The Washington times., 1895-04-29
Leading Ministers Devote Ser
mons to the Gambling Curse.
FIGHT FOR LAW AND ORDER
Jackson City Declared the Bane of the Ma
tional Capital-Steps Proposed to Wipe
Out the Evil Albeit the Laws Of Virginia
Sanction It-Citizens Besought to Rise
Up and Make a Determined Stand


Teunis Hamlin's sermon at the Church Of
the Covenant yesterday morning. He laid
especial stress upon the evils resulting
from gaming at Jackson City, which he
said could be chiefly attributed to an utter
lack of social conscience on the part OF the
Commonw calth OF Virginia. A like state
Of affairs he did not believe would be long
permitted TO exist across the James River
from Richmond.
THE District of Columbia DR.. Hamlin
continued, lis sustaining scores of profes-
sional robbers and thieves on Virginia soil,
a constant menace TO law, order, and So
ciety, and yet no relief, however earnestly
sought can be had at the hands of the State
government. The people OF VSginia have
doubtless an excellent personal conscience,
but no social conscience.
I'VE could in the name OF morality readily
and profitably dispense with the former
could the latter be substituted and the con-
scquent result for the better be thereby OBJ
tained.
TIE BANE OF THIS CITY.
There exists across the Potomac River,
at Jackson City, an established gambling
resort as disreputable and prolific of evil
as can anywhere be found, and since it is
sustained by patrons from the National
Capital, the moral and Christian element
among the people should combine in de-
termined effort To give death blow TO the
iniquitous pursuits and wipe them from
existence before releutiDg.
at is the bane of this city and District,
though protected and conducted Under the
guisc of the laws OF Virginia, and being such
the community 10 whose social and moral
interests it is the most huTtful should be
foremost in the effort TO work its cXtermi-
nation.
THE government of Virginia has long
enough toyed with our patience and lent
deaf ear to our appeals. Some will say,
what's the use; the thing is hopeless ,
1t is no more hopeless when our fellow
men are suffering than when We ourselves
are suffering.
The ouly difference is many of us have
not been robbed or fallen helpless victims
to n organized band of thieves.
social conscience" DR.. Hdmlin con-
cluded, Twill go farther than anything
else toward making people pure, solving
social problems, aud commencing Christi
auity To the world"
He referred TO the recent election in New
York city, which, he said, was plainly the
result OF social reform.
w oOlAN IN III WYNN"
Rev. Fathers Gillespie and McAtee, of
st. Aloysius' Church, devoted a good deal
Of their respective sermons yesterday TO
discussions of the gambling Gens in the
suburbs of Washington, and spoke OF the
good done by The Times in bringing the
existence of these places so couspicuously
10 the attention of the public.
Father Gillespie preached ut O'Clock
and tl,l Gf iig NsTInpD III.
'The editor OF local newspaper has re-
luested US 10 cooperate Eitb hiln III the
work OF calling public attention TO the in
PRODUCTION and development pf gambling
lens in the suburbs of Washington. We
gladly JOIN with him III this Iaudabe,
Christian work.
$50 far, thank God, our city mas been
comparatively free from the disgraceful
gambling resorts that have proved the
ruin Of so many in other cities, and 1t
should be the pride and the earnest en-
deavor of every citizen OF Washington to
aid in the work OF preventing their intro
duction here.
We, therefore, denouUce them as
un- Christian and ru.Ious to the city and
the best interests OF the families of our
cItIZcns, and Will gladly cooperate with
The Times, and all who Will join it in
the work"
DRIVE OUT THE GAMBLERS.
Rev Father McAtec, the assistant pastor,
preached OF IL o'clock services. Speaking
OF the effort to suppress hte gambling dens,
he said:
Il understand that persons outside the
church are now laboring TO suppress the
gambling resorts which have been so lately
introduced into the suburbs of our beautiful
city.
Il regard gambling as one of the most
dangerous vices To which anyone can fall
q prey; more dangerous even than drunken
hess. ! have Seen that men and even boys
who once come under the Influence of this
vice Will lose all self-controI, sacrifice
the principles of conscience and the best
interests OF families, and will not be deferred
by any loss, ,howevergreat,f ,frompersevering
TO the end.
wherever this vice regns it is highly
injurious TO the morals Of the Individual,
ruinous to families, and dangerous to the
State, and therefore L join with all good
citizens in deuouncing this vice, and we
hope that every member of the congregation
will do his duty in cooperating with The
Times in excluding the gamblers from the
city.