DO I BELIEVE IN CARD-PLAYING? IF NOT, WHY NOT?
By Elder Wm. P. Pearce.
What Harm is There in Card-Playing?
“1. The harm of handling the tools of the gambler. “2. Of learning the methods of using these tools. “3. Of coming under the influence of the tendency toward the tricks and trickery that so commonly go with the use of these tools. “4. Of entering even the outer circle of the kind of people who use such tools, and of coming under their influence, or of being drawn into the circles that are nearer and nearer the terrible vortex of ruin. “5. Of becoming familiar with, and a party to, the lowering of the principle of the lot commonly called ‘chance,’ but really predestination (or providence), to the use of mere recreation. “6. Of wasting precious time in prolonged play. “7. Of disregarding the command to do whatever one does to the glory of God, in the name of the Lord Jesus. “8. Lastly, even though it might do you no harm, there would be the harm it would do to others in any of these ways; and your daily petition, ‘Lead us not into temptation,’ makes it incumbent upon you not to lead any one into temptation nor to lead temptation to any one.” DO I BELIEVE IN CARD-PLAYING? IF NOT, WHY NOT?
“It is very wonderful to see persons of the best sense passing away a dozen hours together in shuffling and dividing a pack of cards, with no other conversation but what is made up of a few game phrases, and no other ideas but those of black or red spots ranged together in different figures. Would not a man laugh to hear any one of his species complaining that life is short?”—Addison. I do not believe in card-playing, because it is— AN INVENTION FOR THE VILE PERSON AND THE FOOL.
The Encyclopedia Britannica says: “In the Chinese dictionary it is said that cards were invented in the reign of Seun-ho, 1120 A. D., for the amusement of his numerous concubines.” (A concubine is a woman who lives with a man without being lawfully married to him.) In Italy, says the American Encyclopedia, cards originally bore the name of Naibi, and they are still, in Spain and Portugal, called Naipes, signifying in the Eastern languages, “divination.” It is also stated that cards were introduced into Europe by a physician, to amuse a king of France whose intellect was shattered. Certainly a very fitting origin for so silly a method of killing time, and for the building up of resorts for the empty-headed, the vicious, and the idle. Remember, “Better is a . . . wise child than an old and foolish king” (Eccl. 4:13); and “forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.” Prov. 9:6. I do not believe in card-playing because the— “GOOD INTENTION” IS A FOOLISH EXAGGERATION.
“It is only an innocent diversion,” it is claimed. Not a day passes but in the parlor, or on the train, or aboard the steamer, in palace and hovel, in clubroom and gambling den, multitudes indulge in it. But instead of being an innocent game, it is as subtle as the serpent. But let us inquire, What does it do for physical development? Is there any gymnastic exercise connected with it? What does it do for intellectual enlightenment? If there is any training at all, is it not to get the better of some one else? What does it do for the improvement of the morals? What person has it made purer, nobler, better? What does it do for one’s spiritual culture? Whose faith does it strengthen, hope brighten, piety increase, or religious devotion benefit? Ah, the verdict of the good and loyal subjects of Jesus is that it is a snare, a decoy, a gilded temptation, of which we should pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from [THIS] evil.” Matt. 6:13. For— “This is the curse of every evil deed,
That, propagating still, it brings forth evil.” I do not believe in card-playing, because— ITS CONTINUATION IS A CRIMINAL EXTENSION.
The effects of card-playing are always detrimental, rather than beneficial. Effect One.—“Foolish conversation.” The philosopher Locke, having been introduced by Lord Shaftesbury to the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Halifax, these three noblemen, instead of conversing with this learned man, sat down to cards. Mr. Locke, after looking on for some time, pulled out his pocketbook, and began to write with great attention. One of the company observing this, took the liberty to ask what he was writing. “My lord,” said Locke, “I am endeavoring, as far as possible, to profit by my present situation; for, having waited with impatience for the honor of being in the company of the greatest men of the age, I thought I could do no better than write down your conversation; and indeed, I have set down the substance of what you have said this last hour or two.” Their foolish talking and playing was at once discontinued, and they entered into a more rational employment. Bear this in mind, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment.” Matt. 12:36. But “let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” Phil. 1:27. Effect Two.—“Foolish waste of time.” Proper recreation is improvement of time, but when recreation is converted into dissipation, as it is in card-playing, then silver minutes and golden hours are simply stolen, and he— “Who murders time, crushes in the birth
A power ethereal.” Milton said, “The misspents of every minute are a new record against us in heaven;” and others greater than Milton testify, “Time is short” (1 Cor. 7:29); “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16); for “the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3) when the coming Christ will sweep away the destroyers of time, which— “is suicide,
Where more than blood is spilt;” and the angel of God, with the right foot upon the sea, and the left foot upon the earth, shall cry, “Time no longer.” Rev. 10:6. Effect Three.—“Foolish waste of money.” There is not a more fascinating game that promotes a gambling spirit than card-playing, whether it be a “booby” prize or a money consideration. Gambling is the passion to get something for nothing, and is akin to the desire to acquire property by theft rather than by labor. True, all card-players are not gamblers, but all are in the same category, as Heath places them:— “Some play for gain, to pass time; others play
For nothing; both play the fool, I say.
Nor time, nor coin, I’ll lose, or idly spend;
Who gets by play, proves loser in the end.” Of many card-players the words of James are applicable, “Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton.” To those who indulge in the card-playing principles of theft, God has said, “Thou shalt not steal” (Ex. 20:15), for “the love of money is the root of all evil.” 1 Tim. 6:10. All lovers of the card and card circles, hear ye God’s sentence: “I have no pleasure in you.” Mal. 1:10. I do not believe in card-playing, for— DESTRUCTION IS ITS LEGITIMATE LIMITATION.
Every pleasure wields an influence that either cleanses or corrupts. Card-playing has broken many filial bonds, destroyed the happiness of many homes, assassinated purity, opened the prison door to the defaulter, erected the gallows, and cursed not a few churches. “It has made many noble lives base, upright people dishonest, rich people poor, and poor people more impoverished. It is a game that seems as innocent as swinging a mallet on a croquet lawn, but is as dangerous as a revolver in the hands of a child, and as such it has a dark indictment against it in the court of heaven.” Believe in Card-playing?—Never, so long as the ungodly love it. It is a fascination that grows with the age, forming habits hard to break off. It is a picket line of a great and evil army, and as such those who indulge in it “are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. . . . The ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment. . . . The way of the ungodly shall perish.” Ps. 1:4–6. Believe in Card-playing?—Never! It has impeded the wheels of the gospel chariot. It has caused devout hearts to sigh, angels to grieve, while devils have laughed. I knew her well. Her girlhood was one of the happiest, her home one of the brightest, and her education one of the highest. She was wooed and won by a young man who held a government position. For a season everything went well. The piano sent forth its musical strains; a little babe added to the joy of the household. One night the husband was late in coming home. “Overwork,” he said. The incident became frequent, and soon he was absent all night, then he was gone for good! What was the sequel? He was a card-player. He had turned gambler. He staked and won. He staked again, and again won. Again, and again he lost. The fever took hold of him. He became reckless. Fifties, hundreds, and thousands were gone. Bankruptcy faced him. His pure wife and his lovely mother rose up before him. He heard the steps of government officials after him, and, guilty, he fled the State. Years passed. The babe died, the wife’s health failed, hope faded,—when one morning a letter came from Washington, D. C., informing her that if her husband returned to her, he should not be prosecuted, for she had suffered enough. “But where is he?” she cried. “I am broken-hearted, broken in health, broken financially;” and falling upon her knees, she prayed: “O God, help me, help me!” As soon as she was composed, the writer said, “Mrs. G., shall I tell this to the youth?” “Yes, tell it,” she said. “Tell them they cannot touch pitch and not be defiled; they cannot play cards without putting themselves in jeopardy, and if they are wise, they will never, never touch them.”