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

EDITOR COLUMBIAN :-Please be kind
enough to insert the following addi.
tional letter on this subject, and oblige
Yours, &c. *#*
DEAR SIR The fact that you did
not heed my former letter to YOU, in
regard to the evil character of "Church
Fairs" but proceeded to hold your
Fair in this place, imposes upon me the
duty of addressing you again on the
subject. am credibly informed that
you not only did not exert your influ-
ence to prevent the holding of this
Fair, but, on the contrary, it was pro-
jected and gotten up by you, and con.
Quoted under your supervision. 1t is
right, therefore that you should be held
responsible for the whole proceeding.
I have alleged that "Church Fairs,
as usually conducted, are in the nature
of gambling"-that " the Grab Bag, the
Fortune Tree, and the Prize Cake" are
lotteries, &c. 1t is my duty either to
retract or make good these charges.
DR.. Webster thus defines the word
lottery: Lottery-A scheme for the
distribution of prizes By chance, or the
distribution itself. Lotteries are often
authorized by law, but many good men
deem them immoral in principle; and
almost all men concur in the opinion
that their effects are pernicious.' Now,
suppose gold ring is placed in some
part of cake, and that cake is cut into
variety of pieces, and persons are in
duced to buy these pieces of cake in the
prospect that they may, "by chance,'
get the piece that has in it the gold
ring or, several egg-shells, some filled
with articles of value, and others with
articles of no value, are placed upon an
artificial tree, and persons are induced
to buy an egg-shell, in prospect that
they may "by chance" get one con-
tanning something of value; or, vari-
Gus articles, some valuable, and some
valueless, are placed in bag, and per-
sons are induced to pay for the privi-
lege of making a graz in the bag, in
the prospect that they may "by chance"
graz something of value; each of these
are strictly defined by the words" A
scheme for the distribution of prizes Jy
chance" These "schemes besides
being too puerile and undignified for
grave and sober. minded men and wo-
men, to say nothing of pious servants
of God, are within the strict meaning
of the word lottery.
1t is true as stated by DR.. Webster,
that lotteries are often authorized by
law.' But they are not so authorized
in the State of Pennsylvania. They
are strictly prohibited by our Penal
Code. See page 17:-
"SECrIoN 80. All lotteries, whether
public or private, for money, goods,
| wares, or merchandise, chattleS, lands,
| tenements, hereditaments, or other
matters or things whatsoever, are here
| by declared to be common nuisances ;
and every grant, bargain, sale, convey
ance, or transfer of any goods or chat
ties, lands, tenements, or heredila-
ment, which shall be made in pursu-
ance of any such lottery is hereby de.
| clared to be invalid and void"
| "SECTIoN 50. If any person shall
within this State, either publicly or pri-
vately, erect, set up, open, make or
| draw any such lottery as aforesaid, or
be in any way concerned in the manag-
ing, conducting or carrying on the same,
| he shall be guilty of Il misdemeanor ;
and, on conviction, be sentenced to pay
n fine, not exceeding one thousand dol
lars, and undergo an Imprisonment, by
separate or solitary confinement at Ia
Dor. not exceeding one year"
Similar provisions are contained in
the statutts of nearly all the States OF
the Union. Such is the estimate in
which "the distribution of prizes By
chance - is held by our legislators. Any
" scheme" which has this in view, is
a lottery, and is declared by law to be
a " common nuisance )" and all persons
who, either publicly or privately, erect
set up, open, make, or draw, or who
are in any manner concerned in the
managing, conducting, or carrying
on,' of such lottery, are guilty of &
misdemeanor, and liable to be punish
ed with both fine aud Imprisonment.
The scheme" by which the drawer
ola "prize ticket" secures certain
sum of money is not a particle more
a lottery, than the " scheme "by which
the purchaser of the "prize piece o
cake" secures gold ring. If in on'
instance, the money turns out to b'
counterfeit ; or in the other the golt
ring turns out to be pinchbeck, it is al
in good keeping, for there is more o
less of cheating in all gambling opera
tions.
No wonder DR.. Webster says tba
many good men deem them (ottei
ies) immoral in principle; and almos
all men concur in the opinion that thei
= effects are pernicious."
/ have said that the whole process {
a Church Fair is liable to the same oh
!. lection. 1t is all in the nature of gamh
n ling. Even when it does not assum
q the form of some known scheme c
gambling, it fails not to exhibits gent
inc spirit, am happy in being able t
If quote to you an authority entitled {
IS great respect on this point / find
Il The Methodist" of June 8, 1871, a
d article entitled, "a Free Gospel,
of written by Mr.. II. DE WITT TALMAGl
tba talantoI nostor nf fha raharnac