SUNDAY TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21715, 24 February 1936, Page 9

SUNDAY TENNIS

TO TUB EDITOE OF THE FKESR. Sir—l huve noticed letters in your paper about Sunday tennis in Oxford and from the great ado the Oxford Domain Board has made about it, one would think this is the only place where tennis on a Sunday has ever before been mentioned, let alone played. The majority of the members on the Domain Board (being well past their youth) are very much against Sunday ter.nis, and they say it is because of their religious scruples; yet those same men think nothing of going to Ashley Gorge, etc., on a Sunday and enjoying the day in their own way. Thev also, the president particularly, think nothing of playing bowls on Good Friday, which, to most people, is the most sacred day of the year. Also they have no objection to people playing tennis on a Sunday at View Hill Domain and Carleton Domain, over which they also have control, and why? Because these domains are not on the main street and nobody can see them. Where does their God live - ' Surely not in their hearts. Their motto seems to be "Do whatever you like as long as no one sees you"; and they profess themselves Christians. I say, "Let any one whose conscience will let him, play on a Sunday, lest he do worse things." From what I know of Oxford, the tennis club has only to take round a petition io be signed for Sunday tennis and seme of the same, names will probably appear as on the list against Sunday ttr.nis.—Yours, etc. A CHRISTIAN. February 19, 1936.

L"The reason we are against Sunday tennis here is that the domain is right in the centre of the township, and the Salvation Army is just across the road from the domain," said Mr A. Baxter, chairman of the Oxford Domain Board, when he was asked to comment on this letter. "The Salvation Army holds services on a' Sunday, and when it is not holding services it conducts a Sunday school. We do not think it right to play tennis on one side of the street and to preach the Gospel on the other."]