The Republican journal., 1912-03-21
POPULAR ADJUSTMENTS.
By REV. RALPH GILLIAN, EVANGELIST
TPrattsburg, N. Y, News

time than any other subject that the
minister is called upon to consider, name
", questionable amusements.
There are amusements that are not
questionable. There are, however, tour
things that are looked upon as being
questionable by large percentage OF
people within and out of the church to-
day: card playing, dancing, theater going
and liquor. These four things are always
associated together, and seemingly can
not be disassociated. wish it distinctly
understood that l do not wish to antago-
nize ANYBODY, but rather to express my
candid opinion with regard to the teach
ing of the Bible concerning these things
which are looked upon as being question
able.
If you really want to know whether it
is right to engage In these forms OF
questionable amusements, ask non
Christian young man of principle II he
believes it is right for a protested fol-
lower of Jesus Christ to engage in any
one of these four things, and he will say
no.
There are two classes of people who
say that Christians should not engage III
them.
First. those who are not Christians and
to be something different from what you
We're before that profession. Second,
those who are truly spiritual in the
church and who therefore have no time
to waste in this way.
Then there are two classes OF people
who believe it is perfectly right and
proper to engage in these four things.
First, the people out of the church who
make no profession and who are there
fore consistent, for all the pleasure they
have is what they get out OF this sort OF
living.
Second, those who are Christians, but
who are not noted for spirituality, and
who do not as rule frequent the prayer
service of the church.
We frequently hear people say, what
harm can there be in an innocent game
of cards?" There is no harm in a card
itself. 1t is only piece Of cardboard
with some pretty spots on it. But the
association and influence are bad; al
together bad; always have been bad and
always will be bad. They have always
kept bad company, always associated
with bad people. King Charles |, the
imbecile king, used to amuse himself
playing solitaire.
There are ffty-two cards in the pack
on the home table, just the same as in
the pack in the pool room, and rum hole,
the opium den, the house of i'll fame, the
refuge of i'll repute. Look me in the
face and tell me if you believe it is right
for Christian to indulge in the game.
If cards are perfectly proper, why are
they relegated to the rear! Why not
bring them to prayer meeting? If it is
right to play them at home, it is right to
play them here. If right anywhere they
are right everywhere. We have no right
to do anything that Christ would con-
denim anywhere. Why is 1t that card
playing Christians are seldom found IN
prayer meeting and at the Communion
table, if it is right to play with them?
Why does a church member dread to have
the minister see her playing cards? 1t is
hard to find real intelligent people to-day
who play CARDS. People of intelligence
have better ways to employ their God
given faculties.
If it is right to play cards at home, it
is right to play them IN the hotel, or Sal
loon, or pool room.
While holding meetings some time ago
in Vermont | noticed in the congregation
a woman, tall, dignihed, elegantly dress
ed, with snoW-white hair. She was a
regular attendant and her reverence and
effectiveness and responsiveness were
marked. Hers was a face that would
attract ones attention, for on it seemed
written a he IT history. | asked the
minister to tell me about her, and he did.
A few years before she had been socle-
ty leader. She was foremost as an en-
tertalner. 1t was at the time when
whist was SO popular, and the people,
the women OF this community, like so
many other communities, had gone whist
mad. One evening it was this lady's
turn to entertain her whist club, and her
beautiful home was in readiness. She
had one son, a bright, promising boy Of
eighteen years, the apple Of her eye, her
idol. In the early evening as he was pre-
pairing to leave the house his mother
SAID, ''My son, where are you going?"
80, just out to spend the evening with
some of the fellows" ''But where are
you going?" Gust over to the hotel
with some of my friends" Then said the
mother, MY boy, | am told you boys
are spending your evenings around the
card table. The report has come to me
that you play for stakes; that you have
even been known to play for silver dol
lar corner! To think of it, ny boy
playing cards in hotel for silver dollar
corner! why, mother, what is
the matter with you? Is it any worse
for us to sit quietly around the table in
the hotel playing cards for silver dollar
than it is for you ladies to sit around the
tables in the 4rlor and play for that
silver pitcher that is in there on the
shelf?'
She was wise mother, and loved her
boy better than she loved anything else,
and she recognized his peril and her re-
sponsibility, and she said, at is too late
now to change the evenings plans. The
guests will soon be here. But promise
you that after tonight cards go out of
this house forever" He was good son
and he loved his mother, and they clasped
hands and pledged themselves to forever
abandon cards. And they did. He was
saved to life of useful Christian man.
hood, because mis- mother had the cour-
age to cast out of her life this so-called
innocent amusement.
Another mother said there was no
harm in cards. She bought pack and
learned to play. She taught her son and
daughter to play, or rather, she taught
her son to play; her daughter learned.
AS their scant resources were depleted,
this boy was obliged to leave school and
seek work. He lived in one of Boston's
suburban towns, and found employment
in the city at $500 per week. 1t was a
half hours ride from his home to his