Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-04-15
Gambling in High Places.

The practice Of increasing the proceed. u
social fairs, in aid Of charitable and rtli.
sious ohjcct.. by the introduction OF g-ab
bags, ring cakes, etc. has become very com.
mon, and a, the present day c1ci,ss little
Comment. We find people high in the
church proposing, ministers approving, and
lay.mcmbers carrying out the detail, Of
those arrangements each in turn standing
ready TO argue down any conscientious
s,rurle. ,ha, may be exhibited, by the plea
that money can be raised in that way; and
much good may be thus accomplished.
Recently, in Massachusetts. fair has
been held in aid Of Medical Di.psn.ary.
4, ihi. fair ths SUN OF abou, $500 was
raised by means OF raille-, &c. The fair was
counted great success. notwithstanding
and was attended by the hishes, disnilarics
VI the old commonwealth, vino had never a
word to utter against its management. The
editor Of the Bath Times. himself cler.
gyman,-comment' a, length upon this fair,
under the heading which we have placed at
the commencement Of this article. Ills
remarks are truo 10 the very letter, aud
mus, meet the approval OF ut least every
CHRISTIAN eye which rests upon them. We
quote that portion relating to social fairs
a retge is a modified lottery, and lot.
terry is a game Of chance. In this State and
in Massachusetts, all such things are string
entity prohibit by law. Heavy fines and
penalties are the punishment Of such
crimes against the order and laws Of the
State Even newspaper pub fishers
Law themselves liable for advertising any
thing OF the kind-anything -" in the ma,
ii.r, OF n lottery" and We do not find fault
that il il ~. (. " But while the sale or
purchase OF lottery ticket is severely pun.
i.hed hy lar, and while the simple publica-
ton or lottery scheme in u newspaper
would subject the Publisher IN Maine or
Massachusetts, to severe penalties, the les
son taught m the highest circlcs-eyen un-
der a religious name-is that there j. real
ly no irroHs in he principle iHrolrod in n
camo Of chance Let us explain. The un-
sophisticated 60 into !" Ladies FAIR" the
ladies of some religious socieiy-gotten up
10 promote a religious object. perh'ps the
missionary cause or to carpet church, to
purchase an organ, 10 support a choir, or
90 ciothe poor children - rs to get them
into Sabbath School. or 10 support city
mission, or to circulate the bible, ONO
matter what and one Of the chief instrn-
mentalities relied upon 10 RAISE fluids Is
often game Of chance a "Grab bag.
where for dime something OF unknosr
value may be secured slice Of cake that
may contain u gold ring. a ticket for
quarter which may draw five or ten dol.
lar quilt these nre the devices Of such
/ institutions. Thus in the name Of reli-
giOn the green one is practically assured
that there Is no harm In games Of chance
provided the object proposed to he promo.
ted is good one provided the end is such
Us 10 sanctify the means. Let the ndlvid.
ual, with such lessons before him, 90 out
upon the street and there see flaming lot
terry scheme placarded, and find that dol
lar or half eagle will give him chance TO
become independently rich, and why should
the law deter him provided he can see the
means Of escaping lis penalties? l. not
the obect-wtalth--a good one for him Z
VIII not that sanctify the investment, in
his mind? And is he not thus taught