FOOTBALL CROWDS PRAISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 115, 17 May 1932, Page 6

FOOTBALL CROWDS PRAISED.

Praise for football crowds and censure of the Churches for neglecting to help the unemployed, formed part of striking addresses at the Assembly of the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches at Blackpool in April, Discussing "the Christian in leisure," the Rev. Bertram Smith, of Leeds, said: Let me put in a good word for football, not only [daying it. but Watching it. Itis easy to be cynical about the crowds of men and women growing excited about the achievement of their favourite teams, but it is very foolish. Watching football is of distinct spiritual value. It is good to link oneself in unselfish interest to the fortunes of the team with no hope of material gain. It Is at any rate a window into a larger life. Speaking of the unemployed, whose leisure he described as the saddest of all, Mr. Smith paid that organised Christianity for the most part was just looking on. Why should not the Free Ohurcli Council do for the workless what the Y.M.C.A. did for the soldiers in the Great Wart The need was as great. Surely the necessary money and organising brains could be found to cover the land with a network of institutes for unemployed, where men mid women ! could gather for games, fellowship, music and educational classes.