Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-21
MIR. Weilford's Sermon.

1870 'So'iJ L Soo
Now that the smoke has blown
away md the dust has gotten out of
our eyes. perhaps 1t would he well to
look over the field and get our bearing
and distances.
There Is no sort of question that
many heightened, honorable gentlemen
belong to or arc in sympathy with the
Elks. that take issue with Mr.. Well
lords very advanced position.
Thcy say. or at least some of them
say, that gambling Is not stealing.
That a thing, to he stolen, must be
taken without and against the owners
consent; that In gambling this Gle
mont Is entirely wanting. That each
party to n gambling transaction makes
a positive and thoroughly understood
agreement that upon certain conditions
property passes from one to the other.
Consequently the principle That con.
s~titutes stealing is not In the transac-
ton and that charge falls to the
ground.
Thcy further say that IL is a still
disputed point whether the methods
they used constitute gambling I'm its
evil or offensive sense. That is has
not been such q great while since Pro-
tcStant Christian churches used and
the Catholic church now use similar
methods to raise money and that prac-
tees are in vogue among The best fam
il'cs OF at least, protesting Christians.
that arc open to the same charges. for
instance, progressive cuchrc. This is
brought forward not to condemn. of
course, but.to show that there is q
difference of opinion as to what con-
stitutcs the cvil Of gambling. That
| until hal mint fc .1nGyifol,r ,nItloJ
among Christians. a positive and de-
fensiblc position taken and persistent
and deliberate infraction OF that law
punished among themselves, it is, at
least. premature to arraign an order
outside of The church for such things.
Now, Mr.. Wellford's position is, that
taking anotlier's property without n
Just compensation has in it an element
That constitutes stealing. This opin,
ion Is held by perhaps a large majority
Of the Christian people who have given
the matter thought. This position is
very advanced and whether tenabIe or
not Is at least still a subject of con
troversy. But MIR. Wexford has an
other position that is tcnable on which
there is no diversity OF opinion among
true Christian people and that is, that
gambling Is a great evil and as we are
pOsiti iely enjoincd to abstain from
every appearance of evil there ought
not to be any variance of conduct on
that point among Christians. AS Chris
tianity is entirely in accord with true
science. does mot disagree with true
philosophy, however advanced, SO IL is
absolutely In line with every true prin-
cipal of ethics. Man Is unrcstraincd
ip his study Of the works of Nature.
They are Gods works. He can pursue
his Investigations in mental or moral
themes to the last degree. provided he
docs not get away from God. So long
as man loves God with all his heart
and his n%eighbor as himself he will
hardly take his property on the turn
Of a dice Of the fip of a card, but
whether the purchase OF a ticket with
a view of helping a cause with tho
chance Of getting a $1,000 piano for a
dollar Is gambling or not is the 1ucs-
ZION Tor every one to dccide-he who
claims 10 he n Christian, in the fear
OF God and every one who Gets up TO
ne a good citizen. for the good of his
fellow man.
There Is, without doubt. a universal
disposition IN the human family to