Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-10-10
CONVICTED TNRs. AHFELloN'

THE MANIA FOR CARD PLAYING.
When ! was young the churches of our
country were down upon card playing
The preachers Numbered from the pulpit
against II. declaring IL opened the door
for indiscriminate gambling for valuable
prizes and for money. that II created
thirst for games Of chance. and when X
took control of a mans mind he was
infatuass-. and too often he would steal
and sign obligations which would event.
ually ruin and disgrace the gambler.
When a member was taken INTO me me
Methodist church he or she was virtually
ohlirated 10 nut aside card playing. along
with batting on horse races and dancing
Thev gave as a reason for these restric-
tionS the sad influence OF the bad ex-
ample on others
an nv brothers keeper was
frequent and prolific text fifty ana Sixty
years ago
A man who Joined the Methodist church
and allowed dancing and card playing IN
his home would be hailed before . com
mittee and he would promise 70 az "a ;.
ferentlv or he would be "cnureheo,
,hat A. dismissed from the membership
was told that an excellent Georsla
minister failed of the bishopric because
hi- daughters persisted in card piaylns
ana frivolous amusements- Inc
80 that he could not command tns
vavs Of his household made the genera
conference pass him by as one OF INC
chief shepherds Of the church
When ] joined the Methodist ehu. -
81 years ago could dance Ae .,,o =
and was a fine whist player Lo 7
aadx Cards were infatuauns 10 me
80 nat,,r inclination for such amuse-
r,.nts and could perform so Wen 1na'
: -. ..gerlv- invited TO dancing parues-
~. ~ the difficulties that perplexea me me
-, vvas seeking a change OF heai
- ~. Giving Nd OF these amusements'
w-as pasSionately fond OF the oanO 1
Int there were TO huggtng dances III ny
early time. -. 20 set
Rut I gained my consent az laSs s ~
better example TO my scnooi anu an, -
~ associates. 1 deemed ,,avoa
-. a. make when i gave my nai tlo
- .tIi-ation 20 obey the rules OF the
A,-.-,-.t - the preacher who TOOK NJ
,..s .nd Who declared l was heneeioi =,
49,. .-.-,ts- Prom that day 10 TINS :
h.ve kept that Obligation haNs - 7
- .o-,nted 10 break over AND 90 aS
s.--s seen others do. who were InoIe $50 p
80. an church experiences tnah ns -,
= sinner saved by grace, I ieie nm -
- aust be faithful. and am he
saw that IL has been GOOD ioI so;,
have not broken over, oeoau 1e'....,,
49, would be breaking coVehahc
- tnev- that thousands were ior-
-. the narrow way-where uahs
ss---tsr temptation and eternal oeatH
-. assailfnr the weak and uns1apie
10 not speak for other people ou'
thank God that He laid this restrain
Ing influence on my life Now Mne'
see the craze for card-playing re-
-,sa in terrific force, and good women
snend the mornings. afternoons am
evenings over the card table Wohue.
n they have forgotten the power %
example on their children, II iaene'
and mother play with cards the sons
nd daughters may play, OF course! n
t1,e mother wins a pair Of SILK stock
tres in a game. WIKI shouldn't the son
~ & 90 in the same way2 II takes
dollar or more TO buy silk stockings
why not play for dollars as well as
stockings7
fhave been told that women in hign
.,T. Get terribly excited when the prize
- clo.al,- contested. They clamor for
!, their ewes get wild, their desire Is
so strong
The same desire. the same eagerness
IN 4 boys mind. well cultivated. has
carried numbers Of them into the iec-
era1 prisons, and no inconsideraois
number into muTucf anu SNANiNN - -
earning table. II is this thirst, THIS
Saminr appetite which gets uncontroll-
sbIe IL is like the appetite for intoxi-
rantS-tt always increases-never
Crows less. II is one OF the diseases
Of human kind. All sexes and COLOR
are obsessed with this craving foi
games OF chance. I see little negroes
in the aIIeyways busy at their games
and l know the courts sentence negro
men to long sentences in the chain
gang for gambling.
1 may be called a pessimist in my
old age. but the liberty which - al
lowed 10 some and the punishment
plaeed on others for gambling will
ring on a crisis one OF these days.
The passion for gambling Is revived
and abroad in the land
The pulpit has given up the struggle