Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-01
ROUSED AGAINST THE RACES
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page.)
ard F. Johnston of the Evening News
was elected secretary and Rev. 0. T.
Fitzsimons was introduced and present.
ed the following resolutions from a
committee of the Pastors association,
which were unanimously adopted:
We, citizens of Jefferson coun0, at the
opera house in Birmingham, on Tues
day evening, March 81, upon call OF
many ministers of the county to discuss
and take action in reference TO the vice
of gambling so painfully brought to our
attention at this time, do adopt the fOl-
lowing resolutions:
l. That we earnestly condemn gam
bling of all kinds as highly immoral and
fraught with great public and private
detriment.
q That the practice of this great vice
in its various forms in and adjacent to
our city have so left their baleful i'm
press upon society and SO threaten the
future moral growth and well being of
our people that we believe it to be an
imperative duty of all good citizens zeal
osly and actively, by every worthy eff
fort and example, by every practical ex-
ertion of their names and influence, to
suppress the evil and eradicate the in
fiuenees which its practices have en-
grated upon the body of society.
g. That we appeal especially to the Of
officers of the law by the sacredness of
their oath-bound duty to have regard for
our boys, the formation OF whose char
acter is in no small degree committed to
their official hands, by vigorous, fear
less, discriminating enforcement of the
laws for the ascertainment and punish
ment of gambling -offenses.
A. That we especially deplore the said
to be legalized gambling and, in partic-
ular, the extent and manner 1t is gener-
ally understood to have been carried on
at the place near our city heretofore
known as the Fair grounds. We deplore
first, that said place was exempted and
we now appeal to our senator and repre-
sentatves in the general assembly. and
to the legislature at large to remedy the
evil We deplore, secondly, the dire con-
sequences apparent at every hand, ana
urge all good people to take stand
against 1t, and in every proper way give
it their unqualified disapproval.
5. That we appeal to the press, ever po-
tent in the formation and promotion of
public sentiment, to use its great infiu-
ence to the end of suppressing this evil.
REV. JOHN BARBOUR,
DIR. j. C. KELLEY,
fata REV. p. T. HALE,
REV. o. P. FITZSIMONS,
Committee.
Rev. Mr. Fitzsimons, speaking to the
resolutions, did so with great eloquence
and aroused no little enthusiasm. He
said at the outset it seemed strange that
there need be any question about the
character of this discussion and the reSo-
lutiOnS. He had been informed ny Soue-
body that an Episcopal clergyman had
no business at such an occasion, but he
was glad to be there in such good COM
pany (Applause.) When the tocsin of
alarm was sounded it was Bishop Gala
CHER who responded; when the south
called her sons to arms Bishop Polk re-
sponded and died like a soldier on the
battlefield. For himself and for his
church he repudiated the criticism that
he should not enlist in such cause.
.lrnx& hnf
into a burning arraignment of gambling
in all forms as against Gods law and the
verdict of every civilized government.
The tendency of gambling, just such as
had been exemplified here, was to moral
destruction; it produced a passion which
dominated every fibre and drove men
upon the maddest careers 1t will not do
to let it go unrestrained. 1t may sweep
through the soul like a cyclone to uncon-
trollable madness To the candid mind
it comes with all sorts of immortality and
is fraught with great and lasting detri-
ment.
Touching arguments he had heard as
to the advantages to Birmingham to
come from the races, Mr.. Fftzsimons
said: 1.-THE president of the racing assoc
citation is my friend 1 love him. What
| say is not intended to offend him. but
must say that while have heard great
deal said about the intention to bring
money and benefit to Birmingham, 1t was
ey in the way in which it is usually got.
(Applause) Complimentary tickets We're
issued broadcast and am informed that
on one of the great days when the beauty
of Birmingham was there that the gate
receipts were Sc. daughter and APP
plause) No, they didn't want your little
gate money, but they wanted all You
had, and more, too, after you got inside.
(Applause) / don't credit the sincerity
of the association. They got the money
of this people and got it by gambling.
And they say, too, 1t advertises the
town. Very expensive advertising. Cap
plause.) All, there were scenes out there
which would better not be told. I'd
rather the gullibility and arcadian sim
plicity of our people were not made
known to the world. daughter and ap-
plause.)
The speaker said eloquent things about
the good influence of women in reform
movements and laid stress upon the fact
that mothers boys appealed to them for
protection. That was a wise prayer.
LEAD us not into temptation" We
could say, too, with Robert Burns:
Lord, Thou knowest Thou hast formed
With passions wild and strong,
And list'ning to their witching voice
Has often led me wrong"
The mayor and aldermen of Birming-
ham were the god-fathers of the young
of the city. For himself, a lady had said
to him, paying a doubtful compliment,
she didn't think he ever disapproved of
anything, but the speaker came gu. with