The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-11
GAMBLING IN HIGH SOCIETY.
Fashionable Men and Women Ar
raigned by a New York Minister.

NEW YORK, March linen and
women. who, in their homes. indulge in
fashionable games of chance, received a
severe rebuke in the famous old Grace
Protestant Episcopal Church yesterday
morning from the rector, Rev. DR.. VII
liam r Huntington.
Grace Church. though now enclosed by
the growth OF the Broadway shopping
district and more remote than formerly
from the fashionable residential section,
is still attended by q congregation Of
great wealth and influence. Bishop Pot
ter was formerly its rector. Dr. Hunt
ington is not known as a sensational
preacher. but il the first OF a series Of
annual sermons which ne is TO deliver
each year TO the New England Society
in New York he commented frankly upon
social conditions in the greater city. Sc
yerely critiCising the prevailing practice
of hdZdrding money at cards.
There IS need Of d vigilance committee
right at hand, he declared, capable of do
ing much Tor the cleaning Of the social
and civic life Of New Yark. With a mem
bership Of between LOO and 1,50O. the
New England Society might do much to-
ward that end In the clubs Dr. Hunting
ton said the question has been asked
what IS the limit of luxury 10 which the
answer had been given that there is no
limit except a mans income.
Is il possible that il can be true" DR.
Huntington continued, as has been sail
that among the leaders of society in New
York there are persons who lend their
cOuntenance to the carrying on of pub
lie games Of chance by renting property
which is used for such d purpose? Is It
true that there are many hostesses IN
foe l.T
men TO depart from their drawing-rooms
greatly impoverished after having played
games Of chance IN which they conId i'll
afford TO lose? Is it true that there are
young women in good society VINO open
y display jewels which have beer bought
with profits made a. the gambling table
in their homes2 How vulgar, bow in
famous.
There can be no doubt that all this
is true TO very large extent. and that
such games are played under one high
sounding name or another in thu draw
ing-rOoms of houses where Il Is known
there Is no fear Of d raid by the police.
Indeed, the players are often those who
are engaged in the effort TO purify the
morals of this city. Here we are with
committee Of five and of fifteen trying
to rid the city Of poolrOomS and of policy
shops. while behind closed doors of pri-
vate houses. into which no detective VIII
dare enter, this gambling is said TO be
going on.
No need Of the spirit of discipline?
What, then, IS TO become of society2
With Sunday lapsing into Il mere Jradi-
ton, with the day which q New England
mystic, not oVerfrieEdIy 10 Christianity,
made bold to call the backbone of our
civilization turned by common consent
from holy day to a holiday with mar
rtage- the cornerstone of the family life.
which in its turn Is she cornerstone OF
the state-With holy wedlock degener-
ating into - mere fast and loose con
tract. and with love, Of pleasure So ON
I;ipresent and OmnipOtent as to have OBJ
liberated every land mark OF decency.
who shall say that the call for re-
viyal of the spirit of discipline Is i'll
timed2
Let society men and women assist in
the work OF making New York a better
town IN which TO I've by commencing the
work OF reform ia their own homes In
no land where Christianity exists do
~omen have greater influence upon pub
lie life than in the United States. Men
are largely what women make them, and
women should. therefore, use their infiu-
ence with men 10 bring them to 2 real
iZatlon OF what they owe to Cod They
might well commence by trying to induce
men to spend less tine IN their clubs and
more IN the worship Of God.