The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-24
.MUSTN'sS PLAY
FOR PRIZES.
Or. Strange breaches Strong
Sermon at St.
PATHS.
is EQUIVALENT TO GAMBLING
HabitWidely INDUCED in Among
Women Is Condemned BY
the Rector.
is EQUIVALENT TO GAMBLING

Rev. Or. Robert Strange preached a
sermon at st. Paul's Sunday morning in
which he dwclt In strong and positive
terms upon the evils OF gambling, under
which head he classified the widely in
dulgcd habit among women, of playing
cards for prizes. large or small. The
.uttcranccs Of the distinguished rector
upon this point wero very clear-cilt. He
said in part:
81 have nothing to say against play
Ing cards for the pleasure and the recren-
ton OF the game. It is an Innocent
pleasure and profitable recreation. But
when we play cards for money, for
property or for any other article Of
value, we are gambling, and we are
then shining against God and man. You
can draw the line between playing cards
not distinguish In principle between play
Ing cards for money and playing cards
for prizes, calling one gambling and tho
other innocent pleasure.
How can you distinguish In principle
between playing cards FOR five dollars or
ten dollars or q hundred dollars and play
Ing cards for a vase a picture or horse!
But 1t is such little sin, you say. SIN
Is sin, whether little or large, and no
Christian woman ought to commit de-
3lyberately little sin. But 1t Is so
narrow and puritanic to preach about
such little things as playing cards for
prizes.
If avoiding sin is narrow, we must be
brave enough to be narrow. It Is not
pur.tanic; 1t Is Christ-ltke to stop at sin,
however small
."My chief reason for being so firmly
opposed to Christian women's playing
cards for prizes is because 1t Is a lower
Ing OF standards. when they ought to be
at their very highest. 1t IS allowing the
gambling spirit to creep into our homes
and to taint the pure. sweet air that IS
our most elcvating tonic. II Is taking the
blush Oft the honest and the refinement
of our mothers and sisters. 1t Is stripping
them Of the Influence, which Is such a
strong breakwatcr against the tempta-
tons which so bear on us men. we look
at them as our examples IN those high,
pure, true things, which are the crown
OF our Christian civilizat ton; and, when
they lower their standard we men Stun
BILE and fall.
II tell you, Christian wives, mothers and
sisters. when you gamble at home, sur.
rounded by soft rugs tinted walls and
charming pictures, slipping fragrant tea
from delicate china, what can you say
with affect to your husbands. sons and
brothers, gambling in the club. IN the
saloons or In those deeper dens Of tniquity
y hich nfcst our city? 55,
II appeal to you Southern women tor
the purity and the refinement fer the
high ideas and high soul, which has ever
been our proud boast, for our Southern
women. Oh! noblesse obliGe!3 1 appeal to
you mothers. sisters, :, wives. for your
sons, brothers, ,husbah ds.sSwhose hearts
are open only to you. for sweet counsel
and high Influence. Oh! stand up for the
home, the citadel OF our Anglo-saxon
civilizations! I appea to you Christian
women, by the name you confessed In
confirmation. by the cross marked OH
YOUR forehead in baptism. Oh! be willing
to stop and suffer. be willing to face
surer and strong, If so be, we are true to
yourself, loving TO your fellows, loyal to,
your Cod