The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-07-21

'no, vi Sonio oceleDrlty, directed against
the" pow rental SYSTEM" in which he
says: But men talk as though tbe
pew rental system were great success
Nine-tcnths ofthc Churches are in debt
by the present system. Nine. tenths of
them do not have income sufficient to
meet the outgo. In most of the
Churches few generous men come in
at the close of the year to make up the
deficit or q fair is gotten up, Whore The
officers and members Of The Church come
ant tdhe q certain number Of shares in
an arm chair, or a plum cake, and 5y Mis
LITTLE GAMBLING PROCESS tie balance
Of erpenSe is met"
Ifthe word gambling" seems harsh
to you, | trust you will bear in mind
that no other word so accurably defines
the real nature of the transaction. 1t
is game of hazard, for money or
some other article. SO far as the
Church is concerned, IL is gambling for
money and so far as the participators
are concerned, it is gambling for some
article of real or supposed value. 1t is
matter of chance. And even when
the game Is honestly and fairly con.
Quoted, the chances are largely against
those who pay their money. This of
course is greatly increased when the
gambling process" is unfairly con.
ducted
Another feature Of these Fairs is de
serving of notice at this point. An AL
bum, Il Cane, or some other article is
procured; and persons purchasing the
privilege of voting for the bcstowment
ofOnc of these articles upon some lady
or gentleman, or upon some society.
The design of this is to excite q riralry
between the friends of different indi.
viduals or societies; and use that rival
ry as the means Of getting money. This
ricdlry is an evil in itself, which instead
Of being promoted, should be discour.
aged. But this is not the only evil in
the case. Certainly the name of no Ia.
dy or gentleman, or society, should be
introduced into such game rs this,
without their consent. Nothing, scarce.
ly, could be a greater breach of polite.
moss and good-breeding than for the
managers of a Church Fair to take ~
two ladies, without their consent, and
proceed to vote for the one or the other
to see which shall have an arm chair, &
plum cake, or an album. Perhaps the
one or the other of these ladies may not
be willing to accept of an article which
has been gambled for in this way OF
to have her name used in such an un.
cnviable connection. If it is so used
without her consent, she will have just
grounds to beindignant at such insuff'er
able rudeness. Besides, it is not hones
to use the names of either persons or so
cieties in this manner without first OBJ
tanning their consent. To so use theil
names, is virtually saying that they
,OW accept of such articles if voted tC
them. In case they ,ciU not, and mon
ey is obtained, this is obtaining none,
'u7der false pretenceS-a crime of higl
grade. 1t is using the names of sucl
persons as an endorSer of this gamblin,
scheme; and is violation of the same
moral principle as in the crime of for
gery. In either instance the name of {
person is used without his or her con
sent; in either instance Il fraud is per
petrated, or attempted on somebody
and in either instance money is oh
tained, or attempted to be obtained, by
these dishonest means.
Gambling is alarmingly on the in
crease in this county; and it is not
matter of surprise that it is so. HOY
can the Courts suppress this evil whcl
| Ministers and Churches are engaged il
it? So long as young men-naturall.
fond of eXcitement-are induced b,
their religious teachers, to "try thei
luck in Church Fair, they will no
hesitate to do the same thing in "Cros
by House Lottery scheme,' the "Grant
Cuba Lottery scheme" or any othe
other scheme by which they will TAX
their " "chance" to draw a valuabl
"priza." The taste for Gaming tina
has been formed by piOus gambling
will seek its qualification with card,
dice, farce, or some other appeal to tn
goddess Of Chance. Failure incites
desire to retrieve the loss by anothc
venture; and success but stimulate
the appetite for gain by these dishones
and hazardous means. Ever pure an
noble sentiment is gradually ovel
| thrown and the victims of Churc
Fair Gambling becomes a perfect mo-
al wreck.
You, and your friends may treat TIL
subject with ievity, and seek to pass
Off with unseemingly mirth. But thos
who feel true interest in the welfar
of the yo ung men of our land, will,
trust, give it more serious considers
ton. You, sir, from your age, eXper
ence, and observation, have had oppol
tunities of learning that the beginning
of vice are generally slight pecadilloe
But he is not wise who despises the da
of small things. The first social gla'
of wine, the "lttle white lie,' the oil
scene jest, the cheating at marbles, al
but the germs whence the great vice
of the land have their growth. Churc
Fair gambling bears the same relatio
to the gigantic gambling vice of II
age, that the social glass of wine does
the debasing vice of drunkenness, :
fearfully prevalent. Any one capab
of tracing causes to their legitimate n
suits cannot fail to see this.
remain, Yours Truly.
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4 Card.