The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1950-04-20

careers 10 q COiOT ana excite
Iment TO their drab lives. Society
may well sympathize with their
desires and help them to satisfy
them, but it cannot approve a
method of seeking color and ex-
element which is harmful both
to society and the seeker.
(3)-All life is a gamble
business, games, marriage, etc.
Then how can it be maintained
that the element of chance
makes the sin of gambling?
There is a fundamental differ
ence between the way we treat
chance in normal and in gamb-
ling. In normal life, the attitude
of mind and will toward the ell
ement of chance is exactly the
opposite of the gambler, for man
turns the universal fact of risk
or uncertainty into a source of
enjoyment by striving to over
come it But, the gambler segre-
gates risk, cultivates it for its
own sake, capitalizeS it, and
makes the interplay between
luck and an artificially created
risk the means of redistributing
values. 1t is a sort of blasphemy
against life, for the thrill of JOY
proceeds from the very decision
that ownership shall be surrend-
cred to chance.
az - Doesn't the merchant
gamble? Also, the farmer?
The element of chance in an
honest business life is a foe to
be conquered, a challenge to all
that is keen in a mans intellect
and noble in his will. In the
gambling mans career, chance
is his alluring delight and his
disgraceful passion.
-(5)-But isn't buying and sell
ing gambling?
1t is gambling when the buyer
is or ought to be aware that he
performs no real social function,
when he comes in upon the
market, not to facilitate the dis
tribution of commodities, not to
supply legitimate commercial
ventures with the necessary
capital, but merely to hold on
margins" a nominal and unreal
ownership for a few hours or a
few days in the hope that by
chance between his buying and
his selling the price may rise.
(6)-Doesn't a man who takes
a dangerous job for a big sum
gamble? Otherwise, why would
he be paid such a high salary?
1T is the higher order of cour-
age and skill, of human strength
as a whole, demanded by these
pursuits which the community
rewards with higher pay" Here
effort is made to reduce and
minimize dangers.
Conclusion
The church cannot be indiffer-
ent to this social disease. No one
can, who is concerned about the
wholesomeness of personalities
and the health of society. This
gambling mania is a social dis
ease and a cancer in personality.
But what can the church do?
Experience has taught US that
education is superior to pressure
politics and legislation (prohibi-
tom. The church, therefore,
must give unequivocal teaching
and set a good example for the
elimination of the scourge of
gambling. Let us as churches
take heroic risks for great causes
not gamblers chances for ex-
element and unearned gain.
Pastors Condemn Gambling,
Urge Church to Battle 1t
(Report- adopted by Ohio Pas
tors Convention on recommend
alton of its committee on Gamb-
ling and Law Enforcement.)
Due to the growing prevalence
of the spirit of gambling in the
world, and the subsequent prac-
tees thereof, which spirit and
practice foster methods of pro-
cedure we believe to be contrary
to the spirit, will and purpose of
Christ, and since by either en-
gaging. methods which cannot be
clearly distinguished from games
of chance, or remaining noncom-
initial with respect to them, we
actually condone a practice
which we believe to be inherent
ly evil, therefore, be it resolved:
THAT our churches make a
careful study of the whole prob
| lem of gambling. in order to ed
ucate u constituencies and to
awaken their conscience to the
far-reaching consequences to
which gambling, even in its in
! cipient form, may lead.
II-That our local church
boards 60 On record as opposing
| any form of lottery or game of
chance as a part of the program
of the church or of any affiliated
! organization.
III-That we make the largest