The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-09-25
a WORD TO PRESIDING AUTHoRI.
TIES ON CARD PLAYING.

~ special request the following ar
ticle irom The last issue Of the Juvenile
Iusirncto IL published.
"lam ,old ,hatthe prevalence of card
parties IN the homes Of the Latter-day
Saints smuch greater than il supposed
by those whom society people never
think Of Inviting 10 make the card table
the source Of an evenings uas,ime. The
presidlneautborit.es are not invited to
these card parties, and, A. rule. are
permitted to witness them, simply be.
cause those who give such pnr,ie. feel
that A-leck Of cards in the ha.ds of a
faithful servant Of God is a satire upon
religion.
III have heard that some who are
cslledto oiiciAte ia the holy ordinances
have, when absent from the house Of the
Lord or when tardy in arriving. excused
themselves because Of the time occupied
In giving OF attending card party.
Those who thus indulge are not NJ to adj.
minister IN sacred ordinances. They are
no more worthy than others who violate
good morals in any respect. They should
be excused.
81 am told that young people offer ~
an excuse for such questionable pastime
the accusation that cards are PLAYED in
the homes n certain leading men In the
church. Bishops, however, ought never
to be deferred In their efforts to suppress
the evil by counter complaints Of this
kind. rhsDishop has the same right to
inquire, through the means Of his teach.
ere, into the pleasures Of the homes Of
the higheu authorities Of the church
a. into thoil oiiis most humble member.
II It he true lbat card playing Is preva-
lent IN thechurch. the bishops are charg.
ID with lhg responsibility OF the evil,
and Il il thar duty to see that Il il abol.
ished, or OIL men and women who en-
eourage Il d brought TO an account be-
fore their beihren and sisters for the
perniclous example they are setting be-
fore the youth OF Zion. Certainly no
bishop can report his ward In good con.
di,iou whae such practice prevails.
'Presidenlsoi stakes are not without
their re9pfnability in this matter, and
a, the senl,tl rries,hood mesiinVs Of the
stakes ttei shonld make searching in
q6iry =, N bishonr conceoning card par.
tlrs4ht lrp,et n he raipis. i IL an
txry tish.t I5f iytIf tisHbt 70 kbox
through the medium u the block teach
ers sheiher there ave any practices in
the bones II the people inconsistent
wi,hihe mission Of 'Mormonism, ard
cardplaying Is certainly inconsisien,
wi,h,hat mission. No man who is adj
dicei to card playing should be called
to at as a ward teacher, such men can
not " consistent advocates Of that which
theydo not themselves practice.
"An argument Ia support Of card play
ing that has no other or better justihra-
ton Aan that somebody else does It Il
both ihAlng and vicious. hope that
have been incorrectly informed, and hal
representations about the card table NJ,
excessive u not wholly untrue. II car,
playing is prevalent or even occasional
in The homes Of the saints, Il Il re.
proaeh TO the church and ought to b.
abolished.
"Aunited and well directed effort 4
made by the Sunday School aud othe
organizations Of the church 20 introduce
ln ths homes Of the saints the practice
Of home residing, but every effort OF tha
kind may be easily thwarted by pacl
Of cards, which. In an old ndagr, II ap
prophately styled, The Devils Pra3 e
Holh When our young people hav
once acquired the haDit Of the highe
social pastimes Of good books and goo
society, they will have little taste 70
the debliiating and degenerating pas
time Of the card table. The card tail
has been the scene Of too many quarrell
the birthplace Of too many hntreds. III
occasion Of too many murders 10 ADM
one Eord Of Justification for III lyIn.
cheating spirit which 10 too often en-
g,rders in the hearts Of H. deyoiees.
"My frequent and emphatic expires
sion' on this subject are the result Of th
alarm have felt over the well iounde
reports that base come 10 me concern
/ i1athe prevalence Of card pauug in o.,
homes Of some who profess 10 be- Latter
day saints. Upon every officer in N
church responsible in sny way Tor ia
dangers Of the card table II placed. nn
placei heavily, the duty Of doing q
that he or she possibly can to eradicat
the evil. Let us be fully conscious q
the old adage which says thar The dew
iikes to souse whatever i wet, and ito
card playing in the home before