THE CHURCH & SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1650, 6 January 1914, Page 6

THE CHURCH & SPORT.

A RACE-GOING PARSON. BROAD VIEWS ON RACINGj (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, January 5. Tlic relations between sport and the Church wore dealt with by the Rev. Jasper Calder, son of Archdeacon G'alder, at an Anglican service which wns held last evening at Grey Lynn: There was a largo congregation, including many people interested in horse-breed-ing and racing. The- point of the discourse wns that clean, wholesome sport was quite compatible with truo Christianity. Mr. Calder said that ho spoke as ono who regularly attended race meetings, and ono who took a great interest in this great sport. . "i want," ho said,'"to impress upon nil men who go to races, and the public generally, that thero is no reason whatever for concluding that because a man "patronises a racecourso he is eternally lost. There is no Biblical authority for that at all." In dealing with the question of betting, Mr. Calder said that whilst ho was just as keen and enthusiastic in regard to racing as any member of his congregation, ho did not bet. "I do uot bet," ho said; "firstly, becauso if I did it would offend some members', of' my, congregation; secondly, beciiuso I do not think that it is desirable ; and thirdly, because I think that it would be wrong for me, with my meagre stipend, to bet. 1 simply could not afford it:" . . '

Mr. Calder proceeded to discuss the ethics-of betting, and pointed out that circumstances alter cases. "Take the case," ho said, "of a man with £1000 r year who invests on the totalisator. Is ho doing right? I certainly have-no light to forbid him to do so, as bis money is his, own, and ho can do, what lie. likes with it. Moreover, ho can afford it. Take, however, the case of a young man, earning 13Ss. or £2 a week, who invests in two or inoro £1 totalisator tickets. Is that ' wrong? Certainly it is; as ho it. and in the event of loss it may tempt him to tako money from his employer , ! till. I have many friends, good, devout Christians, who bet. They are able to afford it, and I have no right to Bay that they shall not do so. There is nothing in the Bible or the Prayerbook which says, 'Thou shalt not bet.' It is wrong, however, that a man who owes monoy to his grocer should go to the races and put £5 on tho totalisator without asking his grocer's permission."

The- preacher appealed to "all sports" Hot to allow their sport to drivo them nway from religion. If they could race «nd bet with a clean conscience, he did not think that God'would be offended. There, was nothing wrong with clean sport any ■ more'than with Stock Exchange speculations, and yet many people who pot up and denounced the bvils of gambling never said, a word nbout the gambling on the Stock Exchange. Hβ was glad to to feay that horse-racing was improving, nnd ho believed that it would, continue to improve. "I have much in common with sporting men," Mr. 'Calder went on to say," and I am always pleased to bco faces in my church which I have seen at the races. It will be'n sorry ilay for God and for- the Cimrot Then the feeling that religion begins and nnds .within the four walls oT a church is allowed to,have sway. Because you love sport you need not get any further Rwny from God. There- is no reason nt all because a man loves horses that he should not say h?a prayers.