GOOD FRIDAY SPORTS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10941, 17 April 1901, Page 8

GOOD FRIDAY SPORTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THB PRESS. Sir, —I was very pleased to see a lettet in "The Press" of April 3rd from one wha is more than usually proficieut in atliletics condemning Good Friday sports. It seems to mc that it would be well if others would publicly express the disapproval they have long felt in secret, but only expressed in conversation with friends. For the sake of the rising generation we ought not to keep silence and betray them ior fear of consequences to ourselves. I, too, have had a good deal to do with athletics in the pa«t, in football, boating, etc., and I still take interest as far as possible in all such matters. Thousands strongly disapprove of these Good Friday sports, and if they would only speak out this scandal would soon cease. We object for many reasons. Chiefly on account of the desecration of tlfe day. But also largely because we feel that the committee are responsible for fostering a spirit of very spurious manliness, which is mainly selfish and utterly regardless of anything more serious than the amusement of the hour. I would ask the committee to consider whether their action is wise from any point of view. Will it tend ultimately to benefit sport if it is publicly advertised that Christianity and sport are opposed to one another? This is what the committee are doing to the best of their power. They may not mean it. But this is how their action tends. Their action is an outrage on Christianity, and is generally recognised as such. It is as much as "to say, "We care nothing for Christianity. We are opposed to it, and it to us." I would a.sk, is such action or the stiirit it engenders likely to improve sport in the long run. Is it not rather calculated to degrade it'/ And from a public spirited point of view, is it not well to consider the probable effect on the rising generation of young men themselves?— Yours, etc., -■■ H. AIRAY WATSON. Merivale.