Card-playing by Maxwell P. Gaddis

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 14, 1883

Card-playing.

By Maxwell P. Gaddis

That accomplished writer, the late Dr. Hollond, of Springfield, Massachusetts, said: "I have all my days had a card-playing community open to my observation, and I am yet to be made to believe that that which is the universal resort of the starved in soul and intellect, which has never in any way linked to itself tender, elevating, or beautiful associations—the tendency of which is to unduly absorb the attention from more weighty matters—can recommend itself to the favor of Christ's disciples. The presence of culture and genius may embellish, but it can never dignify it."

"I have this moment," said Dr. Holland, "ringing in my ears the dying injunction of my father's early friend, ‘Keep your son from cards. Over them I have murdered time and lost Heaven.’"

Fathers and mothers, keep your sons from cards in the home circle. What must a good angel think of a mother at the prayer-meeting asking prayers for the conversion of her son whom she allowed to remain at home playing cards for "pastime."—Maxwell P. Gaddis.