Norwich bulletin., 1909-11-09
CARD PLAYING IS IMMORAL
Dr. Slough Declares that Intoxcaes the Moral Nature No Better than Dice Throwing or Any Game of Chance Central Baptist Church Filled at Evanselistc Meeting.


 On Monday night the Central Bap- tist church was the meeting place for the union evangelistic campaign, which is beginning it's last week in this city, having changed from the arnlory, where the meetings have been held in the preceding weeks. There was an attendance of about TOO at the church, large part of these being in the big chorus choir which was placed in the gallery. Mir. Spooner led them from the platform in the opening song ser vice and they filled the church with an inspiring volume of melody.
 Dr. Slough made the following an- nouncements; Tuesday and Thursday mornings, cottage prayer meetings. Spooner at First Congregational church. Norwich Town, and Rev. F, O. Cunningham and Mir. Herring at Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. Tuesday evening as prelude to sermon Dr. Slough speaks on Is It Wrong to Dance? Wednesday afternoon at Gen. tral Baptist church, sunset service, a tribute to the aged. Names of aged people who need special conveyance to attend are solicited, also names of people willing to furnish conveyance. Wednesday night, admission by ticket only, which shall be some article to eat or to wear Thursday to be day of rejoicing, when articles contributed will be distributed under auspices of United Workers. Afternoon service at Second Congregational church.
 Card Playing is Immoral.
 As short talk before his sermon. Dr. Slough gave his answer to the question Is It Wrong to Play Cards? He would present the psychological ar- gument against the game, he said, and did not wish his words to be taken as 8 tirade against the game or denun- citation of all amusements. He was speaking as a teacher in trying to answer the question of whether card playing is an act in which anybody who desires to be moral can indulge. He classified all games as either games of skill or of chance. To games of skill belong baseball, football, croquet, golf, tennis, crockinole chess, check CTS, billiards, pool and caroms, and to games of chance belong card games and dice games. In games of skill, chance does not enter in as funda- mental factor of winning, but in games of chance you cannot exercise the highest skill to win without chance chance are immoral Why. then, is chance game immoral or an immoral act to do?
 Man depends for his success in life upon three things, his reason, his con- science and his will. All must operate freely together for the best good, and if any of these Is impaired you cripple the whole man, making him unbal anced Incompetent and untrustworthy. What relation does card playing bear to these three? They all deal with the facts you know, but in card playing the element of chance is in the un- known. In a game of cards there are five factors, yourself, the three oppo- nents and the cards. You have one fifth of the Knowledge to win on, there are four unknown factors against one known. In this condition of things reason is opposed to conscience, con- science opposed to will, and will op- posed to reason over which card to play, each struggling with the un- known, and whether winning or losing it is 8 constant struggle between these three things, producing nerve-strain and feverish condition when these three are constantly keyed up to the hazard of the game.
 Leads to Gambling Instinct.
 Scientists will tell you that as the result of an evening of cards there is aroused a fever of excitement which amounts to intoxication of the moral nature, and in the constant temptation to win it is easy to do something un- fair, and it is only step to develop the gambling instinct. so intoxicated and controlled does the moral nature become. The effect is the same upon the moral nature az whiskey upon the nerves of the body. The innumerable combinations and odds of chance in the card game increase the stimula- ton and the passion for playing it, and as the odds of chance are in creased the intoxication for the game grows. so that the bridge player cares for nothing but bridge, just as the champagne drinker wants nothing to do with the lighter drinks.
 Bridge or Poker, All the Same.
 What is the difference, then. between the ladies who play bridge and the gambler in the principle of the game 9 You have the cards the same. the odds of chance are the same, and there is no difference in principle except in