RECREATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13636, 15 April 1908, Page 8

RECREATION.

A SERMON TO BOWLEHS

Lloyd's Weekly published lately a sermon to bowlers by the Rev.' F. Byard, M.A., Vicar of Stanwix, Carlisle. Speaking of recreation generally, the reverend gentleman said that besides the benofit which innocent recreation affords to freshen us up to do our ordinary work better, and, on its social side, to keep us human rather than professional, it also has another obvious use, in that it affords in itself opportunities for the training of character and the developing of the moral elements of our nature. In our great English public schools games as well as work form an important part of the school curriculum. The intention is not only to train the boy's body as well as his mind, but in the atmosphere of the play-ground, which is freer than that of the class-room, to teach him habits of discipline, good temper, and self-control — to teach him, in fact, to play the game, and to keep on playing it all his life as a man, a gentleman, and a Christian. Well, he went on to sayj I think no one is« too old to learn such lessons, and our bowling plains are schools in which to learn them, and to learn them well. The game affords much scope for the display of unselfishness, good temper, and modesty, as well as dexterity of hand and eye. And those are the things which, far more than a long face and a sanctimonious manner, go to make up the Christian character. It is a matter for great thankfulness and congratulation that there is a good,, wholesome, moral tone about our sport. Speaking for myself, I can say that, though frequently on the bowling-green, yet have I heard no oath, nor have I seen any exhibition of bad temper. I have noticed rather a striking absence of that spirit of selfishness which mars so many sports, when the moro expert player is unwilling to join with one less skilful than himself. :t

MY BOWLING CLUB.

If all the liowling clubs were like tho one to which I belong — and I have no reason to think otherwise — then this can be said of them all with truth, that none is ever refused admission either before he is a bad player or a poor man, neither is any one welcome as a member, however expert in the game he may be, or however big a swell his worldly rank, u | nless he is at the same time a good living and an honourable man.

Bowling, like any other kind of sport, may be abused, and the forces of evil, around us all, are so active and so persistent that we may be perfeotly certain, unless we are on our guard against them, that they may inflict and spoil even such an innocent form of pastime. All bowlers know what are the particular evils which have to be guarded against most in connection with the sport of bowling ; but I think I may assume that inasmuch as love of money, intemperance, and excessive indulgence in pleasure are three of the greatest and all-pre-vailing evils of our age, you would do well to carefully watch lest they intrude themselves into a sport and fepoil it. What influence you have, for instance, you should exert to keep withinthe narrowest limits the playing {or prizes, and so maintain the good, wholesome principle of- true* sport — playing for the pleasure of playing, and playing- your hardest to win, for your own satisfaction and for the honour of youi* clubs. You should be careful, too, lest the spirit of good fellowship, which 1 is such a happy feature in club life, should ever become the occasion of intemperance. The danger in that direction is not so great with yog as it is in those places where bowling-greens are in connection with licensed premises; but .that there is such a danger in every neighbourhood I do. not doubt. You should also watch against it for the sake of "the weaker brother." "

The third evil indicated, that of over-indulgence in favourite pastime, of making it an end in itself rather than a means to an. end — tlxen everybody needs to be on the watch. I have known men who have wasted their time on the bowling-green to the ruin of their business and the serious loss of their families — a most reprehensible abuse or recreation. The true safeguard against such a calamitous contingency is always to consider the end, both in' work arid play, to realise what is the true intention of recreation, and always to put duty first and everything else in its true place behind it.