THE CULT OF ATHLETICISM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11087, 1 October 1907, Page 6

THE CULT OF ATHLETICISM.

DR: GIBB'S DENUNCIATION. Dr Gibb (St. John's Church) became eloquent. in the Town Hall, Wellington, the other night, where a religious service was held. . Referring to the manner in which "athleticism had been elevated into a god,'» Dr Gibb said here was a nation that put its ban .upon the Bibje-in-schoolg and its blessing upon the totalisator on the racecourse..;. Here was a generation coming Up, a large part of, whom had no fear of -Ood (before their eyes, prostituting their souls to the worship .of brawn and muscle. It needed no Elijah to tell what would happen. Their politicians often talked to them about Yellow peril, and the jjreat- necessity of guarding the colony against the" day of Armageddon, when hordes of brown and yellow men would invade our shores, but the truest shield for the nation against even armed fools was the virtue of 4ts sons and daughters. What kind of defence should 1 we make of our hearths and homes if our hearts were rotten? When it came to fighting (and for aught one knew it might come to .fighting some day) it was the man ■behind the gun that always told. Port Arthur was protected as thoroughly as any fortress >of modern time had been by impregnable, fortifications, and by great guns without number. Port Arthur fell into the hands of the Japanese because luxury and sloth and vice t had sapped the manhood of the Russians. It was only righteousness that made a na-tion.-great and strong and free. There was much in our present state of morals to make every true patriot, as well as every sincere Christian, anxious and perturbed! .