The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-25

proposed to bleed him, they refused to
permit it, on the ground that ii would
affect the fairness of the bet. This, of
course, is an extreme case. Yet there
/ can be no doubt of the tendency of
gambling to destroy the better seusi-
bilities OF mems natures. Ii might be
possible without much difficulty to
produce instances which have occurred
much nearer home, and far more re-
Gently.
CONFLICT WITH PERSONAL RELIGION.
4. Gambling is directly M conflict Nth
say that q gambler cannot become n
Christian. On the contrary, even the
vilest transgressor may be washed in
the blood of Jesus. Though your sins
be as scarlet, If you will only repent of
them and come to Christ to be redeem
ed, they will be made as white as snow.
But no man can be a Christian and u
gambler at the same time. No man
can be consistent Christian and fire.
quent the places where gambling oc-
ours. Nay, more, this vice has pow
erlul tendency to harden men against
divine things. Gamblers themselves
are aware of the conflict between their
profession and anything essentially
pious, An American missionary to the
sandwich Islands, being in this coun-
try, WIS called to travel from New
York to one OF the New England States.
He went by boat. In the evening u
company of passengers who were
quite profane gathered around Il table
on which was the only light in the
cabin, and soon were deeply engaged
in gambling. The missionary, aTler
rejecting for II few moments, fell upon
AN expedient. He drew out his Bible
and, going TO the table, respectfully
asked that he might have place given
him in order to read. The request was
granted, but the sight of the Bible at
once stopped the swearing, and in a
short time the gamblers left the table
and went on deck. They felt that
reading the Scriptures and their sin
could not with any propriety be carried
on ut the same table.
CoSCLUsIoN-AN APPEAL.
1t remains for me to make some
practical application ofthls subject. In
the first place, If there are any persons
who have fallen into this sin l would
entreaL them at once to torsake it.
Gambling is always wrong. 1t Is also
attended by y host OF incidental evils.
1t hazards your eternal salvation. The
gaming place is right on the road TO
hell, Therefore, as you value your
reputation, your own temporal welfare
and that of your family and friends,
from this dreadful evil. 1 would that
by some voice L could arrest the down
ward career OF our young men who
crowd our billiard saloons by lay and
by night. My friends, you are on the
way 10 ruin. Stop before ii is too late.
And TO those persons who, whether
Intentionally or unintentiOnally, ii is
not for me to determine, have
recently furnished field for
this vice under the disguise of
respectable name. I would
say in the name OF all that is honorable
and right among men, for the sake OF
the youth of this region, for the honor
of this city. let us never be disgraced
by another such scene as that which
! has recently been presented among us.
Better far, II thousand times better that
certain public institutions should he
closed, never to be opened, than that
they should be perverted to such unhO-
ly purposes.
And let us all discountenance this
vice and do whatever we can, by the
creation of public sentiment and law,
to root II out of existence. Let the po-
sition of each of us, in regard to 1t, not
be in the least equivocal. Let us make
our influence OF position and property,
i'll whatever way it may be possible,
bear upon the suppression of this evil
which has become so threatening, Are
we ready to submit to the claims of
gamblers ? Shall the people of this
country allow priZe.tighters and the
habitues OF the race course to do what
ever they please? Is there no public
opinion 10 frown them down? Is there
no law which can be brought TO bear
upon them Is there no God in heav-
en- to help us ? Yes, The Lord reigns.
He is on on our side and il we do what
we can by his help, we shall succeed.