New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-25


the national game" will prove that
the thing most essential to the former
and essentially present in the latter IS
that every one play the game.
The Rev. Charles +. jefferson, OF me
Broadway Tabernacle by no means
Indifferent baseball "fan'-than wnom
there is not a more popular Ne" TOTE
pastor. has shown the following para
lei between the Church and the oase-
ball organization: 80,
1T is an improving spectacle when
one occasionally sees IN New YORK
thirty thousand people looking at a
game of baseball. What constitutes the
fascination of this game? why is u
that hundreds Of thousands OF men
and women look at II year after year
and never grow weary
zone reason is that the game IS wei
PLAYED. It is not played tolerably we'll
but il is played superbly. The playing
is rot mediocre, but wonderful; II Is
not slovenly, but always careful ana
sometimes perfect. Ball playing has
become q fine art. The rules have
through many years been so modified
and improved that il is difficult to sec
how the game can be made better. Inc
whole country is ransacked for the
best men possible. and each club Is
subjected TO tests so severe that sec
ond rate players are ruthlessly weeded
out.
Must Play Well
at is not enough for player to be
ordinary; he must be extraordinary
He cannot be permitted TO play well
- h.. MI q
the time.
"To see strong men do their best is
an inspiration. To watch two groups
Of men using their faculties to the
utmost, expressing in action the very
best that is in them. expending every
ounce of their strength and contribut-
ing every atom Of their skill-that is a
source Of psychical refreshment. Not
only is the mind quickened, but the
spirit is elevated and invigorated.
Ball players in the great leagues do
with their might what their hands find
to do. Let one player play listlessly,
and he would be Kissed from the field.
Half-heartedness is objectionable in q
game Of baseball. No manager will
tolerate a player who is absent-minded
or slack. To win the game the whole
man is demanded, and he is demanded
all the time. From the moment the
game begins until the last inning is
played every man must remain wide
awake and alert and throw himself un-
stintedly into the contest
This is one Of the lessons that base
ball has TO teach Christians. The
Apostle Paul liked TO picture the Chris
tian life under the image Of an athletic
contest. He was always reminding the
Christians Of his day that the prizes
offered in the athletic field are as moth.
ing compared with those which God
offers those who serve Him. He in
sisted upon il that the general rules OF
the athletic world are practically the
same as those which bind Christians
all the time.
Must Obey the Rules
"The rules must be obeyed. Every
contestant must put forth the full
measure Of his energy. tie must sub
1ect himself to rigorous discipline. lie
must keep his mind on his work. lie
must not look 10 the side or beh'nd
He must not allow himself to be
thwarted by hardships or discourage
ments. He must struggle with all ms
might and he must never give up II
the victory is won.
"Here, then, is lesson from the
baseball field for all Church members
TO carry with them through the year:
Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do 1t
with thy might
at was a Hebrew proverb. 1t ought
TO be an American proverb. Too many
Christians are languid and apathetic.
They are not intense and alert. lhey
do not do superbly the things they try
TO do. They do not hold themselves
strenuously to highest ideals. nor de-
mand of themselves the very best that
is in them. Hence they lose much.
They have little Of the sense of e1-
hilaration and Joy which all strenuous
workers know. They are strangers to
the glow and the rapture which come
to those who do their best.
"What a Christian Church would be
able TO accomplish ii only all OF its
members should put into their Church
life and work the same vim and vigor
which we demand Of the men who plaJ
professional BASEBALL
Twenty Miles Of Bibles
The largest orders ever placed by the
New York Bible Society have just been
given to two publishing houses. One is
to house in London, England, for
10000 copies of the Scriptures, tho
other is 20 a Western house for 100000
volumes, making a total Of 100000
copies OF the Scriptures.
II all Of the quarter Of million vol
umes Of the Scriptures just ordered
~ al