Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-04-27
FROM
THE PEOPLE

Editor, Times-Recorder:- On the
editorial page of the Times-Recorder
yesterday april %, '22) there APP
peared reply to my remarks on
Sunday Golf As this article de-
tends Sunday golf and does not come
to the points at issue squarely 1 ask
to be heard yet further on the sub
rject
My claims are these:
First, Sunday golf is n violation
of the Sabbath and is therefore sin
fui
Second, the directors Of the Golf
club are responsible for Sunday golf.
Third, if action is deferred Sun
day golf viii become mtrenched and
it will be impossible to uproot it
without great effort.
Let us take them in order.
, Why is Sunday golf wrong? Be-
cause the fundamental law of the
Sabbath is violated, which is a day
given of God for rest and worship.
Sunday golf is wrong within itself
all the time. Sunday auto riding is
not wrong within itself but it can
become wrong. A stroll in the woods
IS not wrong within itself, but it
too can become wrong. But how
ever we may approach golf on Sum
day, it, is wrong because it violates
the God-given purpose of the Sab
bath, which purpose is meant of God
to keep our souls in fellowship with
Him. This is the divine principle
back of the Sabbath. 1t relates us,
il properly observed, to our heaven
ly Father This is the first law God
made for man. In IBIS wrapped up
all Of mans relationship to God. All
religious activity of whatever sort
has its foundation in the Sabbath.
Tear down the Sabbath and you
strike body blow at all Gods provis-
ion for man finding his way back
to Him. 1t isn't left for me, or any
one else, to settle this by our opin-
ions. We can accept it and have
Gods blessings upon us, or reject it
and suffer the consequences.
1t IS Gods law, not mans, which
says, "If thou turn away thy foot on
the Sabbath from doing thy pleas
ure on my holy day and call the
Sabbath a delight, the holy of the
Lord, honorable, and shalt honour
him, not doing thine own ways, nor
finding their own pleasure, nor
speaking their own words. Then
shalt thou delight myself in the Lord,
and | will cause thee to ride on the
high places Of the earth and feed
with the heritage of Jacob thy faith.
er for the mouth of the Lord hath
spoken it." Isaiah, 58:13-14.
Golf Is sport and is therefore
one Of our pleasures and if INDUCED
in on Sunday viii destroy our spirit
ual benefits God meant to be ours
through the Sabbath
Sin is either ignorant, Indifferent
or wilful. The last is the worst form
it is rebellion against God. SO if
we sin against Gods revealed will,
it is to fly in the face of God. To say
that | believe it is wrong for me
personally" doesn't express it at all.
1t is wrong fundamentally, constitu-
tionally. 1t would be the same should
| violate the fundamental laws of
gcyernment-which are protection
of life and property" On this foun-
datiOn all government rests-aIl cit
izenship and business depends. And
no government would tolerate the vi
olation Of either Of these in the least
degree. Tear down the Sabbath and
our spiritual foundation goes and
with it the whole superstructure. 1t
IS q question of whether we want to
build on the rock or on the sand.
You as well say, have an opinion
on marriage as on the Sabbath. This
is Gods law relating us to each other.