The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-20
DR.. Lewis Opposed
to Gambling Ten.
denotes of Today.
ETHICS OF CHURCH FAIR.
Properly Conducted They
Are Good, But There's
Danger,

DR.. Alexander Lewis, pastor of Pill
grim church, is opposed to raffies and
lotteries at church fairs, but believes
that, conducted properly, fairs are an
aid to the church.
His subject last night was, 1.-THE eth
les of church fairs" The text was
from First Corinthians, x:21, Whether
therefore yet eat or drink or whatso-
ever We do, do all to the glory of God"
He said in part: In the light of this
text and the principles it involves, we
wish to examine the subject before us,
which is commonly spoken of as church
fairs. Not infrequently do we hear
it asked, rs it right for the church to
turn the house of God into a place of
merchandise"
AS leading up to the subject in hand,
let us ask rs it possible for an indi-
vidual to do business to the glory OF
God?' Some say not. There are those
who believe that business and religion
are absolutely incompatible. 1t is
probably a fact that not a few business
men justify sharp practices and cum
ming deals, but most of us do not be-
lieve it necessary. We believe that 1t
is not only possible to be an honest
many such men, and that some of those
it has been our pleasure to know per-
sonally.
The ability to make money is just
as much a God-given faculty as the
| ability to teach, to preach or to de-
| sign buildings, If man makes money
and money-getting the means to no
Bile end. he is certainly clarifying the
name of his Heavenly Father.
H. At1ar Nviy1 niI1ln a Of
let us ask, "Is it possible for a number
of individuals to unite and thus do
| business to the glory of God?'
| Can a number of individuals united
under the organization Of church, en-
gage in business and still have as their
motive the glory of God?
Can a church do business for one,
two or three days-in other words, carry
on what we call fair, and still keep
bring glory and honor to the name of
| God?
If a church fair is wrong, then lee
lures, suppers, concerts, anything and
| everything of this kind are wrong. The
principle is the same. If this is so,
why are so many people opposed to
church fairs? There are two reasons
for this. Some people think that
Christ's action in cleansing the temple
is directly applicable to the. case in
hand
The speaker then went on to explain
what Christ really meant in this ac-
ton. Christ had three reasons. In the
first place. they were carrying on a
dishonest business; in the second place
their conduct interfered with public
worship; in the third place, the action
of those that Christ drove out was
contrary to the spirit of the text.
aI1, f1f, he
ground referred to, he said, is an abuse
Of scripture Another reason why
many well minded persons are opposed
to church fairs is because of the way
in which they are conducted. Anthony
Comstock says that he is unalterably
convinced that raff1es, lotteries anG
chance games as conducted at church
and charity fairs, in the majority Of
cases, is the first step which leads meT
to a gamblers life. Gambling at {
church fair is no more justifiable thar
gambling elsewhere. Exorbitan'
charges have no more place at a church
fair than they have at a reputable
business house.
While personally / have not little
sympathy with those who feel that thu
dangers in connection with the church
fair are such that the only safe way
is to avoid them, yet cannot but SCI
two sides to the question, and believe
that there are not a few advantages
to be derived from them when sucl
!, an enterprise is conducted without thu
Objectionable features referred to.
DR.. Lewis then went on to speak o
some of the advantages of a fair.
brings money into the church, and sucl
gatherings are a conservator of the so
cial side of the church. 1t also is a ties
of the spiritual life of the church
: There are some people who get alons
beautifully together in a prayer meet
ing who would have a quarrel in ter
minutes, If they undertook to do lit
I tie business together. 1t requires mucl
: prayer and patience, much grace anC
charity to work together at a churcl
fair