The minister (Rev Mr Watson) plainly told the congregation that if he were compelled to undertake personally the task of putting the manse garden and grounds in order, there could not be much household visiting.
The Rev R. Catherwood also enunciated his views upon muscular Christianity, and, according to the local Herald, said he held that every Christian should be free from cant and goody-goodyism, and should join in everything that makes for pure and strong and lofty manhood.
He believed in Christian men taking part in athletics.
He would like to see every man connected with the Church able to box, because there were so many low and contemptible creatures who could not respect anything good or clean or noble till they had been soundly thrashed by some fellow who loved all that was admirable and honourable.
A good thrashing he held to be the best thing in the world for the hoodlum and the larrikin, who did not know his own place, and had never learned to treat men and women with respect.
He thought it a Christian duty to be able to administer well-deserved chastisements.
He was of opinion that when Christ had finished cleansing the temple some of the men He dealt with would have use for a good deal of sticking plaster and Red Cross ointment.
He thought the men who professed to follow Christ should not forget that Christ knew how to punish with a scourge.
• London: A bill for shortening the hours of shop assistants was introduced on Wednesday into the House of Commons by Mr Gladstone, the Home Secretary, really for the purpose of promoting discussion in the country on the subject.
The following are the principal points: -Shop assistants are not to be employed more than 60 hours a week, not after 8pm on more than three evenings in the week.
There must be a weekly half-holiday, every shop to close not later than 2pm on one day in the week.
Local authorities (in London and the County Council) will have power to select early closing day.
Shops, with the exception of public houses, will be closed on Sunday.
In Jewish localities shops will be allowed to remain open till 2pm on Sunday if they have been closed from sunset on Friday till sunset on Saturday. - ODT, 2.10.1909.
