Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-29

even smiles were
regarded as impious and wicked in the
sight Of God, broke into recklessness and
atheism after they left the narrow en-
Nironment for the larger world.
Those bisoted and intolerant forms Of
religion have caused more wickedness
and sorrow in the world than morality
and 10y.
Fortunately for humanity there are few
localities now where such solemnity and
morhidnesr mark the coming OF Sunday.
People have ceased to think that God re-
quires melancholy and gloom from those
who loved Him or that lie demands con.
tinual psalm singing on ono day OF the
week as evidence OF dcvout mind
As our land grows in population and the
trusts grow In monopoly of the soil and
its products the struggle OF the masses for
livelihood becomes greater and harder
ana the hours Of leisure and pleasure
fewer. There are hundreds of thousa nds
or moral Woodworking. God-lovinR bu.
man beings all about us who have no
hours for recreation or for life in the
open air save on Sundays.
Any religion which debars these peo.
pie from innocent recreations on that one
day of the week Is an unwholesome
religion and will never open the gates
OF paradise 20 It's promoters or follower
Lovers OF golf and tennis find rest FOR
the mind and vitality for the body In
these harmless games. They send the
tired toier back TO his indoor work on
Monday morning with new energy ana
q refreshed. mentality.
Yet there are still few OF the old type
OF bigoted religionists who would prevent
the opening OF golf or tonnls grounds on
Sunday II they could.
They would have the Puritan Sunday
OF solemn silence and continual church.
going and psalm singing ro-establshed.
They would make II sin TO be merry
and laugh and sing anything but hymns
or sunday.
These people have not looked deeply
into life; they have not learned that sun
shine and fresh air and all the gifts OF
nature are an expression OF the God they
worship; they have not found out that
phealth and vitality and innocent pleasures
and Joyous reereations are ali agreeable
20 the great father who watches over
his children just as they are agreeable
and gratifying TO the human father. who
sees his children amusing themselves in
harmless ways and basking in the beau
ties OF nature.
There 10 reverence and worship IN the
heart OF one who really enjoys TO the
fen perfect summer day.
Every thought Of the human mind
which springs from appreciation % the
beauties and benefits OF nature and the
heaithful pleasures OF life is religious in
Its tendency.
Tha xpto ~.
any outdoor game for the JOY Of the ex-
ereise and the pleasure and health to be
obtained In this manner are remembering
the Sabbath day and keeping Il holy
IL Is holy thing TO be healthy and
happy and to rejoice In life and action.
II Is far holier than to sit in a sunless
room and mourn over the sins OF the
world and comment on the faults OF one
neighbor.
Every human being ought to 81. alone
with his own thoughts a few moments or
an hour day. and think about Coo
He ought 20 think about the lords OF
karma who watch over human lives,
about the Invisible helpers who are near.
about the dear ones who have passed
over the border TO spirit realms
This should be done svety day, no,
- ~
But It can be done in the open world
IN the woods. or in the room. or in the
church as one may choose
II can even be done in the crowded
subway or surface cars by, those who
rave learned how, through concentration
of thought. to find silence An the mIdst
OF noise and seeulsion in throngs.
An hour. or a half hour. or a quarter OF
peaceful and reyerentiai thoughts opens
the doors OF heaven TO US far more Ger.
tsinly than keeping Sabbath in the old.
fashioned melancholy manner. and by
stunning all pleasure. all games all
amusements for one daS~in the week
Every day should be a holy day. but
the one and only day IN the week when
Work-weary men and women have free
dom 70 enjoy the outer world and in
MIGRATING games and sports should not
be spoiled By false notions OF what con-
stitutes religion.
II is sometimes easier to praise God and
Hove our fellow men while driving a golf
ball In the open air than while sitting
through an iutcrminable sermon based on
Worn-out doEmas which misrepresent the
glory and goodness Of our omnipotent
Creator.
Our churches should be maintained,
and the pastors who preach tie relislon
OF love and Reconsideration and who
work for the establishment OF real broth.
erhood will never preach to empty pews.
and these pastors will be broad enough
20 know the benefit that outdoor games
bring TO their psrishioners.
There Is ono Of the stronehoids which
fhe Roman Catholic priests have upon
their people they undsrstand their need
Of such recreations and encourage them
In outdoor exercise on sunday, 80 long
~ they are faithful at service.