race Unless We
 Have Faith.
 Rev. Dr. Phillips of the Church of the Redeemer preached a very interesting sermon yesterday morning on the sub ject, Christian Athletics" His text was taken from Hebrews xii, l, 2.
 "Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily oeset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. who for the joy that was set De- fore Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and hath set down at the right hand of the throne of Cod
 pr. Phillips spoke in part as follows: "One of the dominant notes in the discussions of the time, especially those pertaining to systems of education, is the cordial reception given the theory that athletics constitute an essential ele- ment in a true culture. This interest can hardly be called craze; it has developed too slowly and against too great opposition, the whole question has been too soberly and carefully con- sdered, it's sponsors and devotees are too intelligent and responsible, it is too wide spread and apparently perma- nent-it is not fad. It has captured the college, the preparatory and gram mar school, the kindergarten; it is everywhere. It is discussed in conven- tions and clubs and offices, at sewing societies and o'clock teas, it thrusts itself into reviews and lectures and ser- mons; sober deacons and sedate mat rons are au fait in the ways and the dialects of golf and tennis and foot ball; everyone has his favorite sport and his favorite athlete. And we are mostly agreed that this devotion to athletics is wholesome, provided it is kept free from professionalism and debauchery. We are hardly prepared to accept professional athletics as nec- essary or egitimate-except as they show us to what degree ones muscles may be developed and what strains mans physical powers are capable of enduring, but whatever is purely anna teur already has our hearts.
 This faith is not to be regarded as new though in Puritan New England 1t is sometimes spoken of as new and therefore dangerous because it is a post-colonial manifestation in reality it is a recurrence to very ancient theo- ries of educa tion and life When this letter to the Hebrews was written a foot race was held to be a dignified enough performance to be used as a symbol of the Christian life, and an apostle did not think it beneath him to exhort men to so run that they might obtain.
 "This writer was a keen observer. He not only uses figure that appeals to universal man. but he gives every de- tail of the picture with perfect accu- racy; he makes his figure to live and move before you, you see the whole scene, the eager, animated crowds massed upon the sward on either side, the straight, gray track between stretching away toward the goal the tense runners and their trainers hover ing about the start, over all the bright sunshine making everything in form and color and gesture vivid and in- tense; you feel the painful hush when the race begins, the thrill of expecta- | tion; you hear the shouts and cheers, and the groans of disappointment; you see the tumult at the finish, the tri- umphal procession as the victors are led forth to be hailed and petted and crowned
 '"Thus then he puts his picture before | you, and what has he to say about 1t {? |
 "Frst-A word about the race. It is race set before us-the race of life; your life and mine-the race God wants us to run and which we must run If we would reach the goal and win the laurel
 "Second-The preparation. Stripping off every hindering thing and girding ourselves for our best effort and for victory-all associations or habits that weaken, all theories of life that are selfshness, material and motives, all fear and doubt of, the result
 "Third-The method. With patience, looking unto Jesus. Patience is need- ed because the race is long and diffi- cult there are many distractions and and discouragements to interfere with ones running; the end Is often obscure, very slow, sometimes stopped altogether. Look ing unto Jesus is essential because he is the sublimest example of patient running the race set before one the world has ever had. He is the idea man and race, the universal model; He never wavered or turned back. He endured because of the joy he saw at the end, He obtained.
 "Fourth-The witnesses. All who have run the race before us, God, an- gels, those interested in us and those needing the inspiration of our exam pie, our enemies who watch us hoping to see us stumble and lose the race
 "Fifth-The faith that makes the race possible, of which Jesus is the author and perfector Faith in God as Fa- ther, in ourselves as capable of a true sonship and of making true race, in 3 perfect man and perfect fruiton as possibilities in human destiny. This faith, which is something more than 9 hone WAS brouPht into the world bv