The sun., 1910-05-23
HID HAVE NO SUNDAY TENNIS
TIE RET. DR. WYLIE RESESTS
THE NEW PARK ORDER.


EnteFing Wedge for RAssbAn. Opca -.
leons and Theatres, He Fears-Too
Much spoFt Already and mere d Also
Dhlne law % Ne ConsiSiered.
Park Commissioner Charles B. Stover'a
order opening the tennis courts of the
nubho parks for sunday Use was criticised
a. retrograde movement and tho open
ina wedgs for Sunday baseball. Sunday
theatres and other assaults on a quiet
sabbath hy the Rev Dr. David q. Wylie,
pastor Of the scotch Presbyterian Church,
at Ninety sixth street and Central Park
wast. In bic sermon last night. Dr. Wylie
raid that this move Of the Park Commis-
sioner was against good statesrnAnship,
good morality and in defiance Of God
Almighty. who has ordained a day Of
rest
A Plea for a Quiet and Orderly Day
Of Rest was Dr. Wylie's topic. In
opsning HE sermon he aAid that WOrkmen
IN France. Belgium and America had
long been seeking to win hack a rest day
which had been stolen from them. and in
this effort they have made appeals 10
Church and State.
In view Of this fact DR.. Wyhe con-
tinued. "the breaking down Of the law by
opening parks for sport and pastimea
% Sunday is a backward movement.
This move of the Commissioner will lad
10 demands for other things. Once open
tho parln for lawn tennis and there will
next be calls foT baseball. wide open
theatres, open saloons and street parades.
Dove desire such Sunday in New York;
"Ths movement is unfair TO citizens
who wish a day free from noise and com
motion. Should not the desires Of q
large share Of the population properly
BE- respected a. well as the wish Of .
crowd Of noisy children? We forget that
those that wish for a day n rest and quiet
are much In the majority
The pastor continued IN aay that the
opening OF the public parks for Sunday
sport would mean more work for many
city employees and others who are now
OvtrwoTked. There would be a greater
crowd on the street cars, which DR.. Wylie
tholght were already -disglistingly con-
gestsd.' more policemen on duty, mOre
boyu and men vending candy. ice cream
and other catchpenny deicaciea. Tbs
preacher thought IL would also mean
mare hOodlums. more arrests and more
Wcyk FOR the courts.
We OppOso the movement he con-
tnuod, -beoauss 4 means that religious
work win ba more dificult. Il will surely
result IN the lOes OF children 10 our sun
day schools. OF course people say. Make
your churches and schools 70 attractive
that they will he preferred 20 the open
park 90 Sunday. Apply this argument
10 the public schools. for instance; say
10 tho pupils that they are free 10 attend
school or 20 play in the parks and every
school in New York will be decimated
This movement will precipitats sooner
or later the question Of wide open sunday
In State and national politics. a thing
which would be most unfortunate. Thero
u O divine law on the subject which We
must not violate. Law carries penalty
With u; Il 10 binding in the face Of God
and Of the Christian religion not to break
down the sanction of the day Of rest In
Orttar 10 turn lt into day OF sport and
paslime.
I'VE believe in the day of rest: that il
should be a quiet and orderly day: that
our parlB should be 0pen for all classes
Of citi1ena that they may wander through
them and enjoy the beauties Of nature.
But We aTe OppO cd 70 noise and confusion
on Sunday and we have already entirely
too much Of it.
The mania for sport has grown 20 be
Ike q fever among our population and II
the hours Of Sunday are only 70 he 80
munh added fuel TO the fame some Of us |
will hs tempted 10 wish that they might |
he denied 10 ~ for a time until We come |
20 a oalnar and duieteF movement
Dr.. Wylie closed his sermon with the /
plea that all who believed in a quiet and I
orderly Sabbath he loyal 20 the divine /
law OF the Scriptures. that they might /
expect a blessing from God