CHURCH RAFFLES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1999, 5 July 1919, Page 3

CHURCH RAFFLES.

DEPRECATED BY ANGLICAN

SYNOD,

The holding of raffles for raising money for church purposes was a subject discussed at Wednesday’s sitting of the Wellington Diocesan Synod. Mr W, ITaydon Maclean moved: “That all vestries be directed that synod forbids the adoption of raffles and like methods of raising money in connection with any church work.’’

Mr Maclean said that during the past- four or five years the country had been flooded with raffles. He did not propose to enter-into a discussion on the question as to whether raffles constituted gambling or otherwise. If they raised money for church work (hey were devoting it to Almighty God. They had no right to offer anything but their best, whether it was money, or their time. Church people should not have to resort to raffles for the purpose of raising money for church work. ■Mr A. J. Nevius seconded the motion.

Mr J. W. Henderson moved an amendment to the effect that the synod deprecates raffles as a means of raising money for church work. He said that General Synod had not forbidden raffles, therefore it was not correct to instruct vestries that it-had done so. y.' The Rev. C. H. Isaacson seconded the amendment.

Speaking to the amendment, Mr Maclean said that the synod should do something more than merely “deprecate” the holding of raffles. It was time that the practice was forbidden.

Bishop Sprott appealed to the laity to speak their minds on the question. He did not want discussion on the matter to he confined to the clergy. Mr Nevins said that the law of the land prohibited Tattersall’s in New Zealand, and it seemed an extraordinary thing that the law should permit raffles in connection with church work. The church should not recognise gambling in any. shape or form. (Applause.) He supported the motion as against the amendment.

Several other speakers, both laymen and clergymen, took part in the discussion, in which it was pointed out that ratifies were not desirable methods of raising money.

The Rev. C. H. Grant Cowan thought the matter should be left to the judgment of the ladies of each parish, who were probably the best judges as to how money should be raised. He failed to see how the synod coixld enforce the prohibition of raffles.

Bishop Sprott said that while he was entirely in sympathy with the view that raffles should not be used as a means of raising money, he disliked the idea of synod making a prohibition which he did not think