Sport and Colonialism in 19th Century Australasia - LA84 Foundation

Muscular Christianity in her opinion was the necessary 'Gospel
of Physical Salvation' for Victorian society. There were indeed
many who shared Holden's beliefs but all too often, as Sandercock
and Turner have pointed out, "God received only token recognition"
in their translation of the gospel; 28 manliness was
a much more frequent interpretation for the sporting zealot.
Victorians were obsessed with the concept of 'character'.
A sense of moral earnestness and compassionate gentility were
indicative of ideal qualities which men should possess if they
were to be considered decent members of society. Such qualities
were imperative to living a Christian way of life. As one
historian writing on the Victorian 'frame of mind' has observed,
"to be an earnest Christian demanded a tremendous effort to
shape the character in the image of Christ". 29
And it was the
Christian characteristics of duty, courage, endurance and selfdiscipline
which were encapsulated in the 'ultimate masculine
quality' of manliness, 30 which was tested in everyday circumstances
and especially, with the evolution of a muscular Christian
philosophy, through involvement in approved physical exercises.
There was a coterie of activities which challenged a
man's manliness and helped bring about a better physiological
and psychological well-being; fencing, riding, swimming, running
and boxing. But it was cricket and football which attracted
constant reference as manly games. Cricket, noted Thomas F.
Wray, a reputable player in Victoria, "is a sport connected with
which there is not one objectionable feature, and, viewed both
morally and physically, is calculated, by the spirit of emulation
to which it gives rise, to strengthen and develope [sic]
in the rising generation,
31
the best qualities of mind and body".
More specifically, recorded one poetic admirer of cricket:
Tis the King of Anglo-Saxon games -
The type of our strength confessed;
Where the charm of perils bravely dared
Inspires each manly breast! 32
And football was not far behind. It involved 'plucky and gentlemanlike
play.' 33
It was a game of skill, courage and endurance,
contributing greatly to 'health and strength.' 34
The verdict on
manly sports by Victorian Australians was unequivocally consist-
ent. In 1861 Bell's Life declared that the population of Victoria
23