The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-01
M|N|STERDENOUNCES.
IAEATtR AND CARDS
MORALS OF STAGE. FOLK NOTO-
REV. c. A. JENKINS.
VERY FEW GOOD PLAYS
SAYS MORAL STAGE CAN'T HI; SUP
PORTED, CALLS HOMES WHERE
CARDS ARE PLAYED FOH
PRIZES. GAMBLING HOUSES.


Every popular play Is most i'm
moral declared Rev. Carter Ashton
.enkens, in Calvary Baptist Church
last night, when he preached the sec
ond of his series Il sermons on why
Young People 60 Wrong."
His subject last night was The
Theaters In Richmond Today; Pro-
gressive Euchre and Bridge Whist"
and during its course ne strongly de-
nounced theaters, modern plays and
motors. card clubs and card playing
In the homes. Speaking of the the-
alter, Mr.. Jenkens said.
"Of course some good plays may
come to Richmond. Occasionally q
play may teach moral. But every
popular play Is most immoral. There
may he q few good actors. but the
morals of actors and actresses are
notoriously loose.
Picture Not Black Enough.
Mary Anderson left the stage and
declared that, on moral grounds, her
children can never attend the the
alter 1t Is stated that McCready re-
fused his children the privilege OF
attending the theater, Edwin Forest
'aftcr hearing DIR. Brantley In An
gusts. Ga, preach sermon de-
nouncing the theater for immortality
fingered long enough after the ser
vices to grasp the preachers hand ana
say to him. Sir. what you have said
tonight is true; only you did not paint
the picture as dark as II lie
Edwin Booth would not allow his
children to 60 to the theater unless
he knew the character of the play to
that he considered the theater as bad
though some plays might be good. Ha
determined. however, 70 establish q
moral theate- before whose foot
lights there should not be display
OF woman's shame in spectacular OBJ
scenity, The result was that Booths
Theater failed and paid FIVE cents on
the dollar 1t is now u warehouse
In New York. Henry Irving attempt
ed to place the British Lyceum on d
moral basis, but the management had
to change Its quality to maintain IT
from bankruptcy.
a moran stage can't be supported
And the strange thing TO me is why
you women will flock TO these pest
houses to applaud an actor as he de-
grades womanhood or smile upon n
nude actress who has lost all the In
stincts Of virtue. II 10 said there
is not a moral theater in the world.
1t is connected with bad institutions
Turning his attention to card play
ing Mr.. Jenkins told the story of
the Boston mother VINO reprimanded
her son for gambling only 10 be sur
prised and shan BY him when he
compelled her 10 admit that she won
a parlor vase at progressive euchre
and told her abe had no right to ask
atm TO quit gambling when she in
duiged IN the same thing.
Mr. Jenkers quoted Anthony Com
stock that many blsck-ieg gamblers
of New York were taught the game
by their mothers and their sisters in
their own homes"
You nil know he said. that pro-
sressive euchre Is gambling game
AID has been go declared by several
State courts Judge John II Martin.
OF Georgia. stirred the folk OF tina;
State on social gambling in charge
TO grand jury of Pulaski county
when he said;
Is Violation of law.
"1 charge you trat society people,
be they male or femaie. who form
socia, clubs and meet from time to
time at the homes Of the members
and PLAY whist. progressive euchre.
finch. trail hunco or any other. game
with cards or like devices for vaiua HE
prizes purchased with the funds TO
are ar much guilty OF violating the
law against gambling as the veriest
plehiaus. who hover around hight
wood knot fire and play ~even-up or
poker for paitry pennies and .He par
son knowingly permitting such play
ing at his or her house is guilty Of
the offense of keeping and nG;ntain-
ing a gambling house. as Is the pro-
p-ietor of the den I'm some back aliev
Who're gart!ing Is practlced. 1t ia
no less criminal to play for silver
card case than for plain silver dol
lar rs " comes from the mint"
Mr.. Jankens declared peoDle felt it
wrong to play such games for prizes
and pointed out how many of them
become greatly excited and hide ;ele
mack OF cards when a minister comes
TO nay them a call.
The sermon topic for third OF the
sermons. next sunday night. is "Ciga-
rettes and Dope"
~~y fAf~ly ~ e@~rAI