SUNDAY SPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 15

SUNDAY SPORT

ORGANISED GAMES OPPOSED TEST CRICKETER'S VIEWS • Among speakers at the recent Sydney Diocesan Synod who opposed, organised Sunday sport was Mr. W. A. Oldfield, the former test cricketer. Ho said, however, that he could not see any great harm in unorganised sport on a Sabbath afternoon. The Rev. Principal T. C. Hammond said there was a danger of the Continental Sunday being introduced into Australia to replace the quiet order and dignity which still happily existed to a largo extent throughout. Great Britain. On tho Continent the pcoplo were, as a whole, neglectful of tho sacred associations of the Sabbath, which should be a day of deep spiritual realities. Thcro was in the present day an increasing tendency for oven professing religious pcoplo to attend church oil a Sunday morning, and spend tho remainder of tho day in sport. Sport and devotion to religion were incompatible. .Tack Hobbs, tho famous cricketer, was opposed to Sunday sport. Mr. Oldfield, who was wearing the uniform of a lieutenant of militia, said lie had found great satisfaction and profit from tho time lie had devoted to thp study of Christian iliouicht, and his attendance at church on Sundays had had a wonderful influence on his life. He emphasised I lie value of sport ns a character builder. Sunday afternoon sport was one of the effects of the. last war, when relaxation was necessary to wet away from horrors and wholesale slaughter.

If sport were organised by the church on Saturdays it would intensify the alliance between sport and religion. One of the best forms of the worship of God was to keep one's body fit and healthy, and that could best be done by healthy sport and recreation. For that reason he did not think there could bo any great harm in, or objection to, unorganised and harmless sport on a Sunday.