WAR FUNDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17860, 5 August 1918, Page 4

WAR FUNDS.

METHODS OF RAISING MONEY

PULPIT REFERENCES. " I am fearful of tho tendencies and methods that are at work among us'," said Bishop Julius in his sermon at the ..Cathedral last night, " to raiso money by influences that trade on the gambling spirit of tho people. Ido not want to say much about it. I know we have got to raise money, and I believe people are ready to give it. I have not a word to say about Copper Trails or anything else that give a little amusement, but I could have a good deal to say on the appeal to a man to give a penny on i the chance that he may got a filthy hundred pounds out oi it. i rememoor that story of old time? of one true Israelite who had a little tiutter of his own over a certain wedge of gold, and it brought a lot of suffering and disappointment to his people. We should pray God not only that He will give us the victory, but that He will keep our hands clean and enable us to' gain the victory as men and women who follow directly after the Ark of God." "There is a matter on which I,wish to speak this morning for a fow minutes before I commence my sermon," said the Rev John Patcrson to his congregation at St Paul's yesterday morning. " You are all aware that there is being carried on in this city a Copper Trail to raise funds to send Christmas presents to our soldiers. To m.v r/*tid the whole matter is an insult to our soldiorb and the decency of this Dominion. If there is no better way of raising money to show our appreciation of what the so'diers are doinrr for us it would be better not to send presents at all- . . . Tho matter is exceedingly serious. There is no vice that once it grips a man or woman is so undermining to the character and so dangerous. from the social point of view as the vice of gambling; and to allow the children of this city to be taught to gamble before they realise what they are doing is an exceedingly serious matter. I hope you father and mothers will take a very strong stand with regard to your own families. It is sheer nonsense* to talk about patriotism and say we should do tfiis or that or the other for oiir soldiers. It is a far less serious matter that our soldiers should get no Christmas presents than that the children should bo taught a most pernicious vice."

At the services at the Baptist Church yesterday the Rev J. J. North strongly condemned the scheme. "Wo shall send generous parcels to all of the 110 men who are on our church roll of honour who remain at tho front and wc ought to generously help tho effort to gladden the lot of as many more men as we can," ho concluded. "But we ought to stand in with the public school teachers in our opposition to the danger which is opened to our children. People who regard lotteries as venial among adults—and wo do not numbor ourselves among them—will look with apprehension at a scheme which is adjusted to the roach of the smallest child."

In the course of his sermon at the Weslev Church. Fitzgerald Avenue, yesterday, the Rev E. P. Blamires made a strong protest on the same subject.