The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-24

drOne in the bee hive of the worlds
actVlty-an idler-a subject for the
vagrant law. without the finer and
nohler instincts Of man.
No man can say Of the gambler. no
matter his social standing, no matter
his family connections, no matter
how he struts and brags, there stands
a Man.
4. Judged by its fruits.
The Master has left us this test.
BY their fruits We shall know
them" This certainly is just. .
fair test If one case can be shown
where gambler or gambling has
produced moral uplift in a person on
a community as far as I know, no
record has been kept Of it,
What is the effect Of gambling on
I the gambler? He is ruined for any
honest labor. He is hardened against
all the finer, nobler sentiments Of
the human heart. Breaking one law
he becomes Indifferent to all laws
whether of God or man. Like
dope fend his will power is broken
and he will sell the roof from Yer his
children's heads and take the food
from their mouths to satisfy his pas
sion. His soul is closed against all
spiritual influences. He seldom at
tends church-he cares for no mans
soul.
He walks in a way that leads to
the defaulter's shame and suicides
grave.
What is the effect Of gambling on
4 community? The influence Of such
a man can not but be evil Gambling
lowers the moral and social standards
of community. 1t creates an at
mosphere in which spiritual life can
not exist 1t weakens the CONNER
c!al standing of any community.
II. Is Gambling Carried on to Any
Extent in Sumter?
1t is currently reported here and
IN other parts Of the State that there
: is n sreat deal Of gambiing>going on
in Sumter
That this gambling is not confined
to the usual crap game" of negroes
but reaches much higher in the So
cial scales
Tha, there are certain gambling
places in Sumter and in the county
easily accessible.
That the holy Sabbath day is con
a.anty broken by these gambling
meets
Are these reports true or are
we slandered as a people? Do they
deserve our investigation or are they
idle tales? Is it the fancy of alarm
ists-is it the far-cry Of over-zealous
preachers?
III Il there Duty We Owe as
CHRISTIAN Men Touching This EVIL?
IF this moral evil does exist in
, Sumter, then it is my honest convic-
don that the Christian manhood and
womanhood has a duty, God given, 10
perform.
one man may say: 1T is none Of
my business" OF course if you deny
that in any sensc You are your broth
er's keeper; if you are determined to
90 with the Priest and Levite and
pass unheeding your neighbor's need
! have no word for you.
But I believe the Christian man
hood will say heartily: 1t is our duty
to do all in our power to stay this
evil For the sake of our young
men-your boy and your boy. When
your boy, trained by experts, is seiz-
ed with the gamblers fever it will be
too late to wiring your hands and
shed tears. When men have turned
him into their dens il will be too late.
- far as he is concerned, to set fire
20 that den. We have a duty for the
sake of the moral and spiritual life of
our homes and city.
". What Can I Do?
Cast the weight of your influence to
create a needed sentiment against
this evil and the violation Of law.
Our officers are unable to enforce
the law against gambling when the
= citizenship does not back them in
heir performance Of duty. In At
lanta q few weeks ago. a man, prom
inent in social life. was arrested for
disorderly conduct. To the officer
making the arrest he said, this will
cost YOU your job The Christian
mon OF Sumter can say by word and
act TO every officer. the performance
Of duty in enforcing our laws shall
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