The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-05-08

A Widows Savings Lost At Cards Re-
turned TO Her.
Prom be Richmond pispateh.


From the Richmond Dispatch.
Rev. DIR. Starts sermon on "The
One Element of Character Which
Completes the Manhood of Man, y
preached at Broad Street Methodist
Church ON Sunday night. proved to
be the turning point in the career Of
at least one man, and the sequel to
a sensational gambling incident.
The popular preacher was waiting
on Broad street for a car last Tues
day, when a gentleman stepped up
to him, and pointing to two men
who had just passed, told him that
the older of the two was gambler,
and the younger his sspigeon." They
had played the Sunday before In
Washington, and the gambler had
won the boys savings, which
amounted to $1,000, and was all he
had in the world. The youth, il
seems, had been animated by de-
sire to help his widowed mother,
whose only son he was, and had
saved up all he could toward buying
a home for her. No sooner was DIR,
Starr acquainted with thesss facts
than he walked across to the men,
and handed his card to the gambler
expressing the hope that he might
see both men at his church on Sun
day night.
1t was a forlorn hope, but the
preacher carried the day, and was
encouraged to grasp the opportunity
which presented itself He preach
ed an intensely stirring sermon on
manliness, and the elements which
complete the character Of true
man, and he reached the climax by
relating the facts of the case as te
the gambler and the young man, as
far as he had learned them, adding
when l went home told my wife
about it, not knowing that anything
would ever come of it; but in the
assembly before me tonight i see
that gambler with his victim.
will not call him highway robber
No, he shall hear other kind words
from me now, and yet l will speak
the truth. That $1,000 he has in his
possession as the result of the game
does not belong to him.
''He did not make the money
honestly. There is just one thing
for him to do, and that il
to give it back. 1t did not belong
to that young man after he had laid
it aside for his mother. That son
must carry out the intent. Let the
money go to the one to whom il
morally belongs. This request ]
make of that gambler. "Will you
see that that widowed mother gets
the $1,000 at once?' leave this
matter with you. am man; you
are man. Not long hence we will
stand at the bar of God, and this
may be my last chance to tell you
that if you fail to give back the
money to that poor mother, Gods
vengeance will go with it, and it
will blister your soul through all
eternity"
The sermon produced a profound
sensation. 1t was so remarkable to
hear personal allusion of the kind
from the pulpit, and no little curios-
ty was evinced as to the object OF
the sally.
The words had not fallen on bar
rem ground, for yesterday morning
as DR.. Starr was on his way to the
meeting of the Methodist Minister
ial Association he was met by the
gambler. The man looked pale and
haggard, and his manner was very
nervous, and seemed slightly brusque.
DR.. Starr at first misinterpreted his
intentions, but was promptly reas
sured. The man told him that he
had spent a sleepless night, medita-
ting on the sermon, and that he had
risen yesterday morning resolved to
make reparation and send the mon
ey he had won from his young friend
to the boys mother.
He had sent the money off by ex-
press just before he met DR.. Starr
and was on his way to find him and
tell him that he had resolved never
to ''throw another card"
After that declaration the greet
ing was very happy and cordial
one, and the parting was most ten
der. The distinguished divine gave
his new acquaintance every encour-
agement to lead a different life.