He did not argue the point as
to whether all games were worth playing, or whether by filling up
all the spare time of boys with them, by crowning successful
athletes with glory and worship, by engaging masters who will talk
with profound seriousness about bowling and batting, rowing and
football, one might not be developing a perfectly false sense of
proportion. He told the boys to play games with all their might,
and he left on their minds the impression that athletics were
certainly things to be ranked among the Christian graces. Of course
he sincerely believed in them himself. He would have maintained
that they developed manliness and vigour, and discouraged loafing
and uncleanness. I am not at all sure myself that games as at
present organised do minister directly to virtue. The popularity of
the athlete is a dangerous thing if he is not virtuously inclined;
while the excessive organisation of games discourages
individuality, and emphasises a very false standard of success in
the minds of many boys. But the Bishop was not invited that he
might say unconventional things.
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