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Converted Gambler. 187

CHAPTER VII.

THE VARIOUS PHASES. OF GAMBLING—GOOD AND BAD QUAL-
ITIES OF THE GENUINE SPORTING MAN—PREVALENCE
OF THE VICE AMONG BUSINESS MEN—THE MISERY AND
RUIN IT CAUSES—A FEW WORDS TO THE SPORTING
FRATERNITY.

My fifteen years experience as a gambler
gave me, I think, a pretty thorough knowledge
of sporting men, and a clear insight into their
characters, habits, and modes of life. The
world at large really knows very littie about
the men who gain a livelihood by “‘ bucking the
tiger,” and a few words concerning them will
not, I fancy, prove either uninteresting or
superfluous.

Gambling is, I have somewhere said, a trade
which can only be mastered by careful study,
long practice, and keen observation. In this,
as in everything else, experience is the best,
if at the same time the dearest, teacher. The
young gambler finds no one to instruct him in
the mysteries of the calling which he has
chosen. He learns his lessons one by one, as I

learned mine, at the cost of many severe losses ;
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168 Mason Long: |

no calm to my troubled brain. It was still ip
a chaotic state, and the same words were ever
present: * You will come back to-morrow night
aad sign the pledge, won’t you?”

I went to my hotel, but scarcely tasted break-
fast. Then I wandered aimlessly about the
streets, and found the day I had so longed for
to be even more dismal than the dreary night
whose minutes had seemed hours. My condi-
tion was, in brief, one of mental torture, and I
felt as though, if relief did not soon come, I
should go crazy. That night I involuntarily
sought the Rink, arriving there almost as soon
as it was lighted up. I was among the first
arrivals, and upon meeting Mr. Rusk, I told
him I would sign the pledge at once if he would
assure me that the newspapers would say
nothing about it. The press had, for many
years, devoted a great deal of attention to me,
and I feared that, if the city journals should
publish me as a Murphy convert, [ would
become a butt for the ridicule of all the sports
and bummers in the city. I was among the
first that evening to step forward and sign the
pledge. As I affixed my name, the old building
fairly shook with the cheers of sixteen hundred
people. Ina moment I was surrounded by a

-~——,

Converted Gambler. 169

host of ladies and gentlemen who shook me
warmly by the hand, and congratulated _me
heartily upon the step I had taken. Many spoke
to me who had never before exchanged a word
with me, but who had always regarded me as
the concentrated essence of wickedness.

As soon as I had signed the pledge I felt
relieved. A_great weight seemed to be lifted
from my soul, and I left for my rooms after the
meeting in a much happier frame of mind than
on the preceding evening.

The only thing I dreaded was newspaper

' publicity. The journals of the city had devoted

many columns to me in connection with gam-
bling, horse-racing, and arrests for various mis-
demeanors, and I disliked to have my name
published in connection with any thing so good
and holy as the temperance cause. But I called
to mind Mr. Rusk’s assurance on this score,
and retired without any misgivings. The next
morning, upon arising, I picked up the Gazette

and discovered to my amazement a column

report of my surrender tothe Murphys. At

this I was greatly disgusted, and I at once

decided to go and get drunk. I left the room

with that intention, but I soon began to think

of the many good people who had taken me so
8

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Di a—-ee—eremreres

Converted Gambler. 181 ti
that the meetings would soon “fizzle out.” if :
But we did not allow them to “fizzle.” For te
four weeks we carried them on ourselves, i .e
Every man who took an interest in the cause | Hf :
came to the front, and we kept the enthusiasm ie ;
constantly up to the boiling point. Our army oe ty |
was constantly increasing, and it looked as if oe
we were to capture the entire city. | i |
At this stage of the movement, Messrs. Hal- in 68
i lenbeck and Cassady, who had been converted 4 a
q during the Moody-Sankey revival at Chicago, i?
mil came among us, and took charge of the meet- i
Re | ings, conducting them on the gospel temperance i
| plan. Up to this date the Murphy movement ie
EL. had been carried on asa purely moral effort; ie
pene —o——ngy DOW the religious element was with it, and the bi
Syd fe effect was good. The Churches, many of which he
oe il | 3 had held aloof, joined in with us. Hallenbeck and . ; i
j Te ‘ \ Cassady remained five weeks, and were the _ , Att ;
he ‘ \ i : means of accomplishing a vast amount of good. | i |
Bee | After their departure the meetings continued if,
| i: Be ; ! ' as usual, under the management of a board ‘fe
Rie | consisting of several of our best citizens. The ie
; AH tae Hon. Newton Burwell, a worthy Christian gen- in :
Sk nih At tlemen who has since entered the ministry, took i ;
Bee the leadership. Vf
. Be i Her Among the reformed men were afew who H

5 VES,

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SES OE BIS

Converted Gambler. 187

~~

| poor unfortunate creatures from the evil which
surrounds them. I _am endeavoring every day
il . to speak the word which shall reveal to some
wandering soul the light that I have found, and
rf so long as God gives _me life and strength, I
i | shall persevere in my chosen work.’ I date my

|

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pe py

I loved the game above everything else; I did
not think I could ever giveitup. Besides, m
moral faculties were so blunted, that I did_not
think it was wrong to gamble, provided it was
lone “on the square.” I thought a man could
be a professional gambler, and a réspectable
citizen at the same time, but I found out my
mistake—they are incompatible.

| eformation from the hour I signed the tem-
i perance pledge. Previous to that time, I was
greatly addicted to profanity, but since then

See ee

i an oath has never escaped my lips. I had My nightly attendance at the temperance

v always mingled with the dissipated, the de- meetings continued. I enjoyed them very
Rell praved, and the vicious; but_the Murphys much—in fact above everything else in the
cap _ brought _me_in contact with a r and a world ; I listened to the experiences of the re-
i f better class of people. I formed the acquaint- formed men—frequently related with a remark-
an \ ance of noble Christian men and women, who ay able simplicity and pathos; I repeatedly found
‘ were endeavoring to illustrate, by their daily myself in tears, as [_heard their sad stories of

yi lives and conversation, the precepts of their sin and suffering ; I often sat in the Rink and

As44 til blessed Master, and from them, I imbibed new reflected upon my past life until { was so
ean if conceptions of life, its duties and its realities. choked with emotion as not to be able to re-

Soar 1} When I ceased to drink, and to swear, I found spond when called upon to speak.

Bl it comparatively easy to discard my numerous This feeling was new to me and I could not

at eh other vices one by one. I enjoyed daily a comprehend it. There was a change taking place
i visible increase in my self respect. I began to in myself which it puzzled me greatly to under-
stand. For weeks I was in this condition. My

i feel as if I were a “man among men.” The

\ tt evil habits which had become a part of my only real enjoyment was during the temperance ,
il very being, soon left me, all but gambling. meetings. I could find no pleasure at the gam- i
ll That vice had an irresistible fascination for me ing-table, and, winner or loser, I always left it :
1 i | in disgust. The reader can realize the altera- t

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certainly an extraordinary one.

After my remarks, Dr. Stone was called upon
to pray for me. He said if there were others
who, like me, were seeking the way to Christ,
and desired to be remembered in the prayer,
they should stand up. All over the house

But then a sudden resolution was formed; I
took one last look at the gambling room, at the
faro table, where I had played so often—at the
sideboard from which I had repeatedly dealt out
whisky to my fellow men—and then quit the
place forever. It was then and there that I

Rit ti strong men rose to their feet, many in tears, made the com rren to Chri
AG and the seal of conviction upon their faces. Dr. every one must do, who desires to be saved.
if H Stone prayed for me and the other stricken I went to a hotel, took a room, and again
we souls with an unction and fervor which were sought my Maker. In less than an hour I felt
: ‘4 Hh wonderful. that the blessing had come which I had striven
‘g ere: ! The prayer was a marvel and every word of for so long. I went to bed and the pillow was
er it sank deep into my heart. It was a thrilling soon wet with tears which were streaming from
. i j and powerful appeal for mercy, and I shall re-

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eh " Converted Gambler. 197 am
tb I nae member it to my dying day. I believe God Le,
x! i ci mercy, and I feel that my dear sainted mother heard and answered it. ~ ‘ i
Bi i "1 is interceding in my behalf.” “JT returned to my room, fell on my knees and a fis
Bae When I sat down I was in tears, but I felt implored God to hear me in my distress. Then eb
ie i greatly relieved. Many were weeping in the I retired and laid awake, thinking of the same ; ey
Bit bi audience; for indeed the scene was an old subject until two o’clock, when I arose, bln
Both { H affecting one. I, who had been a professional turned on the gas, and looked about me. [ Hobe
Bae gambler, saloon keeper, and drunkard ; who stepped into the club room and looked at the :
ny ie . had for years violated not only divine but gambling tables, the sideboard, and all the ap- f i
ae * bid human laws; who had been regarded by all as purtenances, and then asked myself, ‘Why | by |
uy AT a reckless, degraded character; who had run should God forgive me while I remain in this are |

Ry cit the gauntlet of sin—stood up before fifteen place, where I have never done aught but sin ji , ; |
: ae ' i hundred Christian people, and asked their against Him.” Gambling was my favorite vice, , i
Peet prayers for my salvation. The spectacle was and I had never yet determined_to abandon it. BE:

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Og ne 216 Mason Long: ptt Ge ae ies Didar. 917
‘ Mey g earth to-day, He would be a Baptist; and { only after I had made a lete 5 -
Teeth although that is my conviction, I have the deep- of my worldly vices, and bade farewell to

oe

est love and sympathy with professing Christians

of all denominations, and am ready at all times

to extend the right hand of fellowship to every
human being, who may be striving, under any
name, to advance the cause of righteousness and
bring men to a saving knowledge of the gospel
of Christ Jesus.

I communicated to Dr. Stone my desire to
unite with his church (the First Baptist), at

tt a

the gambling table forever ; how I had drawn
the bolt of the door of my soul, where the Mas-
ter had been rapping for admission so many
years but in vain ; how with the change of heart
had come the feeling of peace and rest to which
I had ever been a stranger, and how I had new
and warm impulses of kindness and compassion

for my fellow men to whose salyation I had
vowed to devote the remainder of my life.

% ie which he seemed highly gratified, although he : After these remarks, I was requested to
eh aT said he desired me to act solely upon my own retire, and in a few moments my pastor joined
oth 5 free will and my conviction of right and duty, me and told me I had been unanimously chosen
sang and not through any partiality toward him or to membership.
ty by reason of any undue influence he might Nine or ten days elapsed before my immer-
a it \ 4 possess over me. I satisfied him that my desire sion. Several unauthorized announcements of
esl ; was the result of study and reflection, and on the ceremony appeared in the daily papers,
SAY a Friday evening, January 4, 1878, I offered | which had the effect of filling the church on
: Pa at ii myself as a candidate for Christian baptism and ; each occasion. It was hardly necessary to say
us vid membership in the First Baptist Church of | that the publications were not made for this
en i Fort Wayne at their regular covenant meeting. purpose, as falsely claimed by some. The
% ay At! T related my Christian experience, told how eventful evening finally came, and the cere-
ie I had been led, as I firmly believed, by the mony was performed in the presence of a vast
4 : f Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ assemblage. I append extracts from the ac-
a as my Savior; how the change of heart for counts printed in two of the daily papers of

which I had prayed came to me in the night,

Fort Wayne.
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Converted Gambler. 245

CHAPTER XIII.*
SPEECH DELIVERED BY MASON LONG IN THE OPERA HOUSE
AT LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, MAY 12, 1878.

“ For we can not but speak that which we have scen and
heard.”—Acts, chapter iv, verse 20.

The wonderful efficacy of the gospel temper-
ance work done in Fort Wayne, Ind., during
the last two years is admirably illustrated in
the case of Mason Long.

This energetic man is well known through-
out the length and breadth of the Wabash
Valley as having been, a few years ago, one of
the most noted gamblers in that region of
country.

His life has been a varied one, highly colored
with romance. It would be difficult to find
any where a man in whom the element of self-
hood is more visible, Left in early boyhood
without a relative or a friend in the world to
care for him, he was compelled to hew out his
own road as best he could. From the farm to:

*This chapter is taken from the “ Ribbon Workers,” edited

ae James M. Hiatt, Esq., and eublished by J. pibbon Workes Goodspeed,
Chicago.

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| , ‘ the store ; from the store to the army ; from Let the remainder be humiliating as it_may, I i
“be uit L the army back to merchandise; thence to the > will repeat it, thinking T may arrest_some_ 9 -
4 a whisky saloon and the gembling hell, and from 1a mada nward career. en I think i)
rin f there to the glorious field of moral reform, in of my past life, it don’t seem to me that it is ‘a
a f 4 A which he has proven himself one of the most. | altogether my fault. I never had the oppor- ee |
pe a successful workers—all the way along this ‘tunity of becoming a good man, as many of you (at
8 i 4 a phangeful line there is manifest a Divine have had. At the age of six, my father died, | 3
cit i ait! guardianship at every step and in every move- . and at the age of ten I was called to the bed- af}
“te oi ment. side of my dying mother. There, with my \
" Md j ' Mr. Long is prominent in the Blue Ribbon right hand placed upon her cold forehead, I a
“i 2, i he if Association in Fort Wayne, Indiana—an organ- promised her that I would be a good man, and bi
aH ie ization which comprises a membership of over. that I would meet her in Heaven. Oh, how if J
ME Wad at | _7 ten thousand at present. ee many years have passed that I have neglected va
ne i Ipsec. The following speech, delivered by him in that promise! How many years have passed Mi f
vt i Y 4 the Opera House at Lafayette, before an im- since I saw that cold, pale face, and heard those Ve i
if ss ‘: mense audience, on the evening of May 12, quivering lips uttering that prayer—the prayer ‘a
Pe fi nb 1878, is here presented as his own account of with which she breathed out her precious life dl
eet a is Career: —the last words of which were: ‘God have of |
aut, lt ee “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I come not as mercy on my boy!” ul -E
en | “es a speech-maker—only as one who has a sad “Then I was alone with my sacred dead, ed.
i i iM story to tell of a once wrecked, but now re- - and with nothing but a wide and wicked world Hi
oD fh i deemed life. I do not tell this that Iam proud like this before-me, without even a sister's H
4 . ih of it. I want to show you where I stood a love. After my mother’s death I became a a
S08 ee few short months ago; what I am doing to- farmer’s boy, in which capacity seven years of fi
it Ak night, and my hopes for the future. eal my life were spent, as a white slave. i"
es Pn i “A portion of this experience I love to ‘‘T had no schooling, and no friends. After pe |
wih 4 repeat. <A portion of it ig very dear to me. leaving a farm I became a soldier ; then a f

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a74 - Mason Long:

according to that he hath done,’ etc. I could
read no further. My whole case lay in that
verse. I wondered what good I ever had done.
I tried to strike a balance sheet, and I found
that all the good I had ever done wouldn’t
balance one day’s sin. I wondered in what
condition I should appear before the judgment
seat of Christ. I then took spiritual counsel
of Dr. Stone, Dr. Moffitt, and others. I told
them I was guilty, and that I knew of nothing
better than to lay my case before the Great
Judge, and trust to His decision. My coun-
selors indorsed my views and told me go ahead.
“I presented my case to God, and in the
silent hours of the night, awaited alone in my
room the result. My sctl was miserable in the
contemplation of the wickedness of the past.
I had nov slept for several nights. I went
down on my knees and asked God to give me
just one hour’s sleep. But no rest came to my
weary eyes. I rose and turned on my gas,
whose light revealed to me the sight of my

gambling tables and my splendid side-board, the |

latter still supplied with the finest liquors.
Instantly I asked myself,‘ Why should God
bless me in such a place as this?’ Remember, ,

of all my habits, gambling was the dearest. — Ay

CA I i Ne tk eset

| gs

- Converted Gambler. 275

loved to gamble, as I loved to eat when very
hungry. So much was I enamored of it that I

had not thought of giving it up as I had given

up the use and sale of whisky. My demijohns
and bottles were corked and stowed away in
my side-board, but my gambling tables were
still in use. I thought I could be a temperance
man and a gambler at the same time. Yes,
strange as it may seem to many, I even thought
I could be a Christian and a gambler. My
passion for games of chance wholly blinded me
to their evils. But when I rose from my knees
that night, a new light lit up the one still dark-
ened chamber of my conscience, and I saw my
great mistake. Right then and there I made a
full surrender. I walked to the door and bade
my gambling room an eternal adieu. I went to
a hotel and retired to bed, bedewing my pillow
with hot, scalding tears. Completely exhausted,
I soon fell asleep. When I awoke the next
morning my heart was as light asa feather, and
as full of joy as it could be. God, O, hallowed
be His name! had changed it in the stilly hours
of slumber. I arose and hurried down street
to tell the good news. My heart was clean;

my soul was happy, and I wanted to tell it
to the world. I am here to-night to tell it to

—
ao

we

BRE HAC

I nave no apology to offer for writing this little
book. I have not the assurance to claim for it any
especial literary merit, or any permanent value.
But my life, though short, has been a rather event-
ful one, and I have told it truthfully in the hope
that my readers — and especially the young — will
take warning from my follies and crimes, and
realize from my experience that ‘“‘ The way of the
Transgressorishard.” As I look back with sorrow
and remorse upon the worse than wasted years of
my manhood, I pray that others may be spared my
suffering. If in my youth there had been placed
before me the sad tale of some unfortunate human
being, whose life had been wrecked by dissipation
and debauchery, I believe my career would have
been very different. I earnestly hope that this
unpretending little volume may be the means of
saving some young man from my bitter experience,
and causing him to realize the beauty and happi-
ness of an upright, sober and virtuous life.

I ask the reader’s indulgence as to the literary
defects of my book, of which no one can be more

conscious than myself
Mason Lone.
MASON LONG.

CHAPTER I.

MY BOYHOOD AND YOUTH—SEVEN YEARS OF ABJECT
SLAVERY—HARD LESSONS.OF THE WAYS OF THE WORLD
—I BECOME A UNION SOLDIER,

The story of my life is not a pleasant one.
It will not excite the admiration or enthusiasm
of the reader. It is not characterized—would
to-God it were—by great deeds, noble actions,
high impulses. My career has been in no way
different from that of thousands of others,
excepting that, through the grace of God, it
was altered before I had drank the bitter cup
to the very dregs. My story is that of a bleak
and cheerless childhood, a youth of ignorance
and hardship, a manhood of intemperance and
vice.

Iwas born in Luray, Licking County, Ohio,
on the 10th of September,'1842. My father,
Jacob Long, died at the age of fifty-six, when

I was but six years old. After his death I
B ky

«“

HOW HE WAS

ROPED IN.”