Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-03-01
GAMBLING AND
SUNDAY TRADING,

- - A. - - u Il IL ~ ~ I
| Preached at the Congregational church, Els
worth, by Rev. David L. Yale, February Is, 1884
| The words shall speak on this subjec,
are directed sgainst sin; they are not di.
rected against men. | have no grudge,
and know no enmity against any fellow
man, However, the words shall speak
may appear to be spoken agains, persons
If so. II my words are hostile to anv
man, 1t will be because he has so allied
himself with sin, that In attacking sin, |
seem to attack the man
1t is needless for me to tell YOU that
take up this theme with great reluctance
The nobler truths of our religion are SO
many, and the opportunities for presenting
them so few, that have yielded half re-
gretfully to your request to preach upon
this subject
And yet have yielded with the firm
conviction that the task is duty. 1t
the custom Of the Great Preacher to speak
often of the helpful, elevating truths
They were dear TO Him because OF their
nature, aud because of their power to up
lift men into region OF abundant life.
But, now and then, He met the sin of the
world with such severity of speech and
bearing. that the sin, though intrenched
in class and custom. yielded before Him
And so 1t has seemed TO me, II our Lord
and Master could leave revealing the no.
blest truths. and give some time from His
few and priceless years to assailing sin.
thst His servants today In their humber
way might do the same
The facts that have called forth this
sermon are 50 we'll known TO you all that
they require but a brief recognition: they
are matters OF common observation; they
have furnished many topics for your CON
versation during the past few m, nths
In several OF our places of business
gambling operations are openly carried on.
The devices are many. Those most at
tractive to our boys are the machines
operated by small coins. the operator If
TNNSNENbSA ifNfa'ihk Nt-aiNr AaRi'if tE
other small articles, whose value j. several
times tha, Of the coin inserted
Another form Of gambling Is the sale Of
articles by tickets, in which operation.
though many purchase tickets, but one r.
ceise- the article. aud the transaction -
decided wholly by chance.
The greater part Of the gambling i done
u piaxtpU In
known to many OF our citizens aud de-
voted to this use, or by small parties in
private rooms.
/ have also been informed by responsible
persons that many OF the Louisiana lottery
tickets are sold here annually.
This j. a brief reference 10 the facts r.
garding gambling IN Ellsworth. | need
make but one more reference. and that j.
TO fact recognized by YOU all this win-
ter. There j. growing familiarity with.
and fondness for, gambling among oar
boys and young men. strengthening
hsbit that promises a irescheruu- business
foundation for the next generation. This
Is not new truth for YOU. Il has brought
a burden of anxiety 10 many OF you. e-
peciAlly those of you who have son. and
dang ghters who are 10 form the next gen
Grafton and who Will suffer or enjoy it-
habits.
The fact concerning Sabbath trading Is
ths: Defying the sentiment Of our city.
dt>regsrtng the laws Of Maine and dis
oheying the laws Of God. several of our
places Of business are open. on Sunday,
Tor trade.
All Of these facts are so Well known -
you that need not delay upon them
The laws Of God regarding the Sabbath
r..fU l..
tition hera. The laws OF God. relating 10
the homes, couduc, of business are a.
well known. FoT centuries those elements
of chance that form the basis OF gambling
have been recognized a, evil. In iuiiu-
ence on soul. mind and body, ami a. de
piorsbie in their result on society.
oar State laws regarding our subject
are not SO well known aud Il VIII be pf
advantage 10 us 10 consider them briefly
Chapter l3l. -ec,ion J. II any person Or c"rpo.
ration keep house shop or other place resort.
od 20 for the purpose ot gambling, or permits
abY person TO gamble in any way 10 Ans hau -,
shop Of place under hi- care and control such ~
fender shall To-. iued not less than twenty nor more
than one hundred dollar, 10 The use Of the pru-.
Cutor, and the municipal oficrr- and cDnNtaNlc-
OF towns and cities, and the a-sc--or- Of plan
tatlons are required promptly To euforc. the
laws against gambling rooms. aud to make con-
plAint against any pvr-nn or corporation in thrar
ielpAlilic-, wHcrr there l. probA
BILE cause Ia helicy" such person or corporation
to he guilty Of . violation OF thi- SECTION.
section ?. Whoever gambics or bets GA any
per-on gambling shall be fined not les than one
nor more than twenty dollars to lee recovered hy
complaint or indictment, 10 the use Of the prose
cut1r.
section I. Whoever engages IN has any
thing 10 do with pool -elilng -hal lie punished
by Imprisonment IN the -tate prison for not
more than two year,. and BY fine Of nor more
than two thousand dollars or both.
section proyiics that money lost by gambling
A.rs
parties 10 whom 1t has been paid.
section 10 declares that securities given for
gambling Icbt- yoii.
Section IL. When person makes oath before
q trial justice or judge OF a municipa or police
court that he has reason TO suspect, and does
su-pect that any house or building naming la
the complaint the house or building and It, oc-
Cupant, j. uDlawfuiiy used a. Il common gamb-
ling house. and that Idle di--olute -r-ou- re
sort thither for that purpose, such magistrate
shall Issue his warrant to search Tor all Ian
pirments used for gambling, and If any such are
found there 10 arrest the occupant or keeper of
such house other building, aud said i'nple-
mrnt aud occupant or keeper shall be carried be
fore him 10 be dealt with according TO law. Fine
not less than $50 nor more than sloo
II will clear our thought on these mat
ters to quote a few definitions from Ander-
SON, dictionary OF law
To gamble Is ITO play game Of chance or
-kill for stake-. or 70 bet on the result of the
game, or play for money"
A gambler Is lone who follows or practices
games OF chance skill with the expectation and
purpose of thereby winning money or other
property" / inc not less than Ell nor more than
81.
a common gambler Is "a person who furnishes
facilities for gambling. one who for gambling
purposes keeps or exhibits any gambling. table,
establishment, device or apparatus. The fine Is
from $40 to slU1
A gambling device Is IAN invention to determine
who wins and who loses among those that risk
their money on contest or chance Of any kind'
Vol. I. BlackstoDe's commentaries, p III
Gaming Is an onense against the public policy
or economy. II tends To promote ideness, theft
and debauchery among those of the lower class,
and among persons Of a superior rank, IL has
frequently been attended with the sud'ien ruin
and desolation of families, and an abandoned
prostitution OF every principle Of honor and yir.
tue and often has ended in self murder Itself"
The law regarding Sunday trading is
brief and clear.
Lords Day keeps open his shop, work house,
warehouse or place of business
shall he punished by fine not exceeding $40"
Section y. ''The Lord's Day includes the time
between Il o clock on saturday night and twelve
O'Clock on Sunday night"
will quote few words from Black
stoue Com vol, p. 63, on Sunday obser
vance
BESIDES the notorious indecency and scandal
of permitting any secular business TO be pub
icly tran acted on that day in a country prof. S.
ing christianity and the corruption of morals
which usually follow Its PROCLAMATION. the keeping
one day in seven holy, a time of relaxation and
refresbment, : well as for public worship, l. Of
admirable service TO the State, considered merely
a. a civil institution. 1t bumaDizes by the help
of conversation and society the manners of the
lower classes, which would otherwise degenerate
into a sordid ferocity and savage selfshness of
spirit. 1t enables the industrious workman TO