The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-03


one that might be followed by other
parishes. Nothing is better for boys
than encouragement along the line Of
athletics. 1t helps to keep their bod
les sound and sound bodies mean
sound morals
The athletic parson is a type hon
ored among men. Some folks have
an idea that he exists only in fiction
| They read OF the English curate who
IL captain of the village cricket eleven,
the star back of the football team,
| the leader in ali village sports. ana
| believe that he is seen only in rare
parts of old England. country dis
tricts especially.
Now, while It IL fact that the
| English curate takes more interest
| In the sports of his parish than the
! American Clergyman does, generally
/ speaking. Vet the athletic pastor is
| becoming moro of a factor these days
! than formerly.
| Men who played on the college
| nine, rowed in the crew, won their
| letters on the varsity eleven. are re-
garded with admiration by the tuve.
! niles to whom they in time become
! spiritual directors. And a pastor who
| can sningle In the sports of the boys
! VIII accomplish far more good than
one who regards them from a supe-
t riar height
Christ church does well to interest
the boys of the parish in athletics.
Many think. perhaps. that the Y
M. c. A. is looking after these matters
! sufficiently well. ute so. The Y
! NJ. G. A. IL doing grand work, espe.
cially the Richmond Y. M. C. A. But
this work OF the Y. NJ. G. A. can be
assisted greatly If ministers, Sunda.
| school superintendent and teachers
In public and private schools take a
little more interest in the matter.
Quite Il few boys have an idea that
athletics are 81 thing apart from
church and Sunday school They are
not, All help in developing the bos
into real man.
Billy Sunday. the famous evangel.
list. was once "a professional baseball
player, and great one. A. A. Stagg
the director of athletics at Chicago
University, is noted for his church
work. In the good old days at Yale
when Stagg was the king Of all col
lege pitchers, and one Of the best
backs on the gridiron. Yale men used
to Stag OF him: '-e- .r.''>f -
HE always prays befors ne plays
but he gets there just the same
| AAd JbUSS WAS Always IuGlt10eC
with Y. NJ c. A. work while at Yale
and II statistics were at hand. it coulc
be shown that Sunday school course
never impaired the standing OF an.
of the greatest athletes who ever wore
| a sweater.
Having gotten rid OF the above SER
monette, let us consider one or two
other things
u,s Tommy Canneff who was" once a
| runner Of worldwide fame, is now
a cavalryman In Clusters famous old
regiment. the Seventh Conner once
ran a mile in 4:15 as and this time
has never been touched by any other
amateur.
| Connect was Irish born, and the
Irish have provided many famous
athletes. Take the present day lot
and they would probably win an
Olympic meet, Certainly they hold
the majority OF records In track and
! field events. Kelly, Sheppard, Swee-
ney. Sheridan. Flanagan. McGrath,
| Porter, are names that occur to one
| without recurring to any book, and
! although Kelly and Sweeney may be
| regarded as a trifie passee now, the
| records are still attached to their