The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-08-09
wICK2E EAsHINeToN.
PASTOR TEM SAYS SO, BUT
MANY PEOPLE DOUBPIT

a Tail< Wft!; II Preacher Whose SEN
satIoIaI Sermon Against Feminine
Gambling at the Capital Has Excited
Much Curiosity.
IN I. Stor)
WAsHrNGToN, Aug. Rev. Ed
mund IL. Swein is the uncommon
name of preacher who is creating a
good deal Of talk here by the bofdness
with wn.vA he depicts ..and the sensa-
tionai nature Of IL series of sermons he
IS at present delivering on "Washing-
Ton Wickedness." His sermon was
published in substance in the Star sew
eral days ago.
Nj. SVEN IS q young man probably
not more than y years old, and he
ha~ been pastor Of the Second Baptist
Church in this city for the last three
years. His church is small one in
a paratively y poor part of the city,
but his services are always attended
very largely, people coming from a
distance to hear his startling disclos-
urcs. This is exactly as he intended
it should be, for, as he explained to
the Sta correspondent, if he did not
arouse the peoples curiosity by his
subjects, he would probably speak to
very slim audiences. "The Lord did
not intend me to preach to empty
becnhcs,' said he, "and don't propose
to do it if | can help it, So he de-
votes IL good deal Of care to the titles
of his sermons and has already deliv-
cred two, under the headings, "Hate-
ful Husbands" and "Woetul Wives"
Mr. Sven carries his original views
even into his dress. Instead of the
black broadcloth coat and white tie,
the conventional attire for a minister,
Mr.. Sven to-day was wearing thin
suit of light brown; the coat cut in
Prince Albert style, and colored
f0ur-in hand scarf with an ornament
al pm inserted in it. Referring to this,
he said that he did not believe in a
minister continually wearing an adj
vcrLisement Of his profession. 1t op-
Grated very often as barrier between
him and the people. He thought that a
minister : duty was to get as close as
he could to the people dress like
them, and make no distinctions be-
tween hi:nsc'f and them. Following
"ut this theory, he often wears, and
has appeared in the pulpit in what he
facetiouslY terms "see more" coat
which it is unnecessary to say, is or
dlnarily called sack coat
Mr.. Swem' delivery is quick and
nervous. He has a good voice, and
usually advances to the front of his
44,ui4lta platform white delivering his
discourses. He is very popular with
tie Younger members of his congrega-
liom, hut some of his older hearers
have been known to express disappro-
val oj his lack of conventionalism.
His mode Of preparing sermon is
very simple. When he has chosen
:. subject upon which he wishes to
speak he gets into conversation with
some ono who is either able to talk
on it from his own experience or who
Is in q posltion to notice and learn
about IL. and then interviews them.
: Newspaper men he especially likes to
talk with, and he confesses he owes q
good deal to them. Policemen, re
formed drunkards, and gamblers also,
furnish him with illustrations with
which tn point a moral.
HIS last sermon wason "Male and Fe-
maic Gamblers" aud as usual, 1t was
Il pointed discourse which has attract
ed a great deal Of attention
Talking to-day with the Star CORES.
pondent, Alr. Sven said
George Washington is quoted as
saying that gambling is a child OF
avarice, the brother of iniquity and
the father Of mischief If that was
so in his day, wonder what he would
say if he were to return to the. city
which is named after him now, where
the vice is freely INDUCED in by both
sexes
81 am told that there,is more sin Sc
cfetly d one in this city. TheFrench are
open about their immortality, but here
the desire Is to keep it secret, because
if that can be done it is so much more
easy to deplore with holy horror the
sins of others.
"The women of this city gamble
and they do it as recklessly, though
not 50 openly, as any French or Span
ish woman at Monte Carlo. Womer
in all grades of society do it, and those
who are the best supplied with fund.
lose most at it. The loss of 800 ii
pot unusual, | am told, among the
wives and daughters of well to d5
men. When they go away to the sea
side resorts-a society woman told me
this-young and old women form
clubs of four or six and spend theil
days in gambling until it is time to
dress for dinner.
'Here is a story which was told mt
a few days ago: One afternoon {
matron and four girls went to a pri
vate house in the West End and spen
the time gambling. The matron wor
$3.50 from one of the young ladies
Next day the poor girl returned, anc
with tears in her eyes imp'ored tn.
the matron to return the money sh'
had won from her, because it had beer
given her by her father to pay fo
some dret ses which had already beei
ordered Her request was refust
with the remark thai people shoul,
not gamble who could not afford t,
lose. In gambling few win, and fewe
retain what they secure. There j
not one person in two hundred VIII,
in the end is really a winner.
APoker playing for money anon,
ali classes of women in this city
very common. Ladies who are shin
ming lights in society engage in it.