The Portland daily press., 1894-11-19
DENOUNCED SLUGGING EXHIBI-
TIONS.
Rev. Mr.. Ross Stated Objections to
the "TerrY-the-Mick" Incident.

An Address Full of Sound Facts and Sense
and Kindly Admonition - Warning
Against the Gambling Spirit at South
Portland.
Rev. Mr.. Ross, in his services at
Cape Elizabeth yesterday. said sthat
it was known that the subject G.
his address was to be "slugging
Exhibitions and Some Other Evils" Some
wag undertook to show upon the bulletin
board that it would be slugging exhibition
here tonight. may say that from the
pulpit there have been blows and some
times they hit and sometimes they hurt.
The immediate occasion OF this talk tonight
is an occurrence that most of our people be-
lieve to be an outrageous proceedings. The
first knew of it was when last Monday
night encountered crowd of Portland
Centre streeters. and what appeared to be
the scrapings from the slums of Portland,
for even that beautiful city has slums. I
entered a protest to the authorities. Ny
reasons for so doing l propose to state pub
licly tonight.
The affair at Seaside hall was smuggling
exhibition. Men paid hard earned quarters
10 see lulhe Iofry Set pouA0Cos Ah0o W"o
the chief feature of the occasion. The rest
was mere side show. Free rum was passed
around and the whole atmosphere was such
as is pernicous to the community.
do not wish to be understood as not ap-
proving of athletics.ssBut when it is carried
to excess 1t is good thing abused. In the
first place trained athletes are short lived.
s.And haven't any objection to sparring in
a legitimate way in the gymnasium.
shouldn't object taking part in that myself.
But when sparring comes as close as possible
to prize fight it is differ ent matter. To
see man hurt just for fun is brutal and
debasing. 1t shows want of respect for
this body that God meant to be the temple
of the Holy Ghost.
All that tends to put a. premium upon this
sort of physical superiority is brutalizing
in its effect. The more brutal man the
better slugger he is 1t brings the devil
nature of a man to the front. The atmos-
phere around the prize ring, as displayed in
sensational columns Of the newspapers. is
full of the desire for blood. for seeing men
hurt.
1t takes away the real gem of our man
hood even to put ones self in this atmos-
r,here as a spectator. believe in a moral
aristocracy and you can't afford, young
man, to associate with those, in this con-
nection, who are looking down instead of
up.
The boys get wrong conception of what
real manhood is. heard boy on the street
within few hours use the words and the
tone of the conversation of prize fighting
circles, and proudly SO. as being an exhibi-
tion Of the finest kind of manhood. 1t is
these debasing associations that am
speaking against tonight.
Mr.. Ross also referred to the prevalence
in that community of the gambling evil.
There is undoubtedly a good dea, OF almost
open gambling going on. The craze OF it is
getting hold of our young men. But there
are older ones who sQuander the Lords day
By sauandering their money by this vice of
gambling.
Against all this it is the duty and privi-
lege of the pulpit to speak out. strongly and
frankly and in kindly admonition.
never yet ived In community that was
SO FLIED with all that tends toward the
gambling spirit as is this community of
south Portland. There is the draw"
element in the efforts to raise money for
your fairs and lodges. etc. sCitizens have
said to me recently that it was in a good
cause. My friends the end doesn't Justify
the means. The desire to win prizes in pro-
gressive eucher parties may lead to the
gambling craze.
Mr., Ross closed by announcing that he
should in the near future continue bis
admonition along this line, his next subject
being 1.-THE Social Excesses and the Popular
Dance.'