The Washington herald., 1912-07-22
VIRTUES
OF ATHLETICS
Rev. John Compton Ball breaches
Sermon on Winning and
the Rewards.
NATIONALS MENTIONED
AS EXAMPLE OF WILL
Control" Is the Most Essential
Thing in Winning ANY
Prize in Life.

Probably never before in the history OF
pulpit oratory in Washington has there
been preached a sermon extolling the
virtues Of sports. athletics. outdoor life
and exercise in a more forcible or ex-
tensive manner than that which Rev.
John Compton Ball. pastor OF the Metro
politan Baptist Church. Sixth and A
Streets Northeast, delivered to a large
lcongregation last night. The inspiration
of the sermon was the good showing OF
the Washington baseball team and the
Olympic games and the proud record
made by the American team at Stock
holm.
1T is doubtful" said Rev. DIR. Ball.
'ff at any time in the history of the
District Of Columbia more attention has
been given TO outdoor life and sports
than at present. Outdoor living and ex-
ercise is urged by the medical profession,
and the result Is children's Fairgrounds.
open-air schools, sleeping porches, base
ball leagues in business and religious cir
cles. and an increase OF golf, tennis ana
IcroQuet enthusiasts
This general awakening to the needs
of sun, air and exercise for the body
should receive the enlistment OF every
family, the Endorsement Of the press and
the encouragement Of the pulpit The
movement means incalculable benefit to
physical and moral qualities Just now
there is special interest In the athletes OF
our city and country. In our city II Is
! because of the very gratifying position
held by our ball team in the contest for
higher honors. In almost every home
there is more or less baseball talk, and
the interest is not limited to the small
boy, but the men and even the ladies OF
the home are enthused. and the trades
mer. mechanic. lawyer. Congressman and
minister sit side by side at the game
Americans Supreme.
Then again there is homeward bound
from Sweden a team of athletes bearing
the Iaurels and honors of victory for the
United States in the great Olympian
games, recently held at Stockholm. These
games are growing in interest with every
contest. Many nations are represented.
and the games afford a splendid oppor-
tunity TO study the development OF ma
tions, physically. Thus far. the games
have revealed the supremacy OF the
American over the nations OF the earth
Let us note that these games are not
new. Eight hundred years before Christ
was born men ran in the race and strug-
gled for the crown. They were held first
for religious purposes, and for but one
day. Then for a week, and physical pur-
poses. The Greek citizen was soldier
and must keep fit The running and
jumping helped his mind. The discus and
spear trained eye and hand. Wrestling
and boxing developed the art of self
defense, and so We see that athletic
sports were woven in the fabric OF the
national life of the peoples of the past
even as they are in our day.
THE closeneSs of sports to the life of
the people and the interest taken caused |
the Apostle Paul to use these things to
illustrate the realm of the spiritual Again |
and again he refers to the arena, the /
gladiator. and wrestler. With him life
is a battle, a race, a game. and at the |
end of the course there is the crown.
Tonight we may not be fitted to run the
Marathon or to make home run OF of |
Marquard or johnson. To enter such
contests would be folly, but there is one
battle We must face, one race all must |
enter, one game all must play; It is the
game of life.
Question How to Win.
THE question then is How to win this
gamer Briefly let me say there must be
a lofty air. Frank A. Gotch said re-
Gently: The big thing In whatever We
undertake is incentive. In business this
is fortune; in gymnastics it is a physical
perfection and We add. in life it must
be character.
Inere are Two FORCES at work In every
and devolution. The one
Is the DEVELOPMENT Of the best. the other
the beast: the one is the call to the
highest, the other the call of the wild
What is your aim? There must be con-
troll. What is the first requirement of
a baseball pitcher? Control. Maruuard
says he spent weeks and months striv-
ing for control, realizing that without
control all the curves and drops imagin-
able would not land him on top. More
games are lost through lack OF control
than In any other way 1t is said the
pitcher blew up the team went to
pieces the catcher got ratified AM
these terms indicate one thing-lack of
control. So in the game of life control
Is all-important. Paul names certain
virtues We must possess. and he says ,
add to your faith self-control' II
Mentions Thorpe.
"Consecration and concentration are
essential to winning. Jack Knight lost
put because OF divided interests and
energy. Compare him with CASTOR Stro-
bino, who said to his mother. TIL stand ,
'ne. two. three in the Marathon or break ,
! leg II We would win. We must first
,onsecrate ourselves to the cause and c
then bend every energy to the accom- (
olishment OF the task Continuation is I
he final essential. This Is a very neces- c
sary virtue. Many a game and race is \
ost because of lack Of 'sticktoItiveness.' q
That bunt would have been beaten out, 4
'or the baseman juggled the ball, but Z
ne runner had stopped. and so was out. s
Many game is won in the ninth. FL /,
ially, the prizes In the ball game IL
5 the championship flag. In the olym-
'ian games a wreath Of wild olive leaves.
But In the game OF life. a crown of
ighteousness. 1t must have been an in
pring sight when James Thorpe. anil
American Indian. all-round champion of .
he Olympian games, stood In the sta =
lium before the King and received his
Ionors. All America cheers because of
he achievement. But a greater sight is
n store for us, and 1t will be when s
,hrist shall come and call us before 1
i'm. and the announcement of the Twin = =
ers in the game Of life will be made Nc