The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-25
CAST LOTS FOR HIS RAIMENT.
The beginning of the Curse of Man.
kind.

Rev Arthur ]. Smith discussed the
gambling evil both generally ana locally at
the First Presbyterian Church last night.
The fact of Mr. Smiths recent tour of the
gambling rooms of the city had been pub
lished, and it was expected that ne would
have something to say of interest in this
connection. The congregation was not dis
appointed.
And they parted his raiment and cast
lots" said Rev Mr. Smith in announcing
his text from the account of the cruciixion
of Christ by ST. Luke THUS under the
shadow of the cruciied body of Christ was
born one of the greatest curses mankind
has ever known"
Gambling" said Mr.. Smith, lis the
winning or losing of anything by chance.
1t is taking something away without Civ
ing any value In return. A mans wages
are earned by his hand or brain, by the ex-
penditure of a part of himself, and there
fore represents his Hfe's blood. 1t seems
to me that a man has lost his reason when
he CANDLES with that which is a part Of
himself"
Mr.. Smith spoke of the peculiar sensa-
tons which are aroused in a man by indul-
gence in gambling as Illustrating The in
sidious nature of the vice. Il have stood
and sat in the gambling rooms of Savdn-
nah, he said land have seen fifty, seventy
five or one hundred men playing keno ev-
cry man intent upon his card and his but
tons, trying TO get them in a row thai Re
might win the amount offered. The only
voice to be heard in the room was that of
the man calling the numbers At the
roulette table l saw a man putting his
money upon the green spot the Jew at
the wheel gave it a turn and the button
went spinning around, then the man at the
cash drawer raked in tine money. The
poor fellow as soon, as his eyes met mine,
turned and bolted, not even stopping to
get his change. He was ashamed to meet
a minister of the gospel in such a place.
He put his life blood on the table aud
the gambler took it and gave him no value
for it. He might as well have put his
hand in the mans pocket and taken the
money
Rev. Mr.. Smith discussed the different
kinds of gambling. Commercial gambling,
he said, has reached the point where bonds
are the ony security Of value issued by
the railroads, the stocks being merely for
gambling purposes. Social gambling is one
form Of the evil. Playing progressive
euchre for prizes, Mr.. Smith considered
gambling Social gambling he said is rot
limited to euchte, however, but poker is
Dlaved by women as well as men. some
of Them OF high social standing. Railing IS
gambling, whether conducted al a church
fair or any oihcr kind of fair. Betting on
political candidates, here races, yacht
races. and ether spor 5, is common form
of gambling.
';The horse races are an fixed" said MIR.
Smith. "Ihe poor fools who go down 10
The turf exchange don't realize that
man who used to ride in horse races told
me that he was always given his instruc-
lions before running a race, Gambling des-
troys all interest in Intellectual, moral ana
spiritual attachments. The man who gam
hes has no taste for these things. Gam
Hing units a man fer his Wo. k. He cam
not think of anything else. Many young
men go right 20 The gamb ing rooms with
their wages and spend them there instead
Of having their board. one poor woman
tod me she had lest $500 n this way Gam
hing prevails in all forms of recrea'lon.
II has almost ruined baseball, one OF our
nobJest sports. 1t has ruined horse racing.
billiards and poo, have been ruined by
heir association with gambling. Gambling
makes y man forget his home and chill
dren. 1t is said that the yourg men Of sa-
vannah DO not care fer the society OF cur
test and noblest young women because
gambling and otter vices have more at
traction for them.
Rev Mr.. Smith gave several instances
which had come under his knowledge OF
,,o,Ing mon whose careers had been wreck
ed by gambling. Gambling often leads
tn murder in cold blood, he said and has
been responsible for thousands of suicides.
Suicides are of almost daily occurrence
at Monte Carlo.
shall this state of affairs continue?'
asked Mr.. Smith. There are those in
authority who say they do not know that
gambling is going on. They should know
rbot il is going on With Gods help, we
VIII make them know, and that within
the next few days"
In his closing prayer Mr.. Smith prayed
Cod to forbid that the city government
should be entirely given over to the devil.