HIKERS' TRAINS ON SUNDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21285, 12 September 1932, Page 13

HIKERS' TRAINS ON SUNDAY

Sir, —As one of the hikers in last Sunday's "Mystery Train," I think it is due to them to state that a more orderly and, indeed, reverent Sabbath crowd could not be desired. Arrived at Waitakere we commenced the tramp and soon found ourselves taking lunch at a convenient spot, amidst charming surroundings. Continuing the walk, I feiel sure every one of us was at times lost in admiration of the beautiful scenery we passed through. I reached home about 5.30, in good time for tho evening church service; this is as it should be. My whole life, a fairly long one, lias been such that I might well be looked upon as a professing Christian, and I have yet to learn that an occasional Sunday morning's country walk, enjoying and contemplating the wonderful works of God, can be regarded as a desecration of tho Sabbath. H.R.

Sir, —Perhaps one moro word with regard to a subject very much in the public mind will be permitted. I belong to a society consisting of about a hundred and twenty yonnp people, all of whom attend Church services of a Sunday at least two or three times. They have to earn their own living, and their pursuits are probably as various as those of any similar number of people; yet, in spite of the fact that their Sundays are not spent in the open air, in sport, or socallecf pleasure of any kind, their.standard of health and physical development is at least as high as that found among their daily companions. Wo serve a loving Father, Who has said, "Them that honour Me I will honour." His graco is as sufficient for our physical needs as for our spiritual. We lose nothing in bodily ability by giving one day a week to the service of our King, but we gain inestimably. May I suggest that the Railway Department be so kind as to organise a mystery hika for a Saturday afternoon? The days are lengthening now, and daylight saving will soon be upon us; surely we could find time, by leaving, say. at 12.30 p.m., and returning at 7 or 8 p.m., to spend a very profitable and eniovable afternoon in this popular fashion. 1 Y.S.N.