MONEY BY GAMBLING

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21120, 23 May 1940, Page 13

MONEY BY GAMBLING

"RATHER SEE CHURCH CLOSED” AUSTRALIAN BISHOP’S VIEW (From a Correspondent) ARMIDALE, May 1 The Bishop of Armtdale, the Rt. Rev. J. S. Moyes, in his presidential address to the Synod, said that he would rather see a church closed than have it supported from money raised by gambling. For years, he said, he had been troubled by the manner in which laymen in m.ost parishes had left collecting funds to clergy. He had frequent complaints that the clergy did not visit; but he asked how they could visit if they were planning fetes and tennis parties as a means of God’s Kingdom. In some parishes, he said, fetes and flower shows had an honourable part when the results were the true issue of work done. In far too many parishes there were balls, card parties, and the like as a means of raising funds. "God help us if we think so little of His Church and His love that we will not give unless some pleasure is given in return,” he said. “Let us have pleasures and dances in Parish fellowship, but not to raise money to save dit eel giving to God. "Unhappily, there are parishes where gambling is resorted to and money thus raised by unholy means. If the vicar is giving his life in daily service, surely his bread and butter should not depend on the result* of raffles and races.”