SERVICE FOR SPORTSMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17886, 5 December 1929, Page 6

SERVICE FOR SPORTSMEN

CANON JAMES’ STATEMENT. REV. HERRON DECLINES COMMENT. AUCKLAND, Thursday. An invitation to comment on the reply of Canon Percival James to his criticism of the proposal to introduce at St. Paul’s Pro-cathedral, Wellington, an extra early service for the benefit of sportsmen, who would be permitted to attend in sporting attire, was declined yesterday by the Rev. D. C. Herron, Minister of St, David’s Presbyterian Church, Auckland, “ Some of Canon James’ remarks are very, very unfair, but he is an angry man and I am not going to continue a squabble with him," said Mr. Herron. Observance of Sunday Necessary. As convenor of the Public Questions Committee of the Auckland Presbytery the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, of Devonport, yesterday made reply to the published remarks of Canon James. “ While we frankly do not uphold Sabbatarianism,” said Mr. Marsh, “ we do believe that the observance of Sunday is the strategic position in the struggle between spiritual and secular views of life.

“ If we believe that man is spiritual with immense possibility for good and evil —and, up-to-date, all life confirms that view—then, as the Rev. D. C. Herron rightly said, we are standing at the parting of the ways. Sunday is the only real opportunity for the vast majority to ‘ possess their souls’ at all. Without some cessation of the daily round of interests, without some time free to give to the inner life of the spirit and to our families and others, life becomes hard and selfish, it will not become less hard or selfish by a hurried observance of religious rites as a sort of preliminary to the real business of the day on the golf links. We regard the canon’s proposal, with dismay because by implication it insults the claims of the human spirit no less than it denies the Lordship of Him whose day it is supremely.

Potted Piety. “ New Zealanders least of all can complain of the lack of opportunity for sport. With summer-time facilities and Saturday practically a sports day it is ridiculous to pretend that we do not pay more than due homage to physical needs. The greatest need of this age is not to be met with potted piety on Sunday morning followed by a repetition of Saturday’s physical exercises. Only a frank and glad recognition of the claims that God and humanity make on our heart, mind, soul and strength can save our land from the vulgarity of secularism and the loss ef all that makes us great. “ The unworthy personalities introduced and the strictures on Mr. Herron’s scholarship are really apart from the controversy, and I can safely leave them to the good sense of the public.”