The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-09-26
The Germ Sown In The Social Game
at Home and Its Widespread
Results.
Rev. ]. r. Crawford Attacks the
Universal Vice and Makes
Startling Statements.
Progressive Euchre and Church Raj
fes Deemed as Bad as the Allure
ments Of the Gambling Den.
SUBSTANCE OF A SUNDAY SERMON.

Rev J. r. Crawford preached ser.
mon on Gambling" at the Cumberland
Presbyterian church Sunday morning
that was listened to by large congre-
| cation. He took for his text Romans
1872: "The night is far spent, the day
is at hand; let us therefore cast off the
works of darkness and let us put on the
armor of light"
BY way of introduction the speaker
gave brief historical summary OF
gambling, enumerating some of the
causes leading to the almost universal
desire to play. He then said in sub
stance: Gambling is fast becoming a
national vice which is sapping the foun-
dations of all business integrity and pros
perity. Like the microbes OF contag-
ion the mania seems to float in the very
air we breathe. We have it developed
in every form from the stupendous trans
actions of the stock exchange and faro
bank of the gambling hell, to the ring
cake and the grab-bag OF the fashionable
church entertainment. The ambition to
get something for nothing and to gain
wealth without labor and economy is so
prevalent as to alarm all friends of
humanity. The cardinal principles Of
honor, integrity and good citizenship are
destroyed by this feverish thirst for sud-
den and uneaIned wealth. 1t is but one
remove from robbery and theft. Gamb-
ling adds nothing whatever to the we'll
being of society. An estimate based on
unimpeachable authority states that
during the past year the stakes and
purses OF American race courses amount
ed to SIS 900, 900 and the betting on the
events to fully $43O,OO0,OOO. These
figures are alarming enough. They re-
veal deplorable condition of public
morals. Nearly as much money is an
nually staked upon horse racing as is re-
quired to run the national government.
In many OF our states horse-racing has
been legalized by statnte. Race tracks
are licensed and racing and pool selling
are protected by official sanction. The
fimsy pretext for all this is that it is for
the improvement of the breed of horses.
We fully endorse the forcible words OF
the Nashville Christian Advocate, on
this subject. Horse racing is gambling.
More than this, it is gambling with all
the attendant circumstances of drunken
ness, debauchery and fraud thrown in.
Improving the breed Of horses, indeed
But what if that were even 80, what
about the breed of men" The exciting
spectacular character of the race course,
and the social element in it, makes it
more alluring and worse than the lot
terry.
Carlyle tells us that there are but three
ways OF making living; work, begging
and stealing. Gaming clearly falls I'M
der the third head.
And shall / stop to argue that all the
evil of this sin is but the product of a
simple germ, let it be nurtured and fos-
tered wherever it mayP The playing OF
cards, whether in the hands of innocent
maidens in Christian parlors, or in the
hands Of the black hearted and designing
imps of satan, who rule in that domain
known as the gambling hell-are the
tools OF the devil. And those whom he
would ruin he first makes skilled in the
use OF his Instruments. To do this work
he most successfully employs the agency
Of the Christian homes. The innocent"
game OF cards is his method par excel
lence. II the interest flags, let there be
first and second prizes and "booby."
The progressive euchre can no longer
progress without this added stimulus. 1t
requires an exceedingly fine moral dis
TO discriminate in the differ
ence in moral results to the individual |
in playing for prize the cost OF which |
is S. and the five dollars themselves. |
Judge Moore, OF Tennessee, says that
euchre is gambling and those
who engage in it should be dealt with as
gamblers.
The vice OF gambling has taken into
use the word hell Over this
hell they that enter may read Leave
all hope behind."t 1t is a hell in its
ialsehood and rapine and its murder 1t
is he'll in its darkness and despair.
Says Chauncey M. Depew; "Ninety per
sent. OF the defalcations and theft and
ruin OF youth among people who are
employed in places OF trust are due d.
rectly to gambling, have
cone to believe that the community
which license and tolerates public
gambling cannot have prosperity in bus
ness, religion in its churches or morality
among its people. "-Owensbor Messen-
ger.
Auario "a roo .a.tlla Io.a ..,h.t =. .fI..