The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-30
REV. A. M. WILLIAMS
SERMON ON GAMBL ING.
The Social Side of Card Playing Dis
cussed.

ANC"S' AAU'~ 1900
with much interest Rev. A. NJ. VIII
Hams admirable sermon as reported
in yesterdays Morning News. 1t is
plain, frank and forceful, and should
be productive of much good.
In one place, however, he is quoted
as laying some Of the responsibility
for the recent gamblers shooting
scrape upon the pulpit of the city gem
orally, and upon himself in particular,
for having failed to denounce the pre-
existing state of affairs with sufficient
vigor and zeal
do not think Mr.. Williams has any
grounds for such self-accusation; in
deed some of the ministers have been
so earnest and persistent in their de-
nunciations as to very unjustly draw
upon themselves the charge of over
officiousness from some of those en-
trusted with the administration of the
laws.
On the contrary, if the representa-
tives of the pulpit are entitled to any
portion of blame for what has oc-
CURED, it strikes me as being 9or ex-
actly the opposite reason. Let me try
TO make this plain.
Between the very good and the very
bad there is a very wide difference;
but the two classes of good and bad
have no well-defined' and universally
recognized line of division-they shade
insensibly together. This is clear
from the fact that in attempting to
draw the line of separation between
the good and the bad, the lines of no
two Independent thinkers, however
honest would exactly coincide.
When the judge on the bench or the
clergyman in the pulpit declares that
participants in the games where ladies
play cards for a prize are just as bad
as the professional gamblers, or in
fact, even less excusable, because they
should know better, he makes state
ment which the large majority of in
telligent and well-behaved people will
Indignantly deny. People who are ac-
customed to take part in these inno-
cent so-called society games are not
those who become gamblers eventual
ly, any more than the young man who
is accustomed to take a glass of wine
at home when he wants it, is apt to
become a drunkard. The contrary is
too often the case. Compelled to seek
diversion or qualification away from
home, and to do so on the sly, the
youth finds in the forbidden fruit the
extra SAVIOR which induces excess, and
refuses restraint.
The progressive euchre party is in no
sense a progression to the gambling
hell The fact that real gambling is
said to be frequent in certain ultra
fashionable circles is no argument
against me, for such gambling has
been going on for centuries in similar
circles and on a much more unre-
Stricted scale. Even the orthodox
Paley attempted to show the distinc-
fion between harmless gaming (for
money! and reprehensible gambling.
Society is advancing instead of ret
regarding; and in our days gambling
is unknown among the people who en-
gage in such games as are played
here.
Another illustration. Some time ago
a local clergyman stated that bar
keeper, who kept his saloon in any
way open on Sunday, was an anarchist.
Now, there are barkeepers and bar
keepers; some of them are as kind
hearted and charitable as the rest of
mankind. Even among those who
have a side door open on Sunday,
dare say, may be found some who, in
all other respects, are entirely law
abiding citizens. There are many peo-
pie, not drunkards or topers either,
who want their daily ration of beer,
let us say, as we'll as they want their
bread and meat three times a day
They would rather give up one meal
perhaps, than do without the stmulant
altogether And natures requirements
on Sunday are just as urgent as on
any week day. The barkeeper, desir-
ing to justify himself, might imagine
that the law prohibiting Sunday open
ing, was intended as a power and
means for restraining excess and
abuse, and not to work hardship on
anybody. Hence, he can see no
great harm in a discreet side door.
l wish by no means to be under
stood as justifying any violation of
the law in any manner degree or par
ticular. / only wish to clearly estab-
fish the fact, concerning which there
Should never be any dispute, that there
are degrees of culpability here as else
where. 1t is monstrous doctrine that
of holding the trivial offender equally
guilty with the outrageous one. Such
a doctrine has no foundation in logic |
common sense or the Christian code. |
For he who is lacking in few things |
shall be beaten with few stripes, while |
ne VINO is lacking in many things |
shall be beaten with many stripes
II a church DEGREES that its men, |
bers must not or should not dance, or |
go to the theater or drink. or play |
cards, dominoes, chess, checkers cro- !
quet, golf, baseball, or anything else |
or read novels or Sunday papers. or |
have food cooked on Sunday, or ride
on street car on Sunday, the minis |
ter has every right to insist upon theJ
members obeying the laws. But II. is |
intolerance, and the arrogance of big |
otry to Insist that such observances
Is incumbent likewise upon people who |
mold entirely different opinions, and
who, possibly, owing to more extended
experience. are better informed and
better qualified to judge.
In the effort to suppress the prev
Hlence of vice and crime the adherents
OF these extreme views appear TO do |
harm, in so far as they ALLEVIATE and
drive away the support of other re- |
form ers whereas, all ought to be cor
daily united to attain the same end
by working at cross purposes little or
no results are achieved
Let me apologize for venturing unon
little friendly criticism. and con-
clude by urging all interested in
peter moral atmosphere to ioin in
nghung the real enemies, and not. like
Don Quixote. break their lances
against windmills.
Democritus