The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-24
GAMBLING is WRONG.
: mon Preached Sunday, February
rs. by Rev. j. II. Marion.

sunday morning dealt with a ouestion
Of so general importance and in
Which so many people are directly in
terested that 1t was the belief of y
number who heard it that it should
! De published for the benefit of a larger
audience than was present when II
was delivered. At their request Rev.
Mr. Marion furnished the manuscript
OF the sermon and we willingly COM
ply with their request to print it.
FOR even when we were with YOU.
thls We commanded you, if any would
not work, neither should he eat,
2 Thes $40.
Al meeting of the pastors of the
various churches Of the city. on last
Monday morning week ago. a reso-
luton was unanimously adopted sug-
gesting that each pastor preach on
the subject of gambling as it touches
local conditions.
In following this suggestion If is
not my purpose to deal in insinu-
atoms, using my profession and this
pulpit to hide behind, for that
deem would be the height Of coward
ice.
III is not my purpose 10 make spe-
ci1c charges, realizing that then the
proof must be in my possession and
forthco1'ing on demand. and from
NY own knowledge ! could not testi-
~.
Ny purpose is simply to raise in
Your minds certain questions ana
/ points. if I may, to certain duties we
/ owe as Christians.
| Thn words Of the text are chosen
rot because they refer specifically to
gambling; but I hope to show that
gambling is one form in which this
divine injunction is violated.
!. Is Gambling Wrong.
Gambling has been defined as "the
stalking of property upon chance in
the hope Of winning"
The essence of its wrong is that
there is no "quid pro quo"
Mr.. Herbert Spencer says it is
Pleasure obtained at the cost Of
pain TO another The happiness of
the winner involves the misery Of the
loser"
Gambling is seen to be wrong from
the following facts:
]. some surface facts
The universal enlightened conscience
Of man has always put its condemna-
tion upon gambling and branded the
gambler as an injurious person in hu-
man society Gambling has been out
lawed by the nation that has advanc-
ed farthest in civilization.
It is against the laws Of Sumter. of
South Carolina and of almost every
state in this Union, to gamble. The
gambler must ply his trade behind
locked doors and under the cover Of
secrecy.
It's evil power has been confessed
by the gambler himself. One illus
tration. given by another, must suf-
flee. 81 would a thousand times rath-
er see him (said n gambler Of
his only child, a SOM in his coffin and
follow him to his grave. then see him
live the life that I daily live before
him"
?. Obtaining goods wrongfully.
SO pure and discriminating a min I
as Dr. B. M. Palmer declared that
gambling is simply robbery.
7 shall go no further than this.
that gambling is obtaining goods
wrongly. There are only two ways
| in which a man can rightfully come
into possession of property. /. BY
gift. ,. Ply purchase. Clearly the
goods obtained by the gambler in the
game Of chance is not q gift. There
IS no desire upon the part of the loser
| to bcStOW, at the cost of self sacrifice.
a gift upon the winner. Certainly it
is not a purchase for he has some
thing for nothing. There is no fair
exchange.
But it j. argued. those who stake
their property have of their own ac-
cord agreed to the chance. Surely
no Intelligent man will hold it to be
4 principle Of sound ethics that any
agreement can make wrong right.
ON such n principle, rs many writ
ors have shown. a suicide pact or the
duclliSt agreement would be right
Again. it is argued that mans
/ goods are his own ana he may do as
Ne pleaecs with thom. 7 deny it, for
F-f. 4