The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-19

FOR THE PILOT.
RELIGIOUS GAMBLING. A writer over the
signature of 80. X" in the 'tSun" of last
Thursday, charges us with having committed
several grievous offences in our notice of the
fair. recently held by the Roman Catholics in
the saloon of the Law Buildings
First,-he accuses us of having represented
the profits realized by the fair-ladies greater
than they were. If we over valued those pro-
fits, we were betrayed into the error by our
romish neighbors themselves, for we obtained
all our information on the subject from their
own statement, published by authority in the
Patriot Knowing that we live in the midst OF
wiley priests and jesuits, we designedy took
the precaution 10 adopt the Identical language
the official report of the result of the fair
Now if that language was intended or calcula-
ted 10 convey an exaggerated idea of the amount
of profits, LET them blame themselves and not
us. But even by the revised exhibit of o. X,
in the Sun, it appears that the net proceeds of
| the fair amounted to ,I7I 90; aud after all
his CLOSES an ingenious explanations, he can
not raise the amoCnt of capital invested, inclu
| ding donations, needle-work and every thing
he can think of, TO more than $4,000, leaving a
clear profit of almost $4,000, realized by few
days traffic! We presume, therefore, that the
honest part of the community, will still be
| likely to apprehend, that so ''rousing busI
in all respects exactly o. X.
When we however, take into consideration
the system of gambling practised at the afore-
said fair, we mean the various "Raffiings;"-
when we call to mind the fact that sort of
dinner was prepared by the ladies' servants, that
an immense number Of cards of invitation were
issued to the young gentlemen of the city,-pro-
testant as well as popish, and that they were
charged dollar head whether they ate or not;
further that a pretended Post-office was gotten
up, that hundreds of letters with fictitious sig
natures were addressed to individuals who were
taxed enormously in the way of postage, at the
rate, as we have been told, in one or more in
stances at least, OF 81, for single letter con-
tanning a few lines of nonsense; when we
take all this and much more of like commend
able character, into the reckoning, we can read
lily account for the "rousing business that was
done.
Seconds 20. K. charges US with ebluDdering
morality in confounding the drawing of lots
with gambling. I've said nothing about sFthe
drawing of lots" but we spoke of the rafting
carried on at the fair as species of gambling; |
and we now add, that his own ''blundering mo- |
rality" in confounding the ancient and sacred in
stitution at slots" with the gambling of the pre-
sent day, would ssno doubt be a source of merri- |
ment to the intelligent" if it were not for the
daring impiety involved in the stupidity of the
blunder. The lot referred to in the Book of books
was a direct appeal to God as the Governor of
the world, founded in the faith of particular
and when used ON proper occasions,
and In proper manner, it was act of high
and acceptable worship. But we trust we need
not stop to inform an enlightened protestant
that all unnecessary, light, careless,
or customary uses of the lott all of it, other
than such as are holy, reyerent, and warranted
by the rules OF the written Word, are sinful, and
and to be avoided as profanations of the divine
name.
The iniqutous effort therefore of o. K, to
Justify of the most palpable species of gam
bling, under the divine sanction of the sacred
of lots, cvinces degree of profane
hardihood which merits the most pungent re-
buke, and which a religious community will
doubtless know how to frown into deserved con-
tempt. To TG67e means to cast dice for prize,
whether the prize be money or ga splendid
chair" WEBSTER defines the noun, rattle, thus:
A GAME OF CHANCE, or lottery, in t0Lich SeueTdI
persons deposit part Of the paltIe the thing in
consideration Of the chance Of gaining ii. The
same photographer describes gambler as, one
,cho games or plays for money or OTHER STAKE.
New, let any common-sense reader compare one
with the other, and decide who is the greater
IN nlorality,' o. K. who advocates
-afiing as Just and honorable, and even puts it
upon footing with the holy and divine institu
ion of lots, or we who with Webster and nine
.y-nine hundredths of the virtuous part of the
place it in a category with gambling
and denounce it such, and particularly when
Dractisea by Prefessedly religious people and un-
Ter the cloak of benevolence and charity The
assurance Of o. K, SEthat dice were not used at
he late fair" is in way calculated to extenu-
ate the moral turPitude of the crime. Gambling
is gambling and we can no softer term,
whether it consist in throwing Dice, shutting
cards, ar tossing up piece of money, and whe-
Their the prize be $40 in cash or a few articles
including s'splendid chair" valued at that sum.
Al. r. nj
bargain, cannst change the immoral character
and tendency of the act. In accordance with
this view, the <sPhiladelphiG REPOSITORY" an
ably conducted religious paper, says: "We look
upon this etrafit1g," it is called, in the same
light as the editor of the Lutheran Observer
does. 1t is neither more nor less than GAMBLING,
whether practised by Catholics in the claw
Buildingsn of Baltimore, or by Protesiants in
the "Assembly Buildings of Philadelphia
II rafting is so very just and honorable, why
our free colored people so frequently disturb
ed at their rafting matches. During the late hol
idays, and about the very time that the gambling
operations were being carried on in high life and
on so magnificent scale in the Latc Buildings, |
the Police reports informed us, that in dwelling
somewhere in Saratoga street, in another in the
vicinity of Centre Market, and at other places, |
parties Of free blacks who had met to rattle for
turkeys, geese, SC. were suddenly surprised by
our vigilant police officers, conducted to the
magistrates or watch-house, and 'sdealt with ac-
cording to law" Now ifthere be no harm in
this species of gambling, why does the strong
arm ofthe.l Jaw interpose so promptly to prevent
it among the poor negroes? We certainly intend
no disrcspeet to our charitable neighbors by tins
comparison, but we mean to expose the shallow
ness of o. KS sophistry, and we think we have
conclusively proven, that in the ''eye of the
lawn as well as that of an enlighted religious
community, rafting, as practised by the priests,
ladies and others in the Law Buildings, is to all
intents and purposes, downright gambling and
decidedly mineral in its influence sat least so it
is dealt with in some instances, Though in others
It is VIGOROUSLY practised with impunity
Third: o. K. charges us with "a want of
common politeness and respect towards the Req.
Mr.. Gildea, in referring to him simply as John
B. Gildea,' without The honorary prefix of
Reverend. We ask the Reverend gentleman's