Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-02-28
on
Father Mayer, of the Catholic Church,
POurs Some Red Hot
Shot
Into Those Who Have Been Reflect
ing on His Church in Dis
cussing Lotteries.
He Says Lotteries Are All Right So
Long as They Are Not
Abused.
Some Plain Talk.

Some Plain Talk.
The Catholic church was crowded Sun
day evening with an intelligent and inter-
ested audience. Citizens of Bismarck and
visitors gathered to hear what Father
Mayer had to say on the subject of lot
teries. They were not disappointed, for
the positive n outspoken divine lost no
time in getting at the heart of the subject
and frequently during the lecture the con-
gregation was moved to expressions of ap-
proval, which several times verged on an
outburst of applause. Father Mayer said:
1t is with great reluctance that I enter
the discussion of this political question. I
believe that religion and politics should be
kept separate as much as possible. The
minister who dabbles in politics must cut
a sad figure. He will make a multitude of
enemies, bring odium upon his church and
do more harm than good. l emphatically
condemn the practice of turning our
church edifces into a political arena.
The church is a sacred structure, dedi-
Gated to Gods service and should not be
profaned by holding therein political eau
cuses. 1t would be we'll for some of our
ion and less politics. What induces
me to discuss a political question
this evening, is the prominence it has al
ready been given in its discussion in Ger
tain churches, and for the further reason
that my silence might be construed into
an approval of gambling schemes, by the
Catholics. l consider it, therefore. but just
ject of lotteries. In doing So, 1 shall be
fair and candid, having no desire to offend
the feelings of any nc matter what their
creed. | shall hew to the line, let the
chips fall where they will. 1t appears to
me that some Of the opponents of the lot
terry bill are not sincere. We cannot all
think alike, but we have a right to expect
a man to speak his honest convictions. l
may not coincide with a mans views, but
provided he is candid and honest, l respect
the But one who bellies his con-
science, dissimulates his real motives, and
seeks but his W advantage to the preju-
dice of the general welfare-for him l
have
AN UNBOUNDED CONTEMPT.
AS examples of this class, attention
might be called to the Pioneer Press of st.
Paul, which after conducting a huge lot
terry scheme for its own enrichment some
years ago and publishing the lottery adj
vertisements for years, receiving hundreds
OF dollars therefor, now turns upon lot
teries and d%enounces them as corrupting
and immoral. The sam is true of a GER
tain newspaper in the state, with the ex-
ception that it is not known to have been
the proprietor of a lottery. It's editor has
received money from the lottery company
for years and did not cease to publish the
considered the popular side Of the present
issue. 1t has also been shown that one of
the leading moralists of Barnes county
who opposed lotteries on high moral
grounds, has been arraigned OH the charge
of double forgery.
Another class of citizens who are worthy
OF consideration at present are
H MINISTER'S
who deal in abuse and opprobious
epithets, but who fail to s~ubstantiate their
assertions by facts or arguments. Let us
coolly and fairly examine the subject of
lotteries. We must first arrive at a defni-
ton before we can discuss it properly. A
lottery is defined by Webster as "a distribu-
ton of prizes by lot or chance" l would
define it as a contract by which several or
many purchase tickets or take chances on
an article or prize with the privilege Of
having the article or prize disposed of by
lot or chance. l consider lotteries not
wrong in themselves, except when abused.
Some people are not able to distinguish be-
tween the use and abuse Of a thing. Thus
some Of u prOhibitionists condemn the
moderate drinker equally with the drunken
sOt. Almost every evil consists in the
abuse of something which in itself is good.
Lotteries, also, can be abused and are very
often. If there is any wrong in lotteries
it must be committed either by the propri.
etor OF the lottery or by the ticket pur-
chaser, or it must lie in the disposal of the
article by lot or chance.
THE PROPRIETOR CAN DO wRoNa
by fraud and cheating, or by taking an un-
due profit on the article disposed of. He1is
entitled only to such a profit after the pay
ment of expenses as he would realize in
any legitimate business. If. however, the
proceeds Of a lottery are devoted to a char
table purpose, an allowance must be made.
lottery, give then more literally, knowing
that it is to be appropriated to a good
cause. For instance, if an old bachelor
takes a chance on a doll, it is not because
Re wants the doll, but because he desires
to aid the church. I have been told that
at the '-"
RECENT PRESBYTERIAN FAIR
Il mention certain denominations because
they have seen fit to reflect on the Catholic
church in the discussion of Iotteries)
double and treble the legitimate price OF
articles were charged, but I do not consid.
er it wrong, because it was for the purpose
of aiding the church. Again, many per
sons purchase tickets for church oyster
suppers who never 60 near the table and
are given no material value for their
money. Why, then, do these churches not
return the money? Because it was we'll
understood that the ticket was not sold or
purchased for the satisfaction Of the pur-
chaser's appetite, but to aid in the support
of the church.
The proprietor of a lottery, if he prac.
tees nc fraud and takes no undue profit,
commits no offense, for he violates no law
of charity OF justice. He sells his articles
simply for their market value to different
persons, with the privilege of disposing of
them among the ti~cket-h0lders by lot or
chance. l can see no wrong in this. The
ticket holder car do wrong only when he
fOolishly invests so much money in a lot
terry, or risks it in a game of hazard, as to
deprive his family or those dependent upon
him Of the means Of support, or his credit.
Ors Of their just dues. He Is the
MASTER OF HIS OWN MONEY
and can dispose of it for what purpose OF
in what manner he pleases, so long as he
does not interfere with the rights of others
or violate some principle of justice. In
L. - - -1