SUNDAY HOCKEY AT MOUTOA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1085, 20 August 1912, Page 3

SUNDAY HOCKEY AT MOUTOA.

(To the Editor).

Sir. —Your correspondent “A Player” is evidently accustomed to “hitting hard” whether on or off the hockey field, but I hope that he is more successful with the hockey stick than he is in defending Sunday hockey. lit seems to give the impression that the one who reported the match had no desire for secrecy. If there was no such desire, why was there no mention made of the name of the day on which the match was played ? The report simply stated that a match was played last week. As this report appeared in the same issue of the paper in which my letter appeared, I was correct in stating that no report had appeared, as there had been no report up to the time that the letter was written. Will your correspondent in his reply, give the names, of the players iu the Sunday matches played to date, between Moutoa and Shannon, together with the names of the referees? If Sunday hockey is the right thing he should have no hesitation in doing so. “A Player” also claims for the Sunday hockey players that they are “good Christians.” I am afraid that your correspondent is only joking, for if they are what he declares them to be, than their Christianity must be of a very accommodating nature. “A Player” takes God’s good gifts, “pure air and sunshine,” but in spite of such gifts ignores the command, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy.” lam afraid that had I not signed my name to my letter that “A Player” would have had very little to write about, as a good part of his letter is taken up with reference to my work and how I should set about it. I thank him for the advice given, but, as he is entirely ignorant ot a preacher’s work, I will place the value upon it that it deserves- Unfortunately, Moutoa is not satisfied with Sunday hockey, but must have Sunday football too. Those who indulge in this Sunday play probably imagine that they are the friends of these two games, but in reality they are enemies to true sport. If all hockey and football teams approved of Sunday play (which I am pleased to know they do not) then it would mean that all who have any respect for God’s day would have to discountenance these games. Very few people iu the Dominion are favoured with Sunday matches, except possibly newly settled districts in the “backblocks,” and places where no church has penetrated, but probably Moutoa would not like to think that it is on a par with the “back-blocks.” The example set by our friends is a very bad one for the children of the district, aud it there are no heathen (which I doubt) at present there, I am afraid that there will be a number in future days. I would refer “A Player” to the scriptures as the authority for terming Sunday “TheLord’s Day,” Revelation ist chaper and loth verse, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, ’ also I would refer him to Galatians 6th chapter and yfh and Bth • verses. I give a hearty invitation to your correspondent to attend church to hear a “dry-as-dust ’ sermon. Perhaps he would not go to sleep alter all, as probably the novelty (for him) of being at

church might keep him awake. — I am, etc.,

T. COATSWORTH Foxton, August 19th, 1912.