The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-29
PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
SUNDAY RECREATION
From the Outing Magazine.

From the Outing Magazine.
In the Puritan days of this adoleseent
America. under the law of our forceful IL
intolerant forefathers, a man was for
hidden to kiss his wife on Sunday No
longer ago than dozen years the mus
Gums of metropolitan New York were shut
on the seventh day Of the week to the
public, of whom. perhaps, 80 per cent have
no other day than this one for recreation
Last winter, during the gawling fury
of one of those indiscriminate reform"
spasms which every now and again as
sail us, the refined and uplifting Sunday
night popular concerts at the opera houses
were cataloged with the song and dance
vaudeville shows as "wicked'-and closed
forthwith
Often the plant falls from the pulpit
upon the heads of the congregation that
people are staying away from church In
increasing numbers. Is there not, / pom
der, some explanatory light shed upon the
subject by the fanatics who howl against
innocent recreation, and seem mad with
the thought that every one having JOY
In his heart is destined for hell.
Is not such bigotry and ignorance a
handicap to the church it seeks to server
Certainly it is no help to happy. whole
some existence. With these sad-eyed ex-
horters itAis always to prohibit rather
than to regulate; to destroy rather than
to mend; to expel rather than to sup
press. Obstinately the eyes are closed to
the helpfulness of wholesome exercise,
merely because 1t runs counter to pre-
conceived notions. Apparently the obses-
sion of their own dogmas is SO enfeebling
they dare not venture from under the
caves of the Puritan meeting house.
l sometimes wonder what these fren-
zied advocates of Sunday blue laws would
have our people do on this day-or what
sin they find in pursuits that bring health
and happiness. To walk, to drive, to
indulge in harmless and clean recreation;
to visit the museums-in what manner
more wholesome, more beneficial, can the
workers of the world occupy themselves
on Sunday? Here is where the Roman
church reveals it's common sense and its
cleverness, for not only do its priests
tolerate harmless Sunday diversion, but
they encourage their people to 1t after
attendance at church in the morning.
1 confess always suspect the man who
rails from the pulpit against innocent
diversion as INDUCING in desperate re-
lethargy In which perhaps his common
place dissertations have engulfed him.
have never heard a minister of abil-
ity and force misconceive as helpful guild
ance to Christian living the harangue
against harmless Sunday play or recrea-
ton.
Oh, my friends of the narrow view, let
the sunlight come in; let it search your
hearts and put JOY and laughter there;
look up and see the blue sky. Why should
not you, why should not all of us. enjoy
the best that God gives us on Sunday7
Is not your spirit uplifted the more by
walking, or driving, or playing in the
open-along the roads, over the green
fields and hills, under the glorious skyf
If there is anywhere that mans thoughts
may be bettered and purified, surely It
is in the open, enjoying the glories Of
nature which have been created for his
benefit.