Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-02-27
THERE ARE TWO SIDES T0IT.
This Lottery Question, Like all
Others, is not Entirely
One.si(led.
Father Mayer Tackles the Sub
ject in u Very Common
Sense way.
Candidates for Judas Apostolic
Position Draw Lots for
the Same.
Defends his Church.

Defends his Church.
Father Mayors outspoken and critical
sermon last Sunday at Bismarck on lot
ter,es, has called attention to the fact
that there are two sides Of the question,
even for churchuen to consider. he
bearded the lion in bis den. As reported
by the Tribune, he said he did not desire
to meddle in politics, and the minister
who does this cuts q sad figure. He will
make enemies and do more harm than
good. The church is sacred structure,
dedicated to Gods service and should
not be profaned by holding therein politl-
cal caucuses. It would he we'll for some
of our ministers, If they would preach
more religion and less politics. What
induces me to discuss q 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. 1t appears to me that some
of the opponents of the lottery bill are
not sincere. We cannot all think alike,
but We have right to expect man to
speak his honest convictions. I may not
coincide with a mans views, bnt pro-
vided he is candid and honest, / respect
the man. But one who bellies his con.
science, dissimulates his real motives,
and seeks but his own advantage, to the
prejudice of the general welfare-for him
I have.
An Unbounded Contempt.
As examples of this class, attention
might be called to the Pioneer Press of
ST. Paul, which after conducting huge
lottery scheme for It's own enrichment
some years ago and publishing the lot
terry advertisements for years. receiving
hundreds OF dollars therefor, now turns
upon lotteries and lenounces them as
corr pIing and immoral. The same Is
| true OF a certain newspaper IN the state,
with tie exception 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 advertisement until
| he chose what may be considered the
popular side of the present Issue. 1t has
| also been shown that ore of the leading
ulorallsts OF Barnes county who opposed
| lotteries on high moral grounds. has
been arraigned on the charge of double
! forgery.
He regretted that ministers deal. so
much in opprobrious epithets and so
Ii, tie in facts to substantiate them. Lot
teries, he thought, not wrong IN them
| selves. but only when abused. PrOhlbi
! tionists condemn moderate drinkers
equally with the drunken sot. Fraud
and cheating in lotteries Is wrong as in
anything else. If The proceeds OF the
| lottery are to be devoted to charity, al
lowances mast be made for people when
taking chances in S. cn lottery, give then
more iberall!, knowing that it is to be
| appropriated to Il good cause. For in
stance. If an old bachelor takes chance
! on doll, it is not because he wants the
| doll. but because be desires to aid tie
church. I've been told that at the
Recent Presbyterian Fair
Il mention certain denominations be
cause they haye seen fit to reflect on the
Catholic church in the discussion of lot
teries) double and treble the legitimate
price of articles we're charged, but GO
not consider it wrong. because it was for
the purpose of aiding the church. Again
muuy persons purchase tickets for church,
oys,er suppers who never 20 near the ta-
bic 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 purchasers appe.
lite, but to aid in the support OF the
church.
The proprietor Of lottery, if he prac-
tices no frau,: and takes no undue prot
commits no otfeuse, for he violates no
law of charity or justice. He sells his
articles sl,nply for their market value to
different persons, with the privilege of
dispusing of them among the ticket
holders by lot or chance. l can see no
wrong IN this. The ticket-holder can do
wrong only when he Iool,shly invests so
much money in lottery, or risks it in Il
game of hazard, as to deprive his fam ly
OF means of support. Every game of
chance is not immoral. Men insure their
property against bad luck.
The apostles also INDUCED IN lotteries
or games of chances. After Judas, the
betrayer OF our Lord, had hung himself,
"the apostles appointed two Joseph,
called Barrabas, and Mathlas-and
gave them lots and the lot fell upon
Matthias and he was numbered with the
eleven apostles" We're apostles gam
blers?
The lottery bill he did not attempt to
advocate or oppose. 1t was matter to
be settled in the forum of politics and
not in the sanctuary of the church. 1t
was business proposition and If it could
be freed from grevlous abuses lot it come
! to North Dakota and lessen ;he burden
of taxation. If it has demoralizing in
tlneuce let it be rejected, but this orght
to be proven and not taken for granted.
A lottery has been opera ed in New Or
l'ans for twenty years, and yet the city is
no more immoral than other cities.