The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-07-25
MAYOR |NT|MATES
MINISTER HIMSELF
VIOLATES SABBATH
Says He Accepts Pay for Work
of Stopping Sunday Ball
Playing.
JUST LIKE "CATCHPOLE"
Rev. Keevil Gets Testy Answer
From Gaynor to His Latest
Complaint.
JUST LIKE "CATCHPOLE"

The Reverend Joseph Kssvii has again
addressed the Mayor on the subject of
Sunday baseball play,ns. and the Rev.
Kesvii has again heard from the Mayor
In reply - follows:
'Ciy AZ New York. once OF the Mayor.
July -. 1918
Reverend and Dear Sir: Your letter
Of July n Is at hand. You advise mo OF
an opinion a the Attorney General on
baseball playing on Sunday. The opinion
, adds nothing new to the legal question.
You also say TO sne as follows:
" In the light Of this decision Il IL
clear many OF the baseball games played
In this city every sunday Is In clear
violation OF the law
You add as follows:
1--WE do most respectfully request you
to inforcs tho law
1T may be ! should correct your mad
vertent mistakes d grammar and
spelling. but l hesitate to take that
liberty.
II do not know Of any illegal bali
game. golf game or other game being
played In this city on Sunday. You
specify none. You only say generally
that many OF them are In violation Of
law. and add that It Is a disgrace to
the city. II you know Of any you
ought to specify It to me II you want
me to help to prosecute the Offenders.
While I thank you for writing to me
so often and admonlshinG me. and even
nagging me. I think you will admit
that l ought to ask you to be specific
1t Is easy 70 indulge In general state
mentH, and, as you know. error and
untruthfulness Turk In generalities.
"And let ING add that you ought to
do your part as a good citizen In this
matter. You should help az we'll Al
md fault. You and several others
with you are employed to 20 all over
the city every sunday to zee whether
: any one In violating the Sunday law
and you are paid wages therefor by Q
society which you got together for thai
prrpole, and you make your living In
that way. When you discover viola
lions you should go before the Magis
trateS Of the city and make complaint
and obtain warrants to arrest the OF
tenders. You write to the Mayor Al
though you thint he ought to do that
am unaware OF any Divine law forbid
. ding us to play games on Sunday. i
YOU think there is such Divine Law
1 shall be glad TO have You cite II u
me and correct me. When the grea
Christian minister. John Knox OF Scot
, land, went to Geneva In switzerland u
visit that other great Christian minis
ter. John Calvin, and called on him a
his home OF a Sunday afternoon. n
found him out back In the fields playin'
at bowls with his sons and neighbors
He knew OF no Divine law prohieit'n
him from doing 80. nor did John hho'
n know Of any. Do YOU?
Now, I do not like to say anyth'n
T. To YOU In tho way Of adm0nition. a.
% though YOU write to me and admon's
-. me. instead OF going to the police car
20 tsins and tho Magistrates. who ar
" appointed to receive your cOmpiain'
,, and act thereon. II I should admonis
you IL would be In tho most aesitai
IL way-yea, even touching you only b
l. tho very tips OF my fingers. 30
- speak.
v th,nk thst what YoU are doing o
J. sunday, namely, trudgtng all over th
: city ana Watching your nsighbors IN
j" receiving wages therefor. 10 'Wori
within the meaning OF our sunday lAv
" ana also OF the Divine oona,usndmsn
10 which says Thou shalt not DO IN
X hind OF work ON the sabbath You
N case, TO say the least, may be - d
batabls a. the case Of the games o
sunday In the fields which you 81
~ objsoting to. II these games are q
doubtful legality. 10 not that also III
= best that can be said Of work who
m you are doing on Sunday for pay7
he Q private citissn hires out to oths
- private citissns TO 20 about - so'
OF 'oatchpols ON sunday TO wssc
=. whether his usighbors play ball, IN
., stop them, 10 he not working7
Come In and SEQ me some day an
we will debate the whole thing scrlptu
ally theoogically and legally. We vi
ne not leave stone unturned. and IL ne
re- cssary we Will even split hair no
ID and then. That would give me "A plea
IN ant half hour. and I assure you all
>, my half-hours are not pleasant, althoua
I believe I am OF cheerful dispositiC
and try TO make them 80. Sincere
yours. w. j. GAY NOR mayor
,e The Rev KeeviI IL Corresponding Sc
Or rotary OF the Sunday Observance socieI
Il, OF Kings County.
N sCatchpole Is the term originally a.
Piled by Mayor Gaynor to Barb
Weisse Of St James. who. In the Ct
1 paclty Of a Deputy Sherin. felt II Il
!. cumbent upon himself TO Interpret q
laws for the villagers and compel the
- TO deport themselves on Sundays ar
other days w. accordance with his ov
views.
's For
~