The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-03-20
RECREATION IS
SERMON THEME
REV. CLARENCE T. ALLEN OWES
THIRD OF SERIES or SER
MONS ON "wHEELINo.-
Urges Further Development of Play
GROUNDS AID Social Centers
IN Wheeling.

Wheeling at Play" was the topic Of
The third OF series Of sermons upon
business" given last night by Rev.
Clarence Allen. =. II. pastor of the
Fourth Street N. Z. church. Tho text
And the streets OF the city shall Dc
tuh OF boys and girls playing I'm the
streets thereof"
DR.. Allen said. in part.
while primarily these words we're
addressed 20 the ISraelites as an en-
Courascncnt in the r. building OF Jeru-
salem. promising that they should be 50
PROSPEROUS that thor city should wit
Tess throngs OF children playing In the
midst, ] wish "a apply them 10 tho
happy condition Of n city on whose
streets-noW tho most dangerous place
Tor play-childrcn may play without
eanser or moral or physical peril. The
favored community where the C;od-given
instinct FOR play shall be- induiEcd free
~ In safety and IN welfare.
To Play is Inherent hight.
To play g. as much right under
God as 60 pray. Each Is as inherent an
instinct a. the other. Within It's own
limits each ~ as necessary as the other.
Woe 10 him who does not carry the
spirit 90 play all through life: how re-
fr@shtnE - find one OF three score years
anf ten who enjoys wholesome play,
Play H. m indication Of character.
What one docs I'm his leisure moments
may N"hfAA the tendencies OF his ma
lure even more than tn almost any other
lime. Relaxation Of the body and the
nina. such as many PEOPLE believe 10
hc the feature of play. induoes laNity
" morals. Tho devil - quick TO see
the advantage and he brings some ot
his mightt"st temptations when one
s"'ks recreation- Forms OF amuse me nj
that ave in themselves harmless. as well
OIL those that are essentially base. are
used 10y him and his agents 10 degrade
people. Generally these appeals are
he. .IaH L..
forces OF evil use the dance. the card
table. the -hcatcr. the moving picture,
the club. tho park and kindred places
/ OF amusement and good people arc
slow 80 awaken 10 the situation To
make proper use OF some of these things
mentioned that are entirely legitimate.
TIL" whole though. Of play must he
elevated. ~ common estimate n Is I'm
,ideutaL In fact. IL IL Fundamental
II Must bc supervised with the utmost
yigilance by parents. school authorities,
public. officials and tho church.
What ~ play whence camo 81
Authorities on the subject mention va
rious points Of genesis IS. one says that
30 Is the expression of surplus energy.
Another afiirms that II Is naturs'
means Of education FOR future useful
ness. third states that II r. the echo
~ tho past. Tho games that are natu-
raj to childhood IRE the reelection Of
the us1Ess and comhats Of our ances-
tors appearing in our play. Whatever
may hc the source Of IN. instinct, ~ IS
here ana must he rDckonsd with. II IS
either an asset "r "a liability.
Contributes 20 Success.
when properly directed. play con-
tributes 20 many essential factors Of
success. u strengthens the body. Play
builds the miru. Play has close rela-
tiou 20 tho moral character. not merely
10y inculcHtiug high practices 81 moral
qualities such as honesty. fairness. jus
ticc. etc. but by pr venting tho search
for pleasure fn satisfy itself Wikh pos
b D..
obsc'uity. Play checks The primitiv.
impulses that are cruel. Play instills
tho spirit OF democracy. Play srouses
respect fo- law. ard statistics show
that there is less crime among children
In the vicinity ot pla- grounds than else
where
This IS not an incidental matter. I,
b. vital Co. tho veil being OF the commu-
nifty. We should have more piay grounds
ana social centrrs. The churches should
take this matter No and prov ide whole
ucs. EiudorEarteus should he ostnb.
Itshed IN our sunday schools. a. has
cc'ntlv been dome ir Fourth street.
whcr" the truths OF ~, shall b. taught
in games and .u proper playine.
2 Wheeling Is trying 20 do something
along the lthe u Fairgrounds aud social
c"ntsrS. This is highly gratifying. Rui
d. should bc regarded az merely a De
SHINING The city maintains s-Erc-
gated district where tho vilest vices are
allowed Co b. practiccd and by fhat
ffFinlN JON encouraged. II IS high tim,
we fuftr'rct these ceutCrs Tor well iii
fectei play and hnsteu.d the DAY whom
o. Vice VIII not ~ sought by thcse seek.
ing pleasure. The city may well AFFORD
20 sNnrud large sums OF none, in Tho
rrot idirg ~ places for ID. building 81
character. II viii Ae returned ia div.
f'nds that canrot hr LuuEDd go Ga corl-
wrrci7l value.
let u4 submit our uftsiu1 ru fh.
I scrutiny of lf, Master christ. ... un-
social b"irE. 1ud a"cs o.. u.f. rht.
Inrtor m iif, rrufrihut. fo DO. -r.st@~'
4 s'I hnIug ~ our sol rdid community