Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1894-07-13 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

CRUSADE AGAINST GAMBLING. THE Nelson Moral and Social Vigilance Council has now strengthened itself by extending its borders, and through its energising instrumentality, on Sunday next, we hope, a great, grand blow will be struck in Nelson at the betting and gambling spirit which is so active in our midst. That gambling in one form or another exists in  the borough no one can dotty. I some people would hesitate in thit.',..—and we amongst the number—that in sphe of everything that is constantly being done to check it, the pernicious habit is still increasing. We have strong- faith in the far-reaching power of goodness, and we believe that the laudable and earnest efforts of the Moral and Vigilance Council have not been put forth in vain. Much has been done to quicken tin ' public conscience and arrest public thought on the subject, and this must at least have held the villainous evil within the confines of its old boundaries so far as Nelson is concerned. .  We are rejoiced, especially, to notice the present attitude of the general public with regard to gambling. Public morals are outraged by it, the Christian conscience is shocked, and every honest minded lover of his kind is sickened by the sight of its successful votaries or its shrinking, unhappy victims. Wherever a spark of decency survives amongst those who practice the nefarious habit, it drives them into the hell-holes and corners of our large towns and cities, and thither must police and parson follow them. This is undoubtedly a healthy state of feeling, and much of it has been brought about by lay-agency. The National Anti-Gambling League, which is barely five years old, has done splendid service in making gamblers thoroughly ashamed of themselves, notwithstanding its youth, and we believe it is destined, ere long, if adequately supported with money, to do still more good by means of more complete organisation. Though the Nelson Moral and Social Vigilance Council is composed of representatives of all sects and no sects at all, of good men of every kind, it was sneered at not long since by the scornful, and its members were taunted with being busybodies. But they have made their influence felt for good. And on Sunday that influence will be exerted again. . . .  From more than twenty pulpits in Nelson and district alone will protests be raised against this national bane. We expect increased good from such a united and influential effort. True, we are aware that the bulk of the congregations to be addressed will consist of those who neither have had in the past. nor will have in the future, part nor lot in the iniquitous institution which is being attacked. But for all that the pulpit must speak out, and that in thunderous tones, if the object aimed at is to be attained. The walls of the stronghold may not fall down, be the trumpet blast ever 30 powerfully and prayerfully blown, but we are nevertheless morally certain that much good will be achieved. The influence of so much incisive logic, inspiring eloquence, and convincing earnestness of appeal as wiil be directed to one object and to one end, to say nothing of the endless variety of thought and treatment which that object and end will receive, will have far reaching consequences, the utility and limits of which cannot be even imagined. We hope the preachers will speak out plainly, and boldly grapple with the gambling monstre as though they would strangle it. It is hydra-headed and brazen faced it is true, but another HERCULES in the shape of an angry, general sense of public disgust may cause it to flee. Our ministers have a great and momentous duty to perform on Sunday next, and we hope they will neither flinch nor shrink from doing it, thus unmasking and condemning the hideous business wherever they may meet with it. It the churches and chapels of Nelson be crowded next Sunday, and let the parents, above all, see to it that their children and young people attend the anti-gambling services as well as themselves.  The evil exists in the aristocratic and leisured classes as well as amongst the working poor, but that is all the more reason why the viciousness of the practice should be impartially exposed and condemned. It would be short-sighted indeed to shield the poor because the wealthy indulge in gambling on a more extensive scale. Compel both sides to look at the heinousness of the wretched business, and make them by all means to feel their own responsibility. Both classes are culpable, if not equally so, still they are culpable to some extent, and everybody,—man, woman and child, rich and poor, should be inade to understand that ' betting or gambling of any and every kind is not only an offence against the divine code, but a criminal act against society and self which is certain, sooner or later, to bring about its own punishment. The murders, suicides, robberies, disgraced families, heavily mortgaged estates, ruined homes and blighted prospects that one now and then hears of are only occasional evidences of that unseen sea of sorrow and suffering in which nearly all who engage in gambling are at one time or another suddenly immersed. That the sad truth will be laid bare in all its terrible ugliness next Sunday we doubt not, and it is in the hope that people will flock to hear it that we draw their attention to the names of the ministers, with the times and places at which they will speak, as given in our advertising columns elsewhere.