“THE CURSE OF THE CARD TABLE.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18319, 9 August 1921, Page 3

“THE CURSE OF THE CARD TABLE.”

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, August 8,

“The Curse of the Card Table” was the title of an address given by the Rev. Joseph Kemp at the Baptist Tabernacle on Saturday evening before a congregation of about 800 people. The preacher said ho would ask concerning the institution of the card table: Was it holy or was it profane? Was it clean or was it unclean? The answer to these questions was not to be made upon partial grounds, but upon an honest study of its effects, immediate and remote. The card table had come to be regarded as almost essential to polite and cultured society. “ Admission into society ” was a term almost synonomous with gaining entrance into some card club, whose favour was deemed the supreme attraction ot social life. Speaking of the institution of the card table as a vice, the preacher said it was charged that dishonesty, tendencies to take unjust advantages, and cheating, were inseparable from it. Perhaps many who played did so with the sincerest integrity of intentions. Those, however, who had no refined scruples against taking petty advantages found many ways of promoting their interests in the game! The sly wink, the suggestive nod, the negation of the head, the accidental disclosure of the card, and so on. That cheating was an accompaniment of many or most of the games of cards in which a prize was the consideration was freely conceded by practically anyone who played the game. The card table led to neglect of duties, personal and general, private and public, and thus became a moral injury. It produced jealousy, contentions, and envy, and led to alienations, bickerings, and strife. While some of these results would not be affirmed against card playing itself, yet they might all be affirmed to the card iable as an institution. Card playing was not. allowed in the United States navy, and the proprietors of some of the lumber camps in the United States n'so prohibited it. Mr Kemp concluded with an appeal to the young people of his congregation, if they valued their souls and their profession of following Christ, to leave the card table alone.