The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-07
CARD TABLE MORALS.
A Popular Amusement Scored
by Rev. G. j. Burchett.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SANCTUARY
Notes From st. Marks Episcopal-Move-
ments OF Congregational Minis
ters-Church Ncws Notes.


ing. the fourth discourse on popular
amusements, the subject being: 1.-THE
Morals of the Card Table" The text was:
II. Timothy, iii g:
Now, a. James and Jambres withstood Moses.
10 do these also resist the truth: Men of corrupt
minds reprooate concerning the faith.
The speaker showed that these are the
two oldest gamblers of whom we have any
record Gambling in its essence is simply
trying by some sort of implements to get
the advantage in what we call a game.
And the winner is entitled to the prize.
The Egyptians were skilled in curious
arts. The masters of these arts were able
to procure large sums of money by their
practice. Under various forms, that gam
bling business has gone into all countries
The common playing cards owe their
origin to the same source as that of the
Egyptian black art. The first form of the
card came to Europe early in the thirteenth
century, being introduced by Arabs and
Jews. The first playing cards were very
rude, but the mania for playing at them
spread like fire in dry stubble and soon all
Europe was overrun with card playing.
Kings and great men and women were the
first to take to it.
The speaker then called special attention
to the gambling element in human nature.
This to be noted from its universally. All
classes in all nations gamble. The Louisl-
ana lottery swindle was instanced as show
ing how deeply rooted is the gambling ele-
ment in our nature. People seem to know
that this is fraud, and yet they pour
their millions into it every year; this, too,
In the very face of the plainest statements
coming from the public press explaining it.
Monte Carlo was instanced as showing
what the gambler could do with his trade
One of the most striking documents ever
drawn by human hands was that drawn a
few years ago by the International Monte
Carlo Committee at Nice, and addressed to
all the European powers, in order to in
duce collective action against the gambling
done at that place. Ii Is said to be the
most eloquent indictment Of gambling
that has ever been written. 1t contained
a complete list of all those who had COM
mitted suicide at Monte Carlo after losing
oil they had and finding themselves face
to face with death. This number was
found to be 1920 suicides upon the rocks
where, in the words of Lord Tennyson,
"Little Monaco basking smiles" This
number is equal to one-fourth of the sub
jects of Prince Charles, In whose inter-
ests, strange to say, this awful business
was carried on.
When you ask as to what has our inno-
cent game of cards In the home to do with
this frightful theme, you need only to be
told that your cards in your home become
the school where persons are drilled for
this trade. do not say all who play at
rd Int 20 \,
schooling for the gamblers table is not Q
safe thing.
The speaker here deplored the fact that
30 many leading men, and so many lead
ing journals and so many public men have
given their sanction to it. Prince Albert
was cleared in a case where he should
have been condemned, and the reason as
signed by those who ought to know was
that he had gambling nation at his back.
The press stated frankly that all classes,
even church members, were accustomed to
lose their money at game of cards. This
shows that it is eminently desirable that
the pulpit begin to speak out on this ques-
ton, and those who believe in righteous
ness to take their stand.
1t was shown that while some may play
at cards and not be harmed thereby, yet
the fact remains cards belong to the gam
bling classes.
They are, in special sense, the tools of
the gamblers. They are not like books,
some good and some bad. The difference
lies just here; honest people do not need
gambling tools. o, that the public press
would be careful to make this distinction.
Music or money might be in the hands of
the devil and might be rescued to holy
purposes, but vice itself cannot be rescued
TO holy purposes; and gambling is vicious.
And even were there no gambling with
cards, let it forever be borne in mind that
the church of Christ Jesus has no use for
cards.
There is nothing in them to make US
wish to rescue them from their present
use. Christian people make great mis-
take In playing what they call innocent
games at cards, because thereby they in
dorse the thing. And the vicious are not
slow to make all they can out of this in
dorsement.
Lastly, the speaker showed that q love
for cards kills taste for noble pursuits.
To play at cards means that the mass of
the standard authors must remain unread.
Frivolous literature goes with whist. Our
nation and our churches need better men
than those who feed on such things. Was
not that a sad comment on human nature
which came to light short time ago in
the results of that trashy book known as
"Peck's Bad Boy2" The author of that
book received the enormous sum of $780,
oo0 as profit. And careful statistics showed
that 10000 boys have been ruined by
reading it. About two years ago, when
whist was having an unusual run in Port
land Or, the 0regoaida said: Just how
any one who knows how to read can he
content 70 play cards evening after even
Ing (as long as the patent medicine al
MANAGES hold out to burn,l is difficult 10
see. The greatest amusement 10 card
players is arguing how things would have
come out If their hands had been played
differently. This playing hand back
wards may be q useful exercise for
strengthening weak brains, but ii is mighty
tiresome 10 those who listen"
The speaker said that the reason why
cards, dice and billiards are held TO so ten
seiously is because here is one OF Satan s
strong holds. They tell US Of innocent
dancing; they viii put ny the side Of such
statements the supposed wholesale denun-
Citations of some preacher, and imagine
that they have argued away all the facts.
Now Just why do not the people meet this
question fairlyP Why not tell US how II
comes about that these places and per
formances become the recruiting stations
Of Satan. call your attention again 20
the fact that have not denounced ali
theater-goers and dancers and card play
ers. have shown You from the actual
facts that these are dangerous things, and
every way unat for Christian hands or