THE BOXERS AND THE PREACHERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 592, 21 August 1909, Page 10

THE BOXERS AND THE PREACHERS.

. Sir,—lt would bo well if Eome 'of the revorcncTcritics of boxing'would bear in mind tho > precept they have forgotten apparently: "Let not liim that eateth 'despise Mm that oateth not, and let. not him that eateth not judgo liim that eateth." • Thcro is nothing sinful-or demoralising in fellows plugging one another with boxinggloves, not even if bloody npsee, black eyoa, and sundry contusions result. To the young and vigorous, in fair training, the joy] of combat far outweighs.tho slight inconvcuiences arising from a few knocks. But boxing is not suitable for old women of either sex. '.■'.. '.'■,- . '■. '. Thero is nobbing more wicked in receiving money for boxing than in receiving it for preaching. .Some of. the clergy, M.P.'s, councillors, doctors, lawyers, and men of all classes and. opinions attend the boxing matohes, even his Excellency tho Governor. They aro not all .bloodthirsty ruffians.- Boxing is not necessarily more brutal and: demoralising than .preaching; both may he made so when badly conducted. _ Preacliing is brutal and demoralising when it is fierce, uncharitable, ■ scandalous/ • and inaJcurate. It is in this direction that the preaching of some of tho reverend gentlemen is tending.' Let them be less arrogant and more truthful and gentle in their demeanour. Others who do. not figure in the'pulpits arc quite as competent to judge what is reasonable and .right as "they ;'aro.;',. . . :■ '~ ,A man who can take' a hammering like a man, can sliako hands after it ia over, and bear 'no mid-ico' towards > his opponent is a better moral, example to his fellows-than ho who ;. arrogantly arid untruthfully , attacks with that.'unruly member, his tongue, the intemperate wagging of wuioh has become a besotting..vice,'.iiv the present day. .... .. ■ The devotees of boxing are as much entitled to tho use of the Town Hall for their .any other citizens for theirs, and should not be coerced out of their rights by any intemperate fanatics.—l am, etc., : .'" ■'' ':,- - ; . .-. •■•■: ' -.;; . ';. X.r ■ ' August 18. '..;-. : .:;..■/.'