The record-union., 1892-07-02
GAMBLING AT CHURCH FAIRS
Chance Has 81 Peculiar Fascination fol
Human Nature.


The primary element in gambling is
chance. Though bets may turn upon
teats OF strength or skill, physical or men
tai, games of pure skill cannot long lead
the participants to bet, though they may
stlpulate the laying of wagerS by out
slders. For when one player systematic
ally and continuously beats the other in a
contest OF skill, the regularly vanquished
becomes permanently discouraged, and
Will not risk his money when certain of
loss. 1t is the chance element that enables
the interior player to hope, even in games
that are partly chance and partly skill,
that fortune will be more favorable to
him the next time. Chance has peculiar
fascination Tor human nature. 1t is an
element recognized in most forms of bus
| mess, IN the trial of cases before juries, in
making ocean voyages, in a number of
the sciences, and III large investments
involving many contingencies. 1t slim
uIateS the imagination, and, in the alb
Sence OF industry. economy and caution,
supports hopes, whose fulfillment is i'm
possible without, in the long run, alb
stracting a part of their property from
those whose possessions are the result of
honest work or legitimate inheritance.
The trusting of particular chances is akin
to superstition, and foe to every rational
scheme of life. Monte Carlo is a monu-
ment which its victims have erected and
the Louisiana Lottery a fungus growth
upon an imperfect civilization, of such
proportions that, like a cancer, it has
threatened the vitals of the State; and
with the aid of the press and through the
mails, infused its virus into the life-bloo
of the nation.
II these principles are true, the more
nearly game approaches pure chance
the more corruptlng it is, and the more it
approximates pure skill the less perni-
n h hn Hr,fA Il
church was once regarded as right, and
generally practiced, not only among
Roman Catholics, who, in most parts Of
the world, do not at present condemn it,
but among ProteStantS, as the history of
several denominations colleges in this
city will show. AS an indication of pub
lie sentiment hundred years ago, facts
brought to light at the recent celebration
of the centennial of the Newark Acad-
emy, highly respectable educational in
stitutiOn in the State OF New jersey. are
valuable. The institution was estab-
ished in tavern, money to build the
original building was raised by lottery.
and a slave was sold to furnish funds to
hire professor to teach dancing, Most
of the persons connected with the estab-
lishment of the academy were members
of Protestant churches, and verify
thought they did God service. The form
of gambling employed Tor the benefit of
churches, philanthropic schemes and the
promotion OF art, is always that of simple
chance-the rattle of the picture, the
quilt the doll, the musical instrument or
the watch, and, in the crude form, the
grab-ba or the cake with the concealed
ring. The element of skill is entirely alb
sent. The principles already laid down.
unless shown to be false, conclusiyeIy
prove that the church and kindred insti-
tutions. in employing such means, give
their sanction to the very worst form of
gam bling.
The following statements have the force
of an axiom: 1t is as right to gamble for
living as for ''the cause of God" The
majority of mankind are obliged to earn
a living by some form of activity; if
gambling is right form it is right to
gamble for a living. 1t is as necessary
and just for man to earn his bread as it
is to earn money to support the institu-
tions Of religion. To assume that that
which would be wicked for such pur-
pose is right for the cause of God, is to
confOund all morality. Traditions saws
that monk who had vainly tried to in
duce a rich man to bestow his goods upon
the church, reasoned himself into the be-
lief that it would not be sinful for him to
steal large portions of the wealth which
he could not induce the owner to give.
and devote them to charitable and re-
ligious. uses. The legend may be false,
but if true, the monks method of reason
ing was just, provided it be admitted that
while gambling for living is wrong,
gambling for the church is right.
The gambling spirit pervades society
and the church is too closely allied with
it in various forms for its own moral
weight and for the public welfare. In all
its methods for raising money it should
practice the strictest honesty and avoid
the very appearance of evil. If all the
funds which are supposed to be needed
cannot be obtained for the asking, there
is defect either in the method of pre-
senting the subject. or in the moral tone
of the congregation, or in the estimate
what should be forthcoming. Far better
would it be to postpone works requiring
the expenditure of money than to obtain
it by means abhorrent to the moral sense,
or constructively sanctioning the most
harmful social and individual practices.-
Rev. DR.. J. NJ. Buckley, in the New York
Independent.