The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-04

Rev Henry w. Battle on the Question OF
Eace-Course Gambling.

| PETERSBURG. VA. Feb -sno-
cial-The vast congregation which nled
the large auditorium of the First Ranfisf
church last night did not mind the
| weather
! They went through the falling rain ,o
near Rev Dr. Henry ". Battle discuss
It<le SIN A moagre outline az
.he sel mon is here given. The text was
utppily chosen from Isaiah ~. "isor
the vineyard of the Lord OF Hosts ia fba
mouse OF Israel, and the men of Judah
his pleasant plant"
The preacher showed how Jehovah had
ldtiAhed laFOrs upon israel and ~
pected in return the production of "a
specially noble type OF character I'm her
Nuzership. ile showed bv argument
ana example, that Jehovah holds state
lespohsiDle Tor us moral character a
state may acquire the odium OF bad
character and fan under the frown OF
tne creator by permitting crime 10 stals
uhpIhlshed through the land. But this
point Is reached only by a process OF
degeneration. There is speedier wav
10 incur state guilt, mainly by the enact
ment OF laws inimlcal 10 good morals
Dr. baltle spoke OF Virginia as being
IN a special sense the vineyard OF the
Lord OF Hosts. fenced IN and lovingly
tended throughout all the past. OF her
sons. not her material possessions. Ills
Pheasant plant tie spoke OF RESPONSE
Di'ty as measured by privileges. Then
turned his flaming batteries on the situa-
tiOn as regards pOOl-selling and book
making in the Virginia Legislature called
witness after witness 10 the stand and
with an array OF testimony almost over
whelming, swept his audience 10 his con-
clusiOn.
But some people say what is the use
OF All this, men Will bet" Yes and The
Christ exclaimed. 1T must needs be- that
offences come but lie warned and plead
WIN the people none the less The
preacher showed from Bible history the
special enormity Of a peoples public sin.
Perhaps the climax OF the rermon was
reached when ne came 10 reply 10 the
pleas Tor licensed Though restricteD
pooi-seliing and bOOkmaking. LIST for the
good OF the agricultural association. ID
FOR the sake OF the boOded horse he
paid magnificent tribute TO agriculture
ana Indignantly repudiated any such I'M
holy alliance as was sought 10 s,e made
IN the name or agriculture His picture
OF the blooded horse Was pronounced one
OF the finest pieces OF WOrd-Daintfng ever
heard in this city and when he Turned
from the splendid animal, which he de-
clared ne loved. and exclaimed but my
religion. my philosophy. my heart caches
me that between that horse and The
soul Of my boy there yawns a chasm
so vast that the Almighty might ling
into II all the works OF His material
creation, anr still the chasm wonid
stretch out in its ininitude untitled "
The audience scarcely seemed 10 breathe
"The human soul, There Is something m
II too high for you to scale. too deep FOR
you TO fathom. too wide for YOU 10
measure, High. II reaches 10 heaven.
deep. IL sinks 10 hell; wide. IL fills eter-
nifty with the anguish Of its walls or the
rapture OF It's JOY. An honored OPP
poser OF the Maupin bill exclaimed, II
want TO lift my voice for the blooded
horse OF Virginia" Before this congre-
cation and in the presence OF representa-
lives OF the mighty press. / want 10 In