The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1926-02-12
WHAT YOUR PREACHERS
THINK OF SUNDAY SPORT
Elizabeth City Ministers Do Not All Agree On
The Disposition of This Big and
Perplexing Issue

Jr Man for the Sabbath! Can
a man be a Christian and in
iulge in Sunday sports and re-
creation? If so, to what eX-
tent? These are questions
that have become more and
more perpleXing to Elizabeth
City people in view Of the pre-
sent day trend and many are
they who have looked to their
own religious leaders for all
expression OF opinion.
Sensing the ultimate, perhaps early
demand for ecclesiastical light en-
problem, that vii! be sought by a
town with its own new golf course,
town whose boys and girls need
recreation and a large part Of the
ropulace Of which, yea even the very
elect, have long INDUCED in Sun.
day motoring, this newspaper has
iut It squarely up to the pastors
Of Elizabeth City's leading church.
es.
The pastors have given 4 splen.
did response to the query, all Of
them saying something, except Rev
J. V. Harrell, the new pastor Of
City Road II. z. Church South, who
doesn't care to commit himself on
the subject. The pastors CO not
give their opinions to influence any:
one. they say but simply TO state
their own position on this question.
A summary OF the statements Of
the various pastors shows that the
Btptists hold generally to a more
orthodox view Of Sabbath obsesv.
arce. The pastor Of the First Meth.
odist Church, however 70 not bound
hard and fast to a PuritanIca1 Sab
bath observance. The Episeopalian,
and Christian pastors admit of
h,uch latitude, holding out for clean
sports, and healthy recreation In
moderation as supplemental and es.,
sential to proper Christian living.
Rev. Hilary T. Bowen. pastor Of
the First Christian Church, L. for
Play, more play. and better play
every day in the week, insisting that
one may indulge In recreation and
give pleasure to his family, while
representing mans highest good, or
on the other hand he may be op-
l'osed to Sunday recreation of any
kind. and be one or the most dam.
nabIe enemies of Christianity. Mr..
BCweh says:
"Play! play Oh Sunday. Play or
Monday and every other day in the
week. The sermon or prayer that
Goes not carry with 1t the spirit Of
play does not fully represent Chris
tianity. Play that does not carry
with it development of the physical.
the social and the spiritual Is as bad
II misrepresentation Of the highest
good of men as the sermon or pray
or that represents only the spiritual
Christianity represents all three
forms of development, whether in
The pulpit or oil the golf links.
persist in making a mans relation.
ship with God depend on spiritual.
rather than ceremonial conditions.
Il Is possible for 2 man to attend
church. play golf or tennis, take bis
family out riding on sunday and
4 the same time represent mans
highest good. 1t il also possible
iJr n man Ia 90 to church, come
i%ck home with n sGnctimonious
look and feeling, quarrel with the
children for shufflrG their feet,
condemn selling gas OIL Sunday talk
about how unreligious ether folks
8 re. condemn all Sunday amuse.
nicnts and ct the same time be one
of the most damnable enemies Of
Christianity-man's highest good.
Man was made before Sunday
md Sunday was made fer mans
highest good. The Talmud contains
rgfiaemcats of the rabbinical law
absurd in their pettiress, refine
,ncnts tie like Of which were doubt
les in force IN jesus dag. On the
IL q rian were to pull out
Z fca;hc: frcDl the wing Of bird.
cut OF the top and pluck off the
fluff tclc%, Be would commit three
Gins, involving three sin cHerings;
md tie weighrr commandment WIS
rven laid down that on the lab.
,ath O ladder could not be car.
,ied from one pigeon rooet {; an
,ther, but without lifting II from
he ground. could be leaned from ore
0 another These petty resineme-ts
bout equal some we hear about 10
lay.
Against the idea of religion; liV'
az here represented the Easter
esolutely took his stand. He broke
he Sabbath laws himself and led
is disciples TO do likewise, both by
lucking corn in the fields and eat
NJ it. ind by doing works OF mercy
T. MT. rly spurned the requirements
boat Glenn and uncIean foods. lie
.ouId noi fa>r according to TIE jew
Concluded CT Page stvs.)