Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-07-20

fng'S life OF OnNer 0otc>mith says
that the great poet lost a 30, AL his
earnings. in a short tour 20 see the
world. Gibbon. the author of The
Decline and Fall of the Roman En-
pirc."' came TO his own decline and
fall through gaming practices and
in q letter in l776 said; Il have IN
done myself, and il il to NO purpose
to conceal from you my abominable
madness and folly. I have never lost
so much in Ave days as I have to-
night, and am in debt to the house
for thu whole"
But while you are holly indignant i
against the crime, how do you feel
about those who were heeccd and
slain? They did not know that their
small boat was 50 near the maelstrom.
Some os them were born with tend
ency to recklesSness and experiment
and hazard. They inherited DISPOSE
ton TO tempt chance. Do not heap
on them additional discouragements;
90 not deride their losses. Help them
20 start again. Show them that there
are more fortunes yet 10 be gained
than have yet been gathered and thai
with God for their friend they will be
provided for her and through the Sa-
viour's mercy they May reign forever
In the land where there are no losses
and infinite gains. While you may red
den in the face at the fact that gam
4 bling a. the disgracefui mother of
: multitudiRous crimes. Of envies, jeal-
ousies, revenge. quarrels, cruslties,
. fslsehoods. forgerles, suicides, muir
osrs and despair, be careful what you
say Of the victim of the vice and what
| you do. He needs more sympathy than
the man who came up from inebriety
and debauch and assassination, for
many such repent and ore saved, but
confirmed gamblers hardly ever re
form.
During the course ola prolonged min
istry 7 have seen thousands redeemed,
many Of them who were clear Como in
sin, by Almighty grace rescued. In
all parts OF this land and in some parts
Of other lands I have seen those who
were given up as incorrigible and lest
recovered for God and Heaven. but
how many confirmed gamblers have !
seen converted from their evil ways7
A thousand2 No. Five hundred? No.
Fifty2 No. Two? No. Ons2 No.
I read in q book Of one such rescued
have nc doubt there have been other
eases. but no evil docs its work 80
thoroughly and etornaily as gambling
Such almost hopeless Of reformation
ought 30 call forth from you deeper
sympathy than you feel for any other
unfortunate. Pity by all means. foI
those who. shipwrecked and bruised
among the timbeTs, have nevertheless,
climbed up 20 the hshcrman's cabir
; and found warmth and shelter. bu
| more pity for those who never rsaci
shore. bat arc dashed IN death II IN
breakers. De angry az the sin, bu
y sympathize with IFS victims.
One &C; OF fraud told Of In big head
lines in the morning papers rightfui.
arouses the nations wrath. Il is tn
I, interest % every good man and GOO
woman who reads OF the crime To hsv
Il exposed and punished. Let IL go ur
scathed. and you pat a premium Of
fraud. you depress public morals. 20
induce those who arc on the fence b'
= tween right and wrong 90 get down o
the wrong side, and you put the bus
= moss Of the world on down grad
The constAbulary and penitentiar
must do their work. But while IN
merciless and tho goddess CRY; Goo
= for himi" Il am glad he is within ~
prison doorsI" be il your work 20 fin
10 out II that man Is worth saving Al
d. what were the causes OF his NOR
E overthrow. Perhaps ne started
g business life under a tricky firm, WI
gave him wrong nonens Of busine
p integrity; perhaps there was a CONT
io nation Of circumstances almost u
~ paralleled for temptations: perhal
/ Iii
IL was born wrong and never got over
at perhaps he did not realize what he W
a. doing, and IL YOU are a merciful II;
an you will think OF other perhaps
NJ which, though they may not excu:
"a will extenuats. Perhaps he has
DE ready repented and Is washed in Z
blood of the Lamb. and is as sure
ne Heaven as you are. What an oppOri
ia nifty you have for obeying my tei
No You were angry at the misdeman'
al but you are hopeful for the recOve
ht Of the recalciRrant. Blessed all pris
OF reformersl Blessed are those g.
res errors and presidents who are 81
&C when they have a chance 20 pardo
GU Blessed the forgiving father who "
ne GENES home the prodigali Bless
in the dying thief whom the Lord 20
iu with Him TO glory. saying: This q
ao' shalt thou be with Ne in paradise
There IS another evil that we Gus
TO abhor, while we try 10 help
=" victim, and that is infidelity.
'H snstches the life preserver from
M man afoat and affords not so mV
ss a spar or a plank as substitute.
..ny would extinguish abe only light q
ION has ever been ldndled for the troub