Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-25
nx.U. .. mrsr.rEn nIeELow.

Kx.U. .. MINISTER BIGELOw.
A Very Instructive Lecture At Osborn
Hall-First In the Phi Beta Kappa
Course-ssLuck'' Was the subjecs-l
Gambling the Bane OF the Age-Its I
DeploTable Tendencies and Elects
Decentralization Follows Gambling |
"A Widespread Habit.
The arst of the Phi Beta Kappa lectures |
was delivered in No. l Osborn last evening
by Hon. John Bigslow of New York city,
ex-minister to France.
His subject was ''Luck." The audience,
though small, was an appreciative one,
composed almost entirely of students. The
Indictment weather undoubtedly kept many
away who otherwise would have attended.
In tho course Of his able address the lee
turer spoke Of the goddess Fortuna as
being one of the most ancient goddesses
and the only one who IL worshipped at the
present time under the name of "Chanoe,"
''Lot, " "Fate, }" and other like names. At
no other time was 10 much human interest
taken in chance. This is shown by the fact
that in . short period the option sales on
tho exchange in New York amounted to
over one billion dollars.
He said: Gambling is gaining ground in
the home, coffee house, in athlehcs-in
short, in every walk of life; that undoubt-
edly the interest in football is kept up to Q
great extent by the passion of betting on
the games.
The speaker caused some laughter by the
remark that some colleges seem to be con-
Quoted on q basis of feet and not brains.
He also said the consequences of the desire
| to prey on fellow creatures are worse than
sickness and death. It blights families,
causes suicide and all manner of degrade
/ ton. Reformers are denouncing it with
no apparent success. Many high In pro-
| LESSONS say they can see no harm in it and
even indulge In It themselves.
What reform can be brought about in
games of chance whom clergymen and
churches indulge to q certain extent in the
mania, - foE instance In sale of dolls for
| the aid of kindergarten. At one of the
were sold to the children. So even the
best people of New York are laying the
| foundation of the evil.
When clergy take this means of sustain
| ing church work what will be the resulta
It is we'll known that the rejudice of
| the world is against gambling. The divid
| ing lines between vice and virtue are very
| indefinite. There is no such thing as
chance. To say anything happens is to
/ say something occurs without an effect,
and this Is ackno wledged to be impossible.
We have no way to express the occurrence
of events except by cit chances" or TT
| happens" Even Prince Bismarck said,
1T has been said I have been lucky in
politics, and hope the future ministries
4 will be as lucky" But 1t can be plainly
shown that everything which occurs ia the
elimination of q chain of events.
We never deliberately wrong another
unless for personal benefit, and whatever
we do ourselves We demand that others do
man sympathies and ssnsibilitiss. Even
the term gambler means saint of vices.
When did gambling ever have an advocate
| or friend, among poets or writersa Even
gamblers themselves deplore their habit.
The habit grows. Greed of men made q
goddess of Fortune.
No one ever sits down at table to play
without wishing to be a winner, desiring
to get something for nothing, and thus be-
coming slave to the evil one.
Every gambler ia q potential suicide.
This ia the chief argument advanced in
| legislative bodies when bills come up to
repress the vice. The voluntary deaths of
gamblers in the United States has bsen
known to be 100 in q season.
Extinction of love is extinction Of life.
When We gamble We lose love for man.
kind, because we have selfish desires and
lose interest for the welfare of others.
Risks are not harmful providing they dc
not cause one to lose his desire to do to 9th
ers as he would be done by.
Even gambling may be all right-frst
If covetousness does not come in; second
If 1t is simply for sport; but this is hardly
possible.
A mans standard of morals cannot bt
weakened In one way without being weak
ened in all respects.
No class of men seem to degenerate &c
fast as gamblers. There ia no crime Of
which they are not capable.
In conclusion he said: It should b.
kept in mind their is no such thing as luck
Any risk taken with purpose of taking
something for nothing is entirely opposed
. to the teachings of Christ.
Gambling INDUCED in for sport renders
Us neglectful of our neighbors and friends
and whenever this desire for gambling
ee'zes upon one 1t should be depressed ani
overcome.
There will be several lectures given II
this course by other speakers during the
rest of the college year.