The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-03
THE EVIL IS UBIQUITOUS.
DEVILS LAUGH AND GAMBLERS
CURSE AT THE PRACTICE.

ern Social Game as Played by
Girls and Boys and Older People
in Their Homes The Social
Games Are Recruiting Agents to
Swell the Army of Gamblers, DIR.
Van Deventer Said-Life Insur-
ance, He Said, Is Not IA Game of
Chance.
Young man! young woman! and all
within the hearing of my voice, let me
tell you that when you employ those
instruments of evil, cards, to decide the
ownership of anything with intrinsic
1 believe the devil laughs and the
gamblers curse saying that you are no
better than they are and that you are
employing their Methods was perhaps
the most sensational declaration of
Rev. Robert Van Deventer at the Duffy
Street Baptist Church last night, while
addressing the young people on the
Evils of Games of Chance"
DR.. Van Deventer choose his text
from Matthew xvii 49, And upon
my vesture did they cast lots" After
a few Introductory remarks Rev. Van
Deventer said, in part;
1.-The popularity and fascination of
gaming is unquestioned. Not a day
passes that we do not see the horrors
of the evil typified in the suicide of
some young man, or the blighting OF
his life by public scandals caused by
defalcations and forgeries.
Gaming Is Ubiquitous.
Games of chance are played to-day
everywhere. In private parlors an
hotel drawing rooms, in club house and
saloon, on palace car and steamboat,
in bedroom and in dives. At night,
and by day, in summer and winter the
evil goes on. 1t is as nearly ubiqui-
tous as anything can be, and it is not
surprising that an institution that is
so universal should be attended with
so much mischief. 1t is not my inten-
ton to deal with the form of gaming
that prevails in the policy shops, the
public gaming rooms and low dives,
but that which has found its way into
our MONIES. IL Tie Cdl0 LclilAliS
longs a large number of games, and
some of them have been given place
in our homes. Our girls and boys
have resorted to the vices of coarse
men. They handle the cards with
skill which tells too plainly of the
practice that they have had. Men
laugh at the shreWdneSs that girls dis
play in games of chance, but they will
not honor and trust the gambling girl
with the scepter of their homes. To
this card family belongs progressive
euchre. What is the difference in the
forfeit in the shape of the loving cup
and the stack of checks wagered in a
jack pot?
Agents to Swell Army of Gamblers.
"To this card family belongs many
minor games of less harm which are
so many recruiting agents to swell the
army of gamblers~so many inviting
paths to the hades of hope and happi-
ness. Among these are whist, bridge
whist, progressive euchre, high five,
seven up, poker finch and authors.
"The evil is not in the pasteboard.
There is no more danger in it than
in the rattle of the snake. The dan
ger is in the idea of chance that is
inculcated. 1t is luck in life against
the earnest and persistent endeavor.
LUCK Is DGIl6T llldll skill anu the DlSSS-
ing of God. l can make a living by
chance, but God says l must do it by
the sweat of my brow. How at vari-
ance is such a view with Christian
thought, that life which is under the
divine guiding. How many people are
teaching their children that chance is
better?
How many people have been inf1u-
enced to invest so cents, hoping to get
an automobile. Don't be surprised if
your children neglect God, for you are
teaching them to do it. What is sad
der than to see an organization in the
name of the church casting lots.
throwing dice and drawing for prize
to support the church of which our
Lord is the head? You are building
out of chance and luck.
Devil Laughs and Gamblers Curse.
Young man, young woman. and all
within the hearing of my voice. let
me tell you that when you employ
these instruments of evil, cards. 10
decide the ownership of anything Of
intrinsic value offered at card party
l believe the devil laughs and the
gamblers curse, saying that you are
no better than they are and that you
are employing their methods.
Il once knew of a young man xctive
IN church work who drew his first
prize at church fair. His mother
warned him not to enter these contests
where luck was the deciding element.
He would not listen and was called
lucky because he won the prizes so
often. One day his place of business
was closed. To obtain money for
tickets he had mortgaged his stock and
forged checks and was hiding from
the law. You can't build up a BUSH
ness on luck. 1t will allure and then
dash you to ruin.
Life Insurance Not n Game of
Chance.
Some people ask what is the diff
ference between games of chance and
life insurance. Life insurance is not
a game of chance. Not at all. 1t is
based on well-known laws of life ex-
pectancy and with this in view risks
are accepted.
THE power in the game of chance
to engross ones time is fearful. BUSH
ness is neglected the family is neglect
ed and under the spell everything is
pushed aside. Such an institution cam
not be healthy By letting cards into
your home you are training your chill
dren to do this, and you are permit
ting your influence to go in the way
of it. All games that are based on
change are dangerous, and it is far
better to play jack straws"
-S-D@