Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-19
AT THE FIRST METHODIST
And Southside Baptist Churches
and O'Br!en'S Opera House
WERE HELD MEETINGS
On Sunday Night in the Interest of the Anti
Pool Law--Synopsis of Speeches Made
by Elegant Diynes.

The meetings announced for Sunday
night by the ministers of this city al the
First Methodist church, Southside Bap-
fist church and oprea house, to make an
active and aggressive stand in behalf OF
the anti-pool bill, now before the general
assembly of Alabama, were carried out
ito the letter, and substantial steps were
taken looking to a successful fight for the
passage of the measure. Ministers of all
the creeds and denominations, including
those of the Methodist, Baptist, Jewish,
Catholic, Presbyterian and Episcopal
churches, participated, denouncing the
license given to gambling and favoring
the proposed remedy therefor. The even
ing was a gloomy and unauspicious one,
but Notwithstanding the down pour of
rain and keen wind, the spirits of those
interested in the movement were not
daunted one iota.
The audiences at the three designated
meeting places were large, especially at
the First Methodist church, almost every
availa BILE seat in the immense auditorium
and galleries being occupied. The mu-
steal programmes fer the evenings SER
vices were especially well selected and
admira bly, rendered.
AT THE FIRST METHODIST.
AS stated, the audience at the First
Methodist church was very large, people
going there early in order that they might
get choice seats. At the appointed hour
the services were opened, the following
being noticed as occupying seats on the
rostrum:
Dr. Morris Newfield, Temple Emanuel;
DR. George B. Eager, of Montgomery,
pastor of the Court Street Baptist church;
Dr. G. c. Kelly. First Methodist church;
DIR. A. B. Curry, First Presbyterian
church; DR.. L. S. Handley, Central Pres
byterian church; DIR. j. w. Newman, pre-
siding elder of the Methodist Episcopal
& church, south, Birmingham district;
Capt w. C. Ward, DR.. AMI Golden and
DR.. B. D. Gray, First Baptist church.
An organ solo by Miss Mccoy, organist
of the church, was the opening number,
followed by hymn 90, Before Jehovah's
Awful Throne
DR.. Curry offered up a powerful petit
ton to the Throne of Grace, invoking
Divine assistance in the work at hand.
DR.. Newman read the I'D Psalm, after
which Dr. Kelly too,g up the subject,
Gambling" His RENT S were prefaced
by saying that the people, irrespective of
creed, had risen in the matter and were
gathering together for the purpose of
lighting the evil which existed in this
city and state. He said those present
had gathered in the interest of good gov
eminent and to raise their voices in
protestation of the licensing of gambling
rid the city and state of a great evil.
DIR. GEORGE B. EAGER.
The principal speaker of the evening.
Rev, Dr. George B. Eager, of Montgom-
cry, was then introduced. DR.. Eager
spoke without any particular text His
remarks being more in THE nature of q
talk, than a discourse, his words being
plain and unvarnished, and each SEN
tence being to the point He compli-
mented his audience. saying they pre-
scented beautiful sight. He referred to
the rain which was coming down on the
outside, and said he could easily misgive
them tear drops from spiritual intelli-
gence from above approving the gather
ing and extending sympathy to their
prayers.
Dr.. Eager referred to the fight a few
years ago in New Orleans against the
Louisiana lottery. The fight was waged
with earnestness and to such successful
issue that the nefarious gambling scheme
was driven out All the states have had
war waged on this species of gambling,
in some successfully, especially in Kan
sas and Florida. 1t has at last been
driven out of Montana, where formerly
the sign, Licensed Gambling" was not
infrequently seen hanging up. Other
states have taken stand against gam
bling and it having been driven out of
them comes to Alabama that she might
take the serpent to her bosom for sate
harbor. The fight now on is bitter one.
The gambler will make bitter fight
ITO find Judgement here.
The speaker referred to the races run
here last year, and said he had heard
that some of the best women OF the city
attended them and sought to win pin
money for Easter in the game of chance.
Gambling, he said, is intoxicating. He
compared it to Mount Vesuvius. This
noted volcano slumbers sometimes for
years and then breaks out destroying
whole towns and many people. He said
the human breast is like Vesuvius.
There was a time, he said, when gam
bling was not respectapie, out cases are
known where the vice, in a small way,
had been encouraged. He quoted the
chief of police Of New York city as say
ing there was no form Of crime which
was not either directly or indirectly con-
nected with gambling. There are gam
blers in rags who always come under
the ban, even SO with the crap shooters
and tin horns, but the fashionable gam
blers have not as yet, been listed. So
ciety people are, to q great extent. re-
sponsible for some of the gamblers.
The speaker paid his respects to the
politician, not exactly comparing them
with gamblers, and said they should be
made to realize that some kind of posi-
tive legislation is needed favoring sup
preston of gambling. The politician
caters to the people to get tseir votes.
but they should be made to know that
the majority of people of this city want
the anti-pool bill enacted into law and
they will not hesitate to work in its in
terest. Show them that you are greater
i'm number than the gamblers and "heel-
ers" and we will get the desired legisla-
tion.
Begin at home the work you have in
augurated and you will succeed. The