The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-09

I ~ NV. ). &. MASON BEFORE THE
u. NJ. G. a.
Drsnkinr the Most Common Trap.
lsIcction Of Directors for the
Urgn nixation.

There was quite an audience at the as
senbly room Of the Y. NJ. G. A. yester-
dAy TO hear the discourse OF Rev. j.. u
Mason OF the Christian church upon the
subject Of the common trap.
AS natural to suppose from the text, Mr.
Mason assumed that the most common trap
In Which young men were causht was th9
saloon and the drinking habit, and the
trappers were those who offered the frss
drink and tempted the appetite. lie sara
I. that statistics slowed that So per cent OF
the inmates OF the penitentiaries were there
az the result OF strong drink, which was
the starting point OF nearly all crimes.
Parents who taught their boys the drink
ing habit at home In order TO satlate their
appotites for liquor and prevent their
drinking ii outside, aud who taught their
ch laren TO play cards as means Of Keep.
ing them at home. set Bne trap that led
them. in after years, to be drunkards ana
gamblers The good -nleaning housewife
who spiked her pudding With brandy 10
make II more palauable was also a trapper,
but the most common traps get to catc1
young men were the bar-rcoms with all
their enticing environments, and every man
who by his ballot voted to psrpetuate the
salsons was q trapper. The.s moderate
drinkers were trappers bscause by their
examples they induced Others 10 drink VINO
cSiild not do SO IN moderation. The man
who cou,i go about continually wish his
skin fuil and vet not be termed a common
drunkard. hut Was always called colonel
and centrally sent TO the legislature and
held UP as a model TO young men, was the
worst Kind OF trapper. Gambling houses
vert another species OF traps that were
H. s,, I.f,c md al
baited. The Cflicerx had recently closed
the little policy shops, but had left the big
gambling dens TO ply their vocation I'M
molested. The policy shops could not put
up enough TO protect themselves against
prosecution. They ro5bcg people Ct nlckels.
while the big gamblers thrust their hands
into your pockets up 10 the elbows.
The above are some Of the salient
points OF Mr.. Mason's discourse, upon
which he elaborated.
At THE conclusion of his address, Sec
rotary Kincdide OF the Y. VI. G.. A. said
he Endorsed what Mr. Mason had said.
He spoke OF the good work being done by
the Y. NJ. C. a. along the line OF temper
ance. and referred to the fact that tho
railroads OF the country, approaching
their work, were contributing sl50,000 an
nually toward the establishment and main
fenance of amxi,iaries conducted especially
for railway employees. and some roads
were doing practical work ia The ten.-
pernnce cause BY refusing 10 employ any
man with the drinking habit.
Tho meeting was enllyened by some
very pretty music by the Y. NJ c. A.
duartette.
After the general meeting, the active
members OF the organization were asked
TO remain In order to elect board of
directors for the next two years.
In the absence Of the president and
vice president. MIR. Kincalde WIS elected
to preside and Mr., Mcintyre was selected
as secretary.
The following directors We're nominated
and elected by a unanimous vote. r. ID.
Gribble. A. Sessums Cleveland, j. T.
Campbell. II. c. Breaker W. 3. Jones
and Wfgfism A. Wilson, .Jr
Ineee directors will meet Tuesday even
Ing to elect officers.