The Herald of Wales. — 1888-02-25 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

TITE-BAUTALITIES OF7THE  PRIZE RING.  On Sunday evening the Rev. J. Bailey, pastor, delivered a very eloquent sermon at P, 11street (Thapel, Swansea, the subject chosen being "The Brutalities of the Prize Ring," and the text,PauPs let letter to TimotLy,2nd chap,6th v. His only exmse, said the rev. ventleman, for entering upon this subject 4n a place like that Was on account of its recent revival in this country, and its being aided and abetted by persons in high positions in our land. Athlete, sports and legitimate pastimes they had not the smallest objection to, but they did not fall in with that class of sport (?) which was brutal mot unmanly. Gymnastic exercises and manly sport, calculated to maintain the heatth they.. did not condemn; they only condemned that which wit+ brutal and inhuman, and there "Me. nothing heroic in one Wan punching another until the human face had lost its identity. These vicio 8 practices undoubtedly originated with the an-dent Greeks. It had been said by some th it that there was a great similarity between the ancient gamee and the modern sp,rt, but a little close consideration would tend to dispel that illusion. As we have seen that the fencinit, wrestling, and boxing of the ancient Gi,eits developed into meet murderous practice thee • thousand years ago, si on we find tli it J. traditional harmless .games of wrestling h-,v. developed into duelling—stitl practised it, It —boxing into fighting, and fighting into fighting. The preacher then trlttn,d the pugilistic champions back to the time of Lewis, who received as pupils not a small nulaber if the aristocracy of that day, and Shaw, wL suecee,led. in ostublinhintr a r•Tutatiou by • ; 10 teen in a notable hattl,, Isti•se hn hen  killed. They woulo,h, ri.yers, Heenan, and King, who was a, onnverted and bvcanit, a ',P.:tither, . woqa a o recollect that in Ow,.  _ . column. of neceepapere were . • minute deecripticns of what language, heaskod, aa sut.6.oier.,.) to eclat he and dery,ruce tho-e ne ~p r editors ? But what about the second the k hands with such :144.11 duilivac, Bruith, and Kireiu. who were e tiuually committing a I,each of oue countly•.• Laws. The Princewi %Vides rosy have viceare ideas as it men, but as our future king he should not be allowed to have anything to do such men as he had just mentioned. It the newspapers are to be believed, he did not know how to behave himself even in a theatre' but the day lisppity had long since passed when kings with brutal tastes couli ne allowed to sway the aneptre over a Christian empire. How could they expect the laws of this country to be kept by tt..e common people, when people of high authority countenanced and boodwineed is breaelr of those laws. And what defence did tfre patrons of the priFe ring oiler? They say I tends to bringing out inciividual and national courage. But he '(Mr Bailey) did not believe a . word oi it. What do those infamous seconds as they are called care about courage either in. divides' or national. They only care about their own man winning, and the wagers they have laid upon him being successful. What courage was there in two men battering one , another about until they are not fit to be seen, Until one has gained a victory over tho other. Call these meuhrutes if you like, but don't will them men. The preacher having further non destined in strong tones the defences set up by supporters of the prize ring, entreated all ChritUsti statesmen, ministers, and teachers ts rats their 'MOO like a clarion until the art of priz fighting was banished from our land. Tha Marqr  la .quees of Bute low inbeeribed £5OO to he endowmert f wad of Queen Margaret College, Glasgow.  S &