Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-17
At the First Methodist.

At L1S T lIoO lhSt1lOtAot.
 pr. Morris. at the First Methodist last night, preached to an extra large con gregation upon Society Gambling" and some points of law were brought out that opened the eyes, so to speak, of many of his hearers. His sermon was, in substance, as follows:
 s Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for. the Lords sake. - Pet. ii, 1S
 It is very difficult to convince persons who do wrong of their wrong-doing. What men wish to do they will justify themselves in doing. I wish to present one consderation-what the civil law says about the gambling question.
 The scriptures make it the duty of all Christians to submit themselves to every ordinance of the state, and therefore the apostle says, For the Lords sake" The apostles were under Rome, a heather government, but they enjoined the most careful obedience. The critical allustra- tion is in reference to slavery. The Christian slave was forbidden to escape from his master, and when Oneslmus ran away from his master, Philemon, and went to Rome St. Paul sent him home again.
 So the church recognizes the. law of civil government as so far a part of the law of God.
 What is the law under which we live? Section 530 of the city code provides: Any person who plays at any game of chance or hazard for money or other valuable thing, or who in any way aids or abets, countenances or encourages such game must on conviction be fined not less than $1, nor more than $100"
 The criminal code of Alabama (section 4O50 forbids the playing at any game with cards or dice at any tavern or public place under penalty of not less than S20, nor more than $50
 And section 4059 declares that any adult who bets or hazards any money, or other thing of value with a minor shall on conviction be fined not less than S1O0 nor more than $500, and may also be impris- oned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than six months
 QueStion-DoeS card playing for prizes come under this law?
 l. The courts have so ruled. It is dis tinctly ruled that 1t applies to and in- cludes all games at which money or other things of value is lost or won And circuit judges in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and other states charge their grand juries upon the subject of progress sive euchre for prizes.
 But you say this playing is on a par with prizes in all contests, schools. etc. In the state vs. Gupton, it is said: "A hand at cards depends upon a dealing Wltn the face down; while a game of sklll Is one in which nothing is left to chance. but superior knowledge strength to gain the victory
 2. The codes of the city and of the state do not use the word gambling" Knowing how many offenders evade the amy game of cards" These certainly include progressive cards for prizes. So it is not a question what we think of these games or what we call them. The courts of the state, local and supreme, have adjudicated these questions and de- fined the DrinpiDleS VnrV c1naY.l
 It follows then:
 l. If you have played cards for money or anything of value you have violated the city code and are liable to arrest and fine.
 ?. If you have played games of cards at any hotel or other public place you are liable to indictment and a fine of $20 or $50.
 3. If any one of you. an adult has played any game in which anything of value was hazarded with a minor, even though it be your own child, you are liable to indictment and fine of $100 or $500 and may be shut up in the county jail or sent to hard labor for the county for not more than six months.
 I submit that such persons are not good citizens, much less are they worthy members of the church
 In conclusion I suggest that in these laws the state is making worthy effort to defend our young people against these
 
 moral, pernicious and contrary to good citizenship, and has tried to drive them utterly out of sight into the secrecy and darkness of crimes.
 And the states view of their iniquity is seen by the company into which it puts those who do them. As violators of the law they are classed with the man who sells whisky without license, or who sells on Sunday. with the faro deal CT, the bucket shop keeper and the com mon gambler. cock fighters, the negroes who shoot craps and the infamous man who crculates indecent literature.
 You ask me, Do you class these peo- pie with such? By no means I know some of them, and they are noble men and women. Some of them are the young men and women whom I love-than whom know no nobler. and therefore I plead with deep Keeling. These are worthy young men and pure. sweet young women-too good to be wasted in such life I plead for our homes. I plead for Birmingham, that love above any city T. have ever known as a home.
 After pr. Morris finished his sermon Judge Garrett was called upon to make some remarks upon the gaming law His authority for what he said was de- clsions of the supreme court, which have defined public place as any place where people congregate for the purpose of engaging in playing cards. He stated that a private parlor used for this pur- pose was made public place and that