The Newtown bee., 1906-03-16

to be dealt with as dangerous crim- inals. In England not five per cent of those who bet with the bookmakers ever saw horse race. It is strange that men do not see that gambling is not true sport.
 The true spotl-sport is betting.
 Although it suits the baser sort,
 What sport to them is death to sport"
 Play is meant to calm the passions and soothe and invigorate both body and mind. Gambling strains the fac ulties, intiames the passions and leaves every power depleted and exhausted Luck takes the place of pluck, the wheel of fortune is substituted for manly effort, and men instead of meet ing in friendly rivalry, prey on one an- other like wild beasts
 True patriotism would prompt men everywhere to
 MAKE WARO ON A VICE WHICH THREAT
 EMS THE DOWNFALL of nations. We are apt to boast of | ourselves as Christian nationr but it should be motive to us to act like Christians and seek the real good of our nation and the interest of it.
 Not long ago most determined at tempt was made to found a gaming establishment at Cairo, which would have turned Cairo into second Monte Carlo. But Lord Cromer resolutely refused to sanction such an establish ment on the >statesman-like ground that it would have particularly per nicious effect in Egypt where the gambling spirit is already too prev alent. Another such attempt was made under our own flag, but was fOiled by similar act of American states manship. It is unhappily undeniable that the fever and passion of gambling has attacked our churches and Sunday schools. What of our bazaar lotteries and our guessing competitions? heard of two Sunday school scholars ! betting on the amount of a missionary | collection. We shall fail to win a hearing for the Gospel from our young people if they become infected with this arid passion. In all our churches and Sunday schools and in our public schools, too, children should be plainly taught the immortality and wickedness of betting. An English statesman, himself a gambler, asserted that bet ting was innate in the Anglo-Saxon nature, which nobody denies. But he would not for that reason refuse to ex- tirpate theft and burglary and murder. The roots of vice alas! are embedded in human nature. But poison plants need not be allowed to grow from such roots. The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ can root out every root of bit- terness. It can cleanse every foul and hateful thing; that nothing but peace and love and generosity and purity can grow there. What then is the base of this gigantic curse?
 | WHAT IS THE ESSENCE AND MOTIVE OF GAMBLING?
 It is covetousness, greed; the desire 1 to get money without doing anything or giving anything for it. Pleasure there may be in gambling. The flut- | ter of the nerves, the morbid thrill but the master-passion's greed. If this is not so why do men gamble for tremendous stakes? And why do men cheat, for there is cheating even where princes play. think we have pinned down the sin of gambling. It is GOV etousness, a distinct breach of the 10th commandment. The command ment is exceeding broad: Anything that is his." Anything is a fve-cent piece, box of cigars, a thousand dol lars.
 Gambling is sin against our neigh Dor. It is sin against the common wealth. It is pleasure at the cost of anOther'S pain. Mutual benefit is out of the question. What one gains an- other loses What enriches one ruins another. Surely it is clear to every intelligence that what elevates one man by crushing another is the nega- tion of all justice and brotherhood. Gambling Is incipient anarchy. MT Horsley, for many years prison chap lain, says: "Of all the prisoners that come under my notice the most help- less are the gamblers. Their one max i'm is: "Do everybody and see that mo- body gets the chance of doing you." If you have never gambled be thankful and pray that you never may. If you have stained your hands and your con- science repent of your folly and sin, without delay, and by Gods grace never repeat it.
 BETTER GO IN A THREADBARE COAT
 AS AN HONEST MAN
 than in broadcloth of the grasping, scheming gambler. One of. the finest things in Macauley's life was his risk ing his seat in Parliament by refusing to subscribe for a race cup. "I am not clear that the object is good one." Take your stand for righteous ness whatever it costs you. A clear conscience, an untarnished character, a good name is better than great riches. Give your life to God and your fellows. "Let no man seek his own