Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-27
SCORES GAMBLING
IN EVERY FORM
REV. FRANK TALMAGE DE-
N0UNCES RACE TRACKS
Declares Winning Money by Chance
Is Robbery-AlI "Systems"
Fail, He Says


mage in his sermon at the First Pres
byterian church last night.
Betting on the races, games of
chance, lotteries and even prize giving
at church fairs come in for scathing
rebuke.
Gambling is robbery"
The gambling passion not only robs
men of the fortunes but demoralizes
their minds.
The evil mania leads people to sduan-
der other peoples money as well as
their own.
"All systems must lose"
Gambling is unsportmanslke."
These are a few of the expressions
voiced by Rev. Mr.. Talmage in the
course of his sermon.
The text was: an the Sweat of Thy
Face Shalt Thou Eat Bread"
The speaker said in part:
Evils of Gambling
THE gambling passion not only robs
men of their fortunes, but demoralzes
their minds. 1t units it's victims for
1t over-stimulates the brain and the
Imagination.
THE healthful desire for work and
the gamblers passion do not nest in
the same heart.
young men, 1 solemn1y appeal to
you. Some of you have already heard
the sound of the clicking roulette
wheel. Are you going to throw your
life away at the altar of chance?
II charge upon this gambling mania
a direct robbery of the Christian world,
in that by besolling legitimate recrea-
H. impossible for decent men to enjoy
certain heaNhful relaxations. 1t is
gradually stealing from us the priv
ilege of enjoying outdoor sports and
indoor games, by Identifying them with
betting and speculation. Whenever
placed upon a game, that sport must
be forever eschewed by the good and
the pure.
"On account of the gambler, the
Christian church has been compelled
to send forth its edict of excommuni-
cation upon the deck of cards.
Race Track Denounced
"On account of the gamblers baneful
touch, the angel of wrath and denun-
citation, who stood with drawn sword at
the Edenic paradise, is standing today
at the entrance of every public race
track, saying to all good people, Thou
shalt not enter here Talk to me
about the development of the horse at
the race track? Every man of any
intelligence knows that the race track
today is chiefly run for the benefit of
the gamblers. Without the damning
influence of the bookmakers. the race
horse would not attract enough people
today as a money investment to pay
for his oats and his blankets. On ac-
count of the gambling evil, even the
bowling alley today, the public billiard
table, the yachtsman's white sail, and
college athletics are under condemna-
ton. In view of the immense amount
of money which changes hands at every
football game it is very grave ques-
ton whether it would not be better for
the different college faculties to cast
their influence against every sport
which would take students away from
the home campus.
College Orgies
"If you have any doubt about the
oe n atpi1apt
can easily verify it by going to some
college town after any great athletic
contest The inebriety you will wit
ness on its streets is disgusting. The
men who have won their bets, and are
celebrating their success, and the men
who have lost, and have tried to drown
their disappointment, stagger around
like drunken imbeciles.
But there is. another reason why I
denounce all defiant gambling. This
evil mania leads its victims to squan-
der other peoples money as well as
their own. Now, / am not alluding
to the poor half-crazed clerk, who will
steal from his employer in order to
bet on the races. l am not alluding
to the poor servant girl, who opens her
mistress's pocketbook in order to take
out fifty-cent piece to squander it
in policy shop or to the bank presi-
dent, who as trustee oe an estate, Grim
inally sinks in wildcat speculations
the money entrusted to his care. They
are criminals, and they know it, But
l am alluding to those who think they
are wagering only that money which is
theirs by right.
But, says some one again, 1t is