CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 126, 4 May 1883, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

BREAKING THE SABATH. (to the editor of the standard.) Sib,— You did not approve of the style m which my last letter was written, and consequently it was cot published ; no doubt you right. However, I may state there was nothing untrue, or misleading m it. Tn the following the name substance will be found m another form. On nearly every fine Sunday movninjr, the. Ston;ey Creek road is thronged with sportsmen, travelling m tbe direction of Ashnrsfc, an«i other oatlying parts m the forest, m quest of game. The majority of which comprise youths, the remainder men, whose age one would think should put them above such, and take a pleasure m veiy dif*» terent things. They are not only a bad example to the youths referred to, but also to the whole of the tender plants along the road side, who living m close proximity to the forest, and being of an age when so susceptible of such evils, ate almost sure to be influenced m the wrong direction. With regard to the youthful sportsmen, I think it a great pity, that some of the religious bodies do not make an effort to reach these youngsters for the improvement ot their condition. If some of our parsons would take a walk some evening and visit the various hotels, and billiard rooms, it would quickly dawn upon them that there were better attended: congregations i. 5 such places than at the churches, and also that some active measure be taken to prevent such a resu t as is easi'y seen will be the outcome of so absolute a neglect of mental training. I would expect our religious bodies to take a hint from the muchabused Salvation Army, and try and reach those who really require preaching r to. Then I venture to think the country people's Sunday mornings would be less disturbed by galloping troups of sportsmen, — I am &c, Tui. Stoney Creek, May 2nd, 1883. P. S. lam glad you did not publish the first letter, as since I have reconsidered it I find its tenor is inconsistent with the purpose for which it was written. 3 j