CHURCH NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 March 1901, Page 4

CHURCH NOTES.

Betting and Gambling

(By Amicus.) One cf the increasing evils in tlio colony was dealt with by the Rev. Mr. York at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday morning. Choosing for his text “Whatsoever ye would that others should do unto you, do ye even to I hem," the preacher said that betting and gambling were in opposition to the golden rule, | and as the race meetings were in such evidence he wished to warn his people against indulging in this evil practice. Horse racing was a noble sport, but could be overdone when associated with betting. About £‘1,000,0: >OO were annually put through the totalisator in New Zealand, and although a large amount of this sum was the result of re- * investment the Government, the racing club and the totalisator claimed a third of it. The losers were often limes ltd! of ill-feeling and homes that could ill afford the loss were made the poorer through betting. The Government and the totalisator profited most from the pernicious practice. It had been said that if the totalisator was abolished another form of betting would ho adopted. But why tamper with the gambling spirit at all? ft is in the 1 power of the people and the Government to suppress the evil, it injures the sport of racing and demoralises those who participate in the practice. Bet racing clubs have the races run fairly, lot the horses run for stakes alone and there is nothing to the whole community turning out on masseto witness the contests. As it is run, ministers and other Christian people arc debarred from attendance because their presence would countenance and stimulate the growing evil. Gambling would need very strong efforts to suppress it. Public opinion must bo cultivated against it, the children must be taught the evil of it as they are about the evil of strong drink. The happiness of the winner involves the misery of the loser in gambling. The golden rule “ Whatsoever ye would that others should do unto you, do ye even so to them ” needs to ho emphasized

and clearly taught. Gambling is antisocial and egoistic, and deteriorates character and infringes the golden rule. It is not loving one’s neighbour as one’s self. All betting is morally wrong and must be shunned by all Christians. It is prosecuted under many forms, and the athletic sports afford opportunities for the practice. The worst feature about the gambling spirit is that it attracts all classes —rich and poor. Women, it is to be regretted, participate in the wicked habit, and children arc trained to it by what they see in others, Robert Anderson, Inspector of Police, says “that betting is on the Increase and that its effect on the character is extreme. It is a fruitful source of misery, and the individual's retrogression affects the nation.” The Bcv. Ilorscly lias said “that betting lays hold of (lie towns and villages, and to judge the increase we have only to notice the large number of sporting papers now printed. In principle, the betting man is worse than I lie thief. His prayer is “ Give me this day my brother’s bread.” The preacher regretted that women should become victims to this evil of gambling. They enter into sweeps, etc., and the effect on character is soon noticeable. The moral vision is dimmed. “ Come out and be ye separate, and touch not Iho unclean tiling” was our command, and gambling could not he touched without being defiled. It is our duty to try and persuade onr friends to give up this great evil, which, in its effects in many cases, is worse than strong drink. If we follow Christ, we can have nothing to do with this vice. May God preserve us from its growing power and help us to abstain from the evil tendency, and remember “to do unto others as we would like others to do unto ns.”

The address was full of striking points and Mr. York dealt faith fully with the subject, and when one contemplates the celerity with which our gentler sex are being swept into the vortex of gambling, we feel inclined to endorse the sentiments expressed. To no section of the Christian church can wo ascribe phenomenal success as to the Salvation Army. Its methods of procedure may differ from those who have been trained in the orthodox method that have been adapted for centuries, and the conducting of services may diverge widely from the standard which many good people adopt. Wo can never understand how many of their terras are to be reconciled with the decorum incumbent for divine worship—viz., “ wetting of hands.” “ wind up the meeting ” etc., but that their power is felt cannot ho denied. The two things requisite for any spiritual organisation they possess love to God and intense sympathy with humanity, and while these two principles arc not surrendered to ultcror motives their progress is sure. In our usual way wo went to the Army last Sunday night, when Adjutant Ward the newly appointed district officer was present. His words were full of pathos and earnestness, and wo trust his stay in Greymouth will be a happy one. la his remarks ho said the growing evil in the as in the churches is indifference. It is true, and no form of evil so insidiously eats into tho vigour and life of a church like tho ennui of indifference.