SUNDAY HOCKEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1087, 24 August 1912, Page 3

SUNDAY HOCKEY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Although your correspondent T. Coaisworth, was hard bit by my letter last week, he is not yet “hors coucours,” as is evidenced by bis reply in your issue of the 20th. Yet he must be considerably damaged, or he would not cling so much for support to that report of the game in which the particular day on which it was played was omitted. However, we are not discussing the report of a game, but whether it is right or wrong to have a quiet game of hookey, football, or auy other innocent pastime on the Sabbath day. I maintain that as it is perfectly harmless, it is right, and it will take more than a few quotations of Scripture to make me alter my opinion. I can also assure your correspondent that I was quite serious when I stated that we were good Christians, even though we have our own way of spending Sunday. Because a person attends church regularly every Sunday, it does not follow that he is a Christian, and I cannot see why I should be branded a heathen because I prefer a game of hockey to a game of make-be-lieve. I may also tell your correspondent that I do not devote one day a week to the glory of God, but worship Him every day. T. Coatsworth would hardly call Wellington the back-blocks, yet tbe society people there are often to be seen playing golf nd bowls f u the Sabbath, ana I have never seen their actions commented upon in tbe press. Yet, when we working people choose to have a game on that day, the hands ol the saints are lifted in pious protest. lam sorry that I. have no; time to go .mound and secure the names 01 rue players, and also the referees, for your correspondent, but if he will publish tbe names of his flock I will undertake to run through the list and discover whether there are any of his lambs strayed into our told. Your correspondent, A. H. Yates, also in Tuesday’s issue of your paper, denounces Sunday hockey as a public scandal, and wonders whether I will father, or mother, the glaring tacts of the case now. What impression he wishes to convey I do not know, but it seems to me that be has either been taking a little wine for bis stomach’s sake, or is suffering from an attack of “coup de soliel.” He also quotes scripture in support of his ranting, but let me assure him that Ghrist was accused of not keeping the Sabbath Day holy, and it was men of your correspondent’s calibre that made the accusation. A. H. Yates is purely and simply a “gull,’’ and as such I will treat him iu the future, so he need not waste any more iuk in throwing mud at me. And, as regards your correspondent “A Retired Player,’’ his letter is his own downfall, for now that he has given up Sunday hockey he quotes Scripture to prove that it is a sinful practice. “Retired Player,” after sitting in judgment upon me, has the presumption to draw my attention to the small verse, “Judge not that ye be not judged.” I am afraid he must be “a hard shell Baptist.” “Retired Player” is quite right wheu he presumes that I possess a Bible, but the tact of him having one printed at an eariier date than mine does not make him a better Christian. In conclusion, I must thank Mr Coatsworth for his invitation to attend church, and whenever a couvenient opportunity occurs I will avail myself ot it. Hoping 1 have not taken up too much ol your space, —I am, etc., A Pi, AVER. August 24th, 1912.