The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-06
HE GAVE BACK THE MONEY.
i lteresting Indictment In Connections
With u Sermon Against Gambling.
(Richmond State. March %

tRichmond State, March 29D
Last night Rev. w c. Starr. u. ID.
delivered in Broad Street church the
third discourse in series OF six ser
mons to young men. The subject. The
One Element of Character Which Com
pletes the Manhood of Man." was de-
fined 10 be that faith in God which
makes a man trustworthy among men
During the discourse an incident took
place which produced quite an impress
sion upon the audience and is worthy
of record.
\ GAMBLING INCIDENT.
1t seems that on last Tuesday morn
| ing, while Or. Starr was standing upon
Broad street waiting for n car a gen.
tieman approached him and said: DO
you see those two men on the other
side of the street there. The middle
aged Nan is a gambler: the young man
at his side was his victim last Sunday
night in Washington city. In n game
they were playing for stakes. the gam
! bier won from that young man "a thou
sand dollars-every cent he had in the
world, and he had II laid aside to help
] his mother buy a house. She is n
widow. and he is her only child"
! DIR. Starr Immediately stepped across
! the street spoke politely to the gam
bier, gave him his card, and requested
him to come to Broad Street church on
Sunday night and bring his companion
with him.
| Last night, near the close OF his dis
| course, DIR. Starr related this part OF
I the occurrence, and said: When I
went home / told my wife about IL, not
! knowing that anything would ever
come of it: but in the assembly before
| me tonight i see that gambler with his
| victim. l Will not call him highway
I robber. No, he shall hear only kind
, words from me now, and yet I will
! speak the truth. That thousand dollars
| he has in his possession as the result OF
! that game does not belong to him. He
| did not make the money honestly
! There is just one thing for him to do
/ and that is to give ii back. II did not
! belong to that young man after ne had
| laid it aside for his mother. The gift
| was in the motive. That son must
/ carry out the intent. Let the money GU
i to the one to whom IL morally belongs.
This request | make Of that gambler
! Will you see that that widowed mother
! gets the thousand dollars at onccI i
, leave this matter with you. ! am "a
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
u
that poor mother, Gods vengeance will
go with it, and il will blister your soul
| through all eternity"
DOCTOR AND WINNER MEET.
This morning while the Doctor was
on his way to the Methodist Ministerial
Association Of which he is president. he
| was met by the gambler who seemed
to be nervous. Said he to the Doctor
You are the preacher who spoke about
| me publicly last night"
Yes sir" replied the Doctor, II arm
the man."
The gambler then said, Il want to see
you a moment"
Very WELL" replied the Doctor, II arm
ready for anything that comes in the
line Of duty"
The gambler then said: II am not
after difficulty. i have spent a sleep
less night, and / was on my way to
your house to tell you that the money
has been shipped to that old woman,
and she will get il tomorrow.
WILL NEVER THROW ANOTHER
CARD.
Then, with choked utterance, tins.
! gambler added: Il have determined
by the help Of God never to throw
| another card as long as | live"
The Doctor replied. II arm glad to
know it, and let me say this to you-
If your changed life makes bread
scarce with you for a time, you can sit
! down at my table as long as / have n
crust to share with any one"
| The two then shook hands cordially,
and the Doctor added, My friend
whether or not We ever meet again ON
earth, let US try TO meet in Heaven"
. ! The interview ended. The stranger
, bade his new acquaintance a tender
good bye" and the Doctor went on his
way, rejoicing 10 believe that the hu-
man race is not too far gone to send up
: it's answer out Of the darkest life to the