The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-16
HIGH GAMES AND CHURCH GIFTS.


1t is estimsted that the contributions re-
ceived in the churches of Greater New
York on Easter Sunday amounted
in round figures TO 100000 This
probably marks the high water OF
Easter offerings in that city. In
directly connected with this outpouring
of wealth for church extension, the New
York Sun of last Saturday printed an in
teresting and Important If true" story.
The chief reason for doubling the accu-
racy OF the narrative is the fact that
places and names were omitted in the re-
cital. However, there are excellent rea-
sons why names should have been left
out, hence that does not necessarily dis
credit what is told
According to the Suns account, meet
ing Of ministers was he'd several days
ago in the Office of the rector of one Of
the Fifth avenue churches, at which the
prevalence of gambling in society and
among women was discussed, among
other things. The statement was made
by one minister that he had very good
reasons for believing that many of the
Easter Sunday were parts of winnings at
games of chance that had been played
during the Easter holidays. He related
how, through an error in posting, min
isters wife had received a note from
well-known society and church woman,
telling her to be at Sherrys promptly at
a certain hour on a certain afternoon, as
the game" would start punctually on
time, and would be attended by some de-
sirable persons. Whether the matron had
good buck in the game" was not re-
ported.
Another matron, it was said, wrote to
her son at college to bring his chum home
with him for the Easter vacation. The
chum accepted the invitation, and brought
500 in pocket-money with him. The
matron got up a little game" for his
amusement, won all of his 500, and
loaned him SO to tide him over until he
could hear from home. In another in
stance two college boys from Chicago, in
New York for Easter, were invited 10
sit in" social game. AS an outcome
of It they changed their hotel from
moderate one on Broadway to high
priced one on Fifth avenue. A certain
church and society woman reproached
them for keeping all of their winnings,
with the result that the young men
agreed to compromise by putting $500 on
the collection plate Sunday morning,
which they did
1t was pretty strongly intimated in the
ministers meeting, according to the Suns
article, that many church women indulge
in games of chance and then ease their
conscience by making division of their
winnings with the church. The further
intimation was thrown out that there
were workers for church laid societies"
who medical peint TO keep themselves
informed with respect to the winners in
the little games of society and make
requests of them for contributions to the
church and charitable funds of the soci-
cites. 1t was agreed among the ministers
that gaming interfered with the extension
Of the spirit of the church, and that every
effort ought to be used to discourage it.
Speaking of the matter, the Rev. DR..
Macarthur said he knew of no such con-
ference: nevertheless he was free to say
that there are churches which are
largely responsible for the vice OF
gambling. They encourage 1t by gambling
at church fairs for benevolent objects,
and sometimes to raise money for the
churches themselves. 1 have known of
fairs at which chances were sold, and this
is a species of gambling, and those who
managed the fairs were church people
whose good standing would not be ques-
toned. In some instances they probably
exposed themselves to legal punishment,
If anyone had invoked the law"
1t would seem, therefore, as If there
were room in New York for an anti
gambling crusade besides the one that is
being directed against the city govern
ment and the professional gamesters.