THE CHURCH AND SPORT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14233, 5 March 1914, Page 7

THE CHURCH AND SPORT.

A “SPORTING” PASTOR’S SERMON. AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 4. On Sunday, the Rev Jaspar Calder, a young Anglican clergyman, who is wellknown here as “the sporting parson," delivered a special address to .sporting man, ijic gist of which was that there should be a stronger sympathy between active Church workers and sporting men. Horse racing hud come to stay, and the preacher thought it would be better for the Church to accept that fact, and endeavour to make sport a good clean one, than to di-play antagonism towards horse racing, which would only alienate the sympathy of a large body of perfectly reputably men connected with sport. This address was considered at a meeting of the Diocesan Social Questions Commission last evening, when the following rc-.o!ntiu;i was passed unanimously •.--“That the Commission regrets, and strongly disapproves of the pulpit ntteranccSVof the Rev Ja.-par (.'alder, as reported in the ITe.ss on the ‘betting evil.’ Interviewed to-day, Mr Calder warf reluctant to make any reply to the Commission, which, he said, was doing much excellent and very useful work. “But, as regards the gambling evil and lacing generally,’’ said Mr Calder, “the voice of the Commission seems to show that they have taken an entirely onesided view. I believe I have had enough experience of rating myself to give both sides of Hie question. Until one can do tin’s, one is bound to find a difficulty in gaining the sympathy of tho sporting man in one’s efforts.”