The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-06-04
The Epworths on Gambling.

ClSAtA SOllb CIlIlOH vi
the Epworth League of the Will
mington District Methodist Episco-
pal church met in Elkton M. E.
church Wednesday and Thursday
of last week. Mrs. Emma P.
Haines of Rising Sun is fourth vice
president. Miss Eva L. Brickley
of Pennington is treasure of the
league.
The meeting took a strong stand
against The race track gambling and
a committee was appointed com
posed of Revs. T. e. Martindale,
w. l.. S. Murray and Harvey w.
Ewing, to appear before the Legisla-
ture of Delaware and inform them
of the action taken by the conven-
ton.
Lengthy resolutions were passed
expressive of the sense of the Ep-
worths in reference to gambling in
general and race track gambling in
particular. The following is the
last bead on the string of resolu
tons:
Progressive euchre and like
forms of games of chance, as played
often in the parlors of Christian
people, simply train the mind and
prepare the heart to be the ready
accomplice and victim of profess
sional gamblers. Our young ladies,
whether members of the Epworth
League or not, who encouraged
their young friends to play cards
or indulge in other forms of fashion
able gambling in their homes, may
reasonably expect their friends to
go to the race track and gambling
dens, and through these to speedy
destruction. Our young people
who have society gambling in their
homes SOW to the wind and will
reap of the whirlwind, as the
abundant history Of Gloucester and
Elkton amply prove"
Now that resolution was simply
ridiculous in connection with the
protest against the race track
business. When a coterie of
preachers get enthused over any
reform work they are bound to
overdo the business; they have so
much enthusiasm, so much "revivaln
spirit, so much nervous excitement,
that discretion is put ON a back
seat.
Gamblers don't play progressive
euchre or any other kind of euchre.
All children should be taught to
play games, and taught in the
parlor at their homes and by their
parents, so they can take part in
all such innocent amusements at
social company meetings. They
then learn to discriminate between
the innocent use and outlawed
abuse of such games. In place of
acquiring a taste for gambling, they
are far more likely to take but an
indifferent interest in games of a
genteel character, such as whist
and euchre with cards. AS a
general thing no prizes of any kind
are given in social parlor games and
if they are it is some bauble, which
creates no incentive for gain, no
more than striving for a school
prize, or to secure the best record.
Our preacher friends do not appear
to discriminate between the sordid,
selfish greed of gain which gambling
creates, and the ambition to excel
by skill and tact. The former is a
base, low, groveling greed; the
latter enrolling, self respecting and
the enemy Of meanness and greed.
Minister'S families, who are
brought up in straight jacket dis
cipline, till it becomes irksome to
them, turn out as many black sheep
if not more, than their more tolerant
neighbors who move in the same
social circle W no allow their children
to learn and enjoy parlor games,
dancing, etc.
Such resolution as the above
mixed up with horse race gambling,
is superlatively ridiculous and ten
times more likely to disgust decent,
sensible people than have a bene-
fetal effect. The preachers of the
county have taken a very active
part in opposition to the race track
business, which is very proper and
commendable, but they more than
any other class need a brake or
balance wheel, to check and take
up and regulate their superabun-
dance of zeal.
The above foolish resolution was
omitted from the report of the con-
vention published in the Wing, but