The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-05-25
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Gambling.

Gambling.
see no harm in it says one. Let US
admit that in progressive euchre, it is
not the desire to get money but pleasure,
yet to give zest, there is added the
very thing that makes it crime against
civil law. as well as the divine, it is
then an evil in its self and the source of
evil. 1t makes every participant a law
breaker, who throws himself liable to
arrest. The person who practices this
defies the law Of the state and of his
church and were he to treat his banker
as he does the church his financial
reputation would be gone in a jiffy. No
harm in that which defeS law HI man
and divine! No harm in an institution
that tends to and does turn youthful
minds away from honest labor and
healthful employment! No harm in
that which cultivates a passion for
gambling which is as remorseless as the
vilest passion of the soul. Which
tempts its devotee to neglect family,
and TO follow which, the young man will
rob merchants and employees.
A steamer was going up the Cumber-
land river Thegamblers had everything
their own way. Among them was a
young man who was fast losing his
money, as the excitement Of the game
increased he drank more and more.
When he found that his money was
gone he walked the deck with wild
gesticulations. He reeled and fell into
the water. He was fshed out and
barely saved That night he was
dellrious. He thought he was at home
with his mother. He thought it was
his mother who raised him up and was
giving him water. "Thank you, mother,
you have always been so kind to me.
! Will you forgive me just this once? If
you will | will never drink or gamble
any more" No harm then would you
teach your children to play? You would
be afraid to do that, for the better In
stincts Of our nature revolt agains. it.
You would shrink from being the one to
place your child in danger.
They would very readily fall into the
practice, but they will not be so mod
crate in their practice as older ones.
This fashionable game fourishes only
because it is regarded as an innocent
past time. Its seductiveness makes it
dangerous.
But | am conscientious in doing it.
Is conscience educated in the principles
of Gods word? Conscientious! then
why so anxious to conceal it? If it is a
laudable thing why try to keep it otit of
the papers, or why ashamed to know
that you won the first prize or the
body? Why slip into parlor and care
fully shut out the gaze of the world,
just like they do in den; or why not
ask the minister to come in and Join
you? Should he chance to drop in, why
would you hustle the spots into the dark
and look SO innocent or scared. Or
why publish the euchre party under
another name, designed to mislead, con-
ceal and deceive. Because it is living
institution that loves darkness, yet pro-
Tossing Christians are partakers of the
unfruitful works of darkness.
Society favors and defends what
gratities the palate, the sense of beauty
and the love of admiration The world
and flesh run not in society. Ex-
travagance and immodesty in dress, hy-
pocrisY in conversation, affectation In
department, rivalyies. petty jealousies
and dishonesties.
The poor are rejected, the rich are
courted, and simplicity is ridiculed, yet
society dictates to Christian people
what they shall do or allow to be done.
Shall it sheer at modesty, good taste,
true culture and Christian conscientious
ness. have weight with the followers of
the man of Nazareth?
True man is social being, but he is
also a rational being. Unless the
qualification of this element tends to in
telligence, grace and character, solitude
were better.
In this way test society Does the
card table, with its prizes, promote
higher elements of character? Monk
eys may play tricks on each other and
grin over their success at a comrades
expense. Pet dogs may perform their
antics, parrots may repeat their words,
peacocks may strut, but do these con-
stitute society for rational beings; and
shall their human representatives, with
or without the refnements of the times
dictate the condition of social recogni-
ton to scholars. to women of purity and
refinement; to dignified matrons, to be-
levers in the majesty of the soul, the
love of God; to saints who seek Gods
image and desire the fellowship of