The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-10-04
LOTTERY DEALING.

We have been requested to publish the fol
lowing extract from the " Minutes" OF the Bap-
fist Association, lately held in tue county OF
Buckingham
To the following Query referred by our last
association to the consideration of the present :
81 What course should HE Church Of Christ pursue
,Cih q minister or other member, Wb9 man. Si,.c5
his union ,oith The church. hare purchased or SOL
LOHerq tickets - We answer that, If hereafter
minister OF other member, having been nstruc
ted upon this subject should engage in buying ~
selling Lottery tickets, or should hold il o be
Christian privilege thus 10 act, he should be treat
edk ifhc had engaged IN h0rSs.racing cdrd-
ptayhg, or aug Other dsteaabie species 0 gaming
And We feel fully authorised IA giving tins coun-
sci from the iollo wing considerations.
In the comment OF DIR. Scott upon the tenth
commandment, loibldng covetousness, he
makes the following pertinent and torcible re
marks:
Buteyery species OF gaming originates from
" an undue desire and hope OF increasing on,
'propeaty by proportionably impoverlshng 9th
" CT men; aud Is therefore direct violation
Of this law. Public gambling by Lotteries
" So far from benz less criminal than other SIP
g cies Of thai vice. is the worst Of them all for
! " it aDets aud sanctions, as far as example and
! " concurrence by statute can do II, "A practice
winch opens the door 10 every species Of fraud
! " and vliiainy: which Is pregnant with the most
" extensive evils 10 the community aud 10 indi-
Z" viduals; when seldom fails. annually, TO blln
- several 10 an untimely end by suicide on the
" sentence of the law; which unsetes an M
mease multitude from the honest employ ment
" Of their station, to run in quest OF imaginary
" wealth; aud which exposes them TO manifold
| " temptations uufis them for returning TO their
q usual mode OF life, and often materially in
" lures thrir circumstances, breaks their spirits,
" sours their tempers, and cxctteS the worst pas
e sions oil which they are susceptible. Indeed.
" the evils, political, moral, aud religious. oflot-
" te,ies. are too gldrng 10 he denied, even by
" those who plead necessity for continuing them,
Stoo numel Gus TO he recaptudiGd III his place.
l. Can il the eloie consist With the Law Of God,
% Thou shalt not coVct : or with the cha,ac-
"a ter Of Christian. to concur in 50 Ubiquitous y
- so injurious system, from VAN desire OF II
" regular gain Whatever argument proves II
| 20 unlawful for two or three men to cast lois for
" a sum ot money. or TO gamc IN any otter way,
" is much more strongly conclusive, against a
| million Of persons gaming publicly by lotto
nv, to the stagnatlon III great measure, OF eN-
"a cry other business while the gam made by
| " government and by individuals from the stakes
IL deposited with them, render II as inptudent
81 as " Is sinful III tnf ddVentllCisi every lihi-
% vidual stakes At least three 20 two on an even
- chance , il 4 covetous appeal to Providence
| - NAV be called chance ~
| Ifthr fore ning remark be- according 10 truth
then it incontovcrby follows. that however
injurious to the best interests of civil society
! however despicabe in the eyes ct all good men
however abhorfeatin the Judgment Ola IA lyaoa,
the horse-racer andthe ctrd.pltyoi M, be, eP
who Invent encourage AID support the system
oflouelieS arr gamesters Of more odions char
actrr->inners OF d deeper hue. Il canaot in
validate the force Of his trut nor paliiate thu
guilt OF this crime, TO plead lat It IS often autho
! rIsrd b. nat,u al councils and legislative sta
flutes. The decree which consigned the three
Hebrews TO devonring flames that which expo
sed Daniel to rapacious lions and that which
martvred the infants and brrcaved the mothers
of Bcthehem were nothing the more rlghfeous
nothing the less abummable IN the sight OF God
aad all go1d men, because ISSUED by jealous and
/ naughty kings who feared neither tod nor men.
( The law. once enacted in Fraucc TO abolish
the obligation of the Sabbath, though IT bad Fiji
cary 10 turn the places OF pub II worship INTO
theatres and military barracks. did not wrest the
srcptre from Jehovah hand nor screen the Inhiel
nltiontrom tine wasting vengeance due tothelrim-
pious invasion of Ills prerogatIve. II still renamed
and must forever remain an mistaken truth that
"tre ought 10 otty God rather than men Let
Christians remember. then that tho lotteries, the
most ruinous species Of gaming, may be caunte
named. supported and icgtllzrI bv human al-
thority. they stunned with the prohibition, the
frown. the curse Of Almighty God. Amen. =