GAMBLING.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 984, 3 April 1877, Page 6

GAMBLING.

{To the Editor,) Sir,— ln Bishop Neville's opening address yesterday in the bazaar in aid of St Peter's Churcb, Caversbam, tbe ' Daily Times' reports that he said : From time to time it has been my happy lot to be in various ways connected with such an undertaking as this, and remarks have been made on such occasions — remarks expressive that one holding the position I do, as the spiritual head of this diocese, should appear to countenance what the persons making these remarks regard as very objectionable proceedings. "As holding a bazaar for the obtaiuing of funds for church purposes." Now, I don't at all deny, that there might be a much better state of things prevailing thau that which renders it necessary to have recourse to such expedients, he thus admits, a better way is open to be taken than gambling. The ' Lyttelton Times' truly says: " All games of chance, for whatever purpose the proceeds may be applied are gambling." The Bishop states, if we could find, out such a state of things now-a-days as when Moses commanded, &c, " when the people had to be restrained from giving their offerings," Aye could regard it as a better state of things : but, supposing we cannot have this desirable state, I reply, if he will use tbe means, he will get them ; from the beginning the same means will produce the same ends and down to this day. If the Bishop and his colleagues use the same means as they (tbe priest?) did in those days, win a " belief in the cause," and by precept and example the confidence and affection of their flocks, then may .they do as recorded in holy writ, "Take a chest and bore a hole into the top, and set it by the altar at tbe right baud of them that come

iuto the /House of the Lord, and the priests that keep the door put therein all the money that: was; brought into the Temple of the Lord, and this money they expended in making bowls, flesh hooks, or censers, or trumpets, and in repairs or building houses 'if the Lord ; but th^ money for trespass and fhe money for sins they brought not into the Temple of the Lord, because it was the priests." The custom of payment for trespass against the laws of the Church and sins existed ages and ages before the birth of our Saviour, and has continued in many countries less or more as people were more or less held under bondage by the priests. But in the Primitive Christian Church that unholy practice was unknown. Some creeds assert or permit the telling of small lies in support of their church ; others that the end sancti- j fies the means, and these they call venial sins ; these beliefs lead many well-meaning men astray. AH should know and remember that precept is not — that example is the more catching, and the father of custom. Example notes precept often Jesuitical. The decalogue commands moral duty. Its essentials are — .self-respect, self-reliance, which shines forth in all whose conduct is consistent with their I profession. The want of vice versa. His laws command that we cultivate our talents so as to give full play to all our faculties and increase our powers of wisdom to doubt and enquire which is the parent of truth, and this do successful merchants or the business man advise hear and consider, doubt and enquire the opinion of others, then pursue the path they see ' aud comprehend as the right one, by which civilization has been spread throughout. Those of them who have accepted the opinions of others, and acted on them, were without principle, and went, or go to the wall How much more necessary is it for all to have fixed principles in the path of business leading to their eternal salvation ; this can only be attained by the study of the laws of Christ (they are few and simple) on the principles followed by business men. Now, Mr Editor, I assert the moral law and gambling in principle are opposed to each other, as is darkness and light. The one is God's law leading into life, the other is the prince of evils, a bewitching vice, the greatest humanity is heir to, it is the magician's key which opens the door to every other evil. It must be well known to your readers the strenuous exertions used by our magistrates, the police. &c, to check this crying evil, but when pro-fes-ed teachers of truth seemingly act on the principle that the end sanctifies the means, their efforts may be vain. I close this paper in words of the Rev Mr Salraond's — " W«are ready to learn, willing to retract what may be shown to be false ; and to awaken eager, earnest thought on the bewitching and baleful crime of gambling." I am, &c, Effort. Dunedin, 23rd March, 1877.