Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Editorial
December 5, 1751
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial condemns gaming as a pernicious vice that erodes self-control and leads to greater sins, citing Spartan Chilon's refusal to ally with gamblers and Muhammad's prohibition in the Quran, urging Christians to follow pagan and Muslim examples in shunning it.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Moral Entertainment.
It is somewhere recorded, that Chilon, the Lacedemonian, being sent to Corinth, with a Commission to conclude a Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, when he saw the Captains and Senators of that City playing at Dice, returned home without doing any Thing, saying, That he would not so much sully the Glory of the Spartans, as that it should be said they had made a League with Gamesters.
Hence it should seem this honest Heathen took every Man addicted to Gaming for a Fool or a Knave, and therefore resolved to have no Dealings with such, as neither Character could be depended on.
The Perniciousness of Gaming was so well understood by the Grand Impostor, Mahomet, that he thought it necessary to prohibit it expressly in the Alcoran; not as a Thing in itself naturally evil, but only morally so, as it is a Step to the greatest Vices; for whilst we captivate ourselves to Chance, we lose the Authority over our Passions; being excited to immoderate Desire, excessive Hope, Joy and Grief; we stand or fall at the uncertain Cast of the Dice, or the turning up of a Card; we are Slaves to the feeblest Wishes, which, if they succeed not, we grow furious, profligate and impious; banishing all Prudence, Temperance and Justice, we become impudent, and fit for the blackest Crimes. If Christians have not Humility enough to conform to the Rule of Life laid down in Holy Writ, let them at least have Pride enough to be shamed out of this detestable Vice by the Example of Pagans and Mahometans.
It is somewhere recorded, that Chilon, the Lacedemonian, being sent to Corinth, with a Commission to conclude a Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, when he saw the Captains and Senators of that City playing at Dice, returned home without doing any Thing, saying, That he would not so much sully the Glory of the Spartans, as that it should be said they had made a League with Gamesters.
Hence it should seem this honest Heathen took every Man addicted to Gaming for a Fool or a Knave, and therefore resolved to have no Dealings with such, as neither Character could be depended on.
The Perniciousness of Gaming was so well understood by the Grand Impostor, Mahomet, that he thought it necessary to prohibit it expressly in the Alcoran; not as a Thing in itself naturally evil, but only morally so, as it is a Step to the greatest Vices; for whilst we captivate ourselves to Chance, we lose the Authority over our Passions; being excited to immoderate Desire, excessive Hope, Joy and Grief; we stand or fall at the uncertain Cast of the Dice, or the turning up of a Card; we are Slaves to the feeblest Wishes, which, if they succeed not, we grow furious, profligate and impious; banishing all Prudence, Temperance and Justice, we become impudent, and fit for the blackest Crimes. If Christians have not Humility enough to conform to the Rule of Life laid down in Holy Writ, let them at least have Pride enough to be shamed out of this detestable Vice by the Example of Pagans and Mahometans.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Gaming Vice
Moral Exhortation
Historical Examples
Passion Control
Religious Prohibition
Self Control Loss
Vice Prohibition
What entities or persons were involved?
Chilon The Lacedemonian
Mahomet
Spartans
Corinth
Pagans
Mahometans
Christians
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Condemnation Of Gaming As A Moral Vice
Stance / Tone
Moral Exhortation Against Gaming
Key Figures
Chilon The Lacedemonian
Mahomet
Spartans
Corinth
Pagans
Mahometans
Christians
Key Arguments
Chilon Refused To Ally With Gamblers In Corinth, Viewing Them As Fools Or Knaves Unworthy Of Trust.
Gaming Addicts Are Unreliable In Character.
Mahomet Prohibited Gaming In The Alcoran As Morally Evil, Leading To Greatest Vices.
Gaming Captivates To Chance, Losing Authority Over Passions.
Excites Immoderate Desire, Excessive Hope, Joy, And Grief.
Makes One Slave To Uncertain Dice Or Cards, Leading To Fury, Profligacy, And Impiety If Wishes Fail.
Banishes Prudence, Temperance, And Justice, Fostering Impudence And Blackest Crimes.
Christians Should Be Shamed By Pagans And Mahometans To Abandon This Vice.