The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-02-25
ATHLETIC PRINCIPLES
AND CHRISTIANITY
THE PRICIPLES OF ATHLETICS AS AP-
Piled To CHRISTIANITY.
A Comparison of The Athletes Training to
Christian Development. A Clever Pre-
sentation Of The Application Of Athlete
Training Methods to Christian Progress.
By T. w. l..

Enquire of any one who has ever
participated in an athletic contest
regardless Of when and where, or of
what particular sport, what he con-
siders the best rules to follow to at
tain the highest and best possible
height of success. We venture to
say that one and all will tell you:
First, be square; Second, follow the
trainers or coach's instructions,
and last, hard work and self con-
fidence.
Now, if we would take leaf from
the athletes book of rules and apply
it to the routine of our daily journey
through life, how much happiness it
would cause to untold numbers. For
this life, after all, is only game in
which we are being tried out, as it
were, for our fitness to enter into
the life to come.
AS the athlete places square play
as the most important rule 20 be
observed in sport. we will follow his
procedure and see how his campaign
fits into this game we all are taking
part in.
Brothers, how many of the thou
sand or more souls. who are in this
institution today, would be here if
they had been square. Not one.
When our time arrives to go forth
into the world again. we want to go
forth from here with a steadfast
determination to be square in our
every thought and action. This will,
if kept in your mind and put in
practice to the best of our individual
powers go long, long way in re-
blishing the confidence and good
will of our former associates, with
whom our future life will then again
be linked more or less closely. And
as we become more accustomed to
meeting the trials and temptations
that are certain to be continually
cropping up, face to face and hand
ling them in the open, in clean
manly spirit, then and not before
can we ever expect to make any
headway towards successful and
happy life.
Temporizing with sin, meeting
temptations halfway and all such
crude side-stepping, will never get
you anywhere except back in
to this or some similar institution.
There can be no half-measure in
our actions; we must be square, and
fight our way up for the right.
Otherwise, our course will be that
of the least resistance to the down
ward slide. And always keep in
mind that everytime anyone of us
ever slips back, the future attempts
to climb up-will be just little
more difficult on each occasion.
Before taking up the second clause
on this subject, let me offer the
suggestion that we might all do
worst than to try the, Rules of Life
here III the prison on our every day
life and get in practice for the time
to come when we shall receive our
much coveted Joy Ticket" Just
try being square with yourself,
your foreman and the officers and
the Warden of our Silent City"
You will be surprised at the results.
Our coach or trainer for life's
short span should, at all times, be
God; and our instructions, the Com
mandments and His Holy Testament.
With these to guide us, we can
never go astray, and no matter who
or what you are. or what you have
done in the past. He is waiting;
yes. pleading for you and for me to
turn from our wickedness and come
to Him And look what He offers
to those who seek Him? A full and
free pardon for all our past sins,
and the certainty of His love, pro-
lection, and guidance throughout
this life; and the greatest gift of all:
a place of eternal rest in His man
sion above, where we will be re-
united with those who on this earth
have been near and dear to US.
Apart from what we gain spirit
ually, look at the benefits man
receives from a worldly view. point
by giving himself to God, not that
l believe in looking at so sacred
a ouh;oct in this manner INT hecansa
there are 80 many who it will appeal
to when it is presented to them thus.
A true christian has no more
worry: he knows that he will be
provided for, and that when the