The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-11
REV. DR. GLADDEN. 'SLECTURE
STEERING ADDRESS IN THE IYMAN \
 BEECHER COURSE.
"sociaI Vices" Was the Subject and the Lecture Was Very Pointed One Gambling in Society One of the Topics Discussed by the Able Preacher.

Discussed Dy tne ADtc tFenGnSFs
 Rev. Dr. Washington Gladden. of Columbus, O.. spoke again yesterday afternoon in the Lyman Beecher course of lectures and the subject was Social Vices" The lecture was largely at tended. Rev. Dr. Gladden. spoke in part as follows:
 The Christian pulpit cannot ignore the forms of social disorder known as the social evil, the gambling mania and drunkenness. There is no community however remote, where their ravages IS not found The work of salvation will be the task of rescuing men from these evils. The impression made by the popular presentation of reformers up on the mind of a drunkard, a gambler or a habitue is that the community or the public officials or the purveyors of vice are to blame for his degradation, that he is a victim rather than sinner that there is no very loud call for him to be man so long as there are oppor- tunities for him to be brute. The one thing for man who has fallen into evil habits is to stand and fight for his manhood. I cannot help feeling that the effect of the temperance propa- ganda, especially for the last forty years, has largely been to undermine character, to disparage moral forces, and to turn the mind of men away from the central truth,
 Ut seems a monstrous thing that sections of our cities should be over run with the curse of the so-called SO cial evil, that there should be portions of large cities in which decent woman cannot appear by night without danger nor a decent man without suspicion The resolute attempt of Dr. Parkhurst to abolish these plague spots 1t IS as serted by those who ought to FhoW, have spread the infection instead of stamping it out, and that in New Hork the conditions have been far worse than they were before.
 q do not think that we have risen to very high level of morality when we have merely determined that the pup lie highways shall not be market places of lust and shame It is ridiculous to say that the applying of the accursed traffic in the street cannot be prevent ed. Such open allurements exist Tn no citv without the connvance of the pc lice. Places of refuge for women who chose to abandon this life should be supported. u.
 "One of the chief real causes of the social evil is the growing unwillingness of young men to assume the responsl- bilities of families md of young to take the risks and tasks of maternity
 Nf he neOnle of the more cultivated classes seem 10 shrink from the family life. This un- willingness is the prime cause or the diminution of marriages and one or the inevitable consequences is the ln" crease of the social evil The artlflclal and luxurious life of our modern socle' fy is the heart of the trouble, the over valuation of style and fashion, the un' dervaluation of the happiness that consists of plain and simple living. we are not called upon to condemn specu Iation as essentially immoral, put It IS plain the principles on which It rests and the motives to which it appeals are decidedly lower than those which are involved in legitimate trade. The evil of gambling is supposed to be the ln- inv of the gamblers character in mak- inc him restless and indisposed to hon. est industry. The truth is that the oamb1e,. is essentially thief. l am fold that polite society is suffering from tbe invasion of gambling. A young oir1 from my own city recently visited New York and found herself in an ele- .,an+ home when a card party was to assemble. The girl had scruples agalnst gambling and asked to be excused Tier hostess insisted that she must play' waking her feel that she would Vlolate the obligations of hospitality II she re- fused With great reluctance sne ,,,e,ded She lost considerable money The essential vulgarity and brutalaty of a. society inN which that can happen does not need to be pointed out. marvel that any gentleman or lady can find diversion in playing for money Have we sunk in our miserable money oruhhing to such depth that we are forced to turn even our pastimes into schemes for gain. The new rich are ant to cultivate questionable amuse- ments AgainGt these the voice Of the Christian minister must be lifted up. Gambling places in many of our large cities are as public as drug stores. Such defiance of law ought not to be toll erated. There is no such difficulty here as in the case of liquor laws, the only difficulty in enforcing the law is In the inefficiency of the police authorities. X The roots of all injustice, of all worth lessness and cruelty are in the disposi- ton to get rich by short cuts, to win |8success by some lucky throw.
 "Aa to the evil of drunkenness, I tp conclusions that Ewherever the saloon must go it is the Ebounden duty of those who abolish to Fsee that something better takes it's Eplace. I should like to see the number Epf saloons lessened and l wish that the kRnoral sense of the people would de- &#nand that they be abolished altogether. ! &a8ut I must admit that recent investi- have shown that the saloon &aIong with it's injurious effects serve E8ome useful purpose. It is probable hat with the majority of those who requent saloons the craving for drink Is a subordinate one. The saloon sup lilies the demand for social express S lon.' The time has come for Ameri- D to grapple with this problem. And might be wise for our refOrmera to
 or denouncing the saloon keeper long
 lough to get acquainted with him. He
 as furnished a resort to which the Aople like to come and feel at home INs1ev must heat him a f his own game.''