SABBATH DESECRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 169, 16 July 1908, Page 6

SABBATH DESECRATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Yon report that among the arrangements of the Rugby Union for the entertainment of the British footballers is a Sunday fishing excursion. Please allow mc to enter an indignant i protest against their action in thus i going out of their way to outrage the I consciences of large numbers of their I sympathisers. Whatever may be their attitude as individuals toward the Day of Rest they should remember that a considerable section of the community view that day as divinely ordained for rest worship; and that tbe members of this section must of necessity be pained by their, to say the least, utterly thoughtless and unwarranted action. To them as individuals the Sabbath may be a most fitting day for fishing excurI sions, but rhey should bear in mind that I they, as the chief athletic body, repre- [ sent all s*ections and all creeds; and in i fairness they should do nothing in their | official capacity to violate the coescienj tious convictions of any of those sections or creeds. Strict justice demands that I they should be. at the very least, severe- ; ly neutral in tbe realm of conscience and I religious belief. I can enjoy a good ; game of football as well as any. bnt I do j protest against the game being officially ! linked to open irreligiousness im the form of Sabbath desecration. I trust that others, who feel likewise, will join mc in this protest, and tiius show the executive of the Rugby Union that they cannot outrage the consciences of large •numbers with impunity.—l am, etcF. A. WILLIAMS. Epsom.