The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-01-29
The HIGHER LIFE.
The Vice Of Gambling.

4 The Vice Of Gambling,
Rev. G. J.. Ickuk, Pastor uf the Farming
ton Presbyterian Church.
The saddest picture in history l.
Christ, the Savior, on Calvary
cross. At the foot of the cruss tlu
band of soldiers hold their vigil
In the band are probably thos,
/ who Knocked Him in the common
hall; who spit in His face and beat
Him with stripes; who guarded
Him on the way from Jerusalem
who nailed His hands and feet tc
the cross. Aud now they watch
Him there suffering untold torture
and in the ag0nies of death. More
cruel and hard hearted than in
anything they had hitherto done,
they part His raiment among them.
selves, aud for one seamless gar
ment they east lots. This before
the soul separated from the body
or Immediately after the eye, closed
in death Forever may this picture
bc intimately associated IN lour
minds with the vice and drpravity
of gambling
There is need that tins evil be
brought to public consideration,
Gambling is instructive in human
nature, INDUCED in in all ages and
by every people. The opportumi.
ties for gambling are llmItlrSS in
the large cities, the villages and IN
rural districts; and the need of
warning is more apparent because
the wee too often wears the gurh
rcSpcctabilty.
While no satisfactory definition
Of gambling can hr iormuIatcd, It
can be SAID to possess two rharuc-
tcriStIrs The element Of chance
is large, or supposed to be large,
and there is neither given nor in
tended 10 bc given any couSidrm
tIon OF value. Bring any question
of tbs character before the tIbu-
nal Of common sense and conscience
and difficulties of definition dimiu-
lah, The quibblr is invariably
wrong, aud any defense built uppu
huirSpIitting points is week.
What are the attractions of
gambling Such things ms the dc.
sire to secure Snurthiup for moth
mg. often "A contest of experience
or skill in which the stake adds
2cst; often merely u pasiinc io HlI
hours of ldIcursS in which brstakr
aruuScs excitement. too often. in
social circles, il offers the easy way
to entertain. If Won cannot 90 tn
the necessary trouble 10 prrparr
amusemouts unmrstionuhlo for
vour guests. if i, better not lo cu
lrr,ain.
The world and the Church are both
opposed To gambling hrrnIlsr of lis
influence and effects. II finds one
indulging 10 his lower nature. lust
as the appetite for drink makes
slaves of those who Weld TO its de-.
mands. II is immoral, because II
neither receives nor gives value i'm
exchange. II leads to evil assorj
ations. Race questions are set
aside i'm thr game of cram shootiur
If social caualitv between the white
and colored races ever comes. il
will not be by way of the parlor.
but through some such medium as
this, Gambling is assuriatcd with
drink and is often the accessory of
the saloon. Gambling encourages
cheating. and once the terms were
almost intcrchangrablr. Gambling
confuses the rights of mine and
thine and leads 10 theft 4 great
number of dcfncatuns hv trusted
employees is brausc of speculation.
Gambling STILES finer sruSihilitics.
robs homes of support and ailrr-
tion, and leaves to HELPLESS chill
dren the heritage of a dishonorcd
name. Gambling leads TO the sui.
ridr's grave. Read the history of
Monte Carlo and other minor hrIls
The Church and State are on
posed 20 this vice Hard headed
business men, unmoyrd by senti.
mcnt, will have no gambler in
trusted 30, itions knowingly, Bond.
ing COMPANIES will not take such
Al Ia
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