PIOUS SWINDLES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1032, 4 February 1882, Page 4

PIOUS SWINDLES.

The Auckland correspondent of the Otago Witness is responsible for the following:—There has been a little soreness between the Anglican and Roman Catholic communions over the question of ecclesiastical gambling. One of the churches of the former communion—St. Matthew’s—applied about a month ago for a permit from the Attorney-General (Hon. Mr Whitaker) for raffling, art-unions, &c., at bazaar in aid of the church funds; but that gentleman declined to make the concession in the face of the new Gaming and Lotteries Act, or to assume the responsibility of thwarting the intentions of the Legislature. Last week, however, the Benedictines held a bazaar in aid of the building fund of their new church, and, to the astonishment of the public, announced that they had got a permit for raffling, &c. It then transpired that, in view' of the bazaar, a permit was applied for and given some months ago by the Hon. Mr Dick. This has given great dissatisfaction to the Anglicans, who freely reproach the Government with gross partiality. The police authorities state that the permit is not worth the paper it is written on; that in consequence, however, of its having been given, they will not take any direct action, but that it is open for any private individual to lay an information and procureaconviction against the promoters of the bazaar. The Vicar-General, the Very Rev. Father Fynes, in opening the bazaar, made a speech, which was certainly one of the rankest that was ever delivered by a clergyman on the subject of that method of raising church funds. He stated that so long as the object was a good one, it mattered little by what means it was accomplished, and the Government had no right to interfere. Everybody knew that these bazaars were simply pious swindles, and nobody was deceived in consequence. The people flocked to such gatherings with a conviction that they and their money must soon part, and it mattered little to them how the parting process was was accomplished, but as a matter of policy and expediency he professed the “ painless extraction ” system. A newspaper correspondent, commenting upon these statements, says there is a refreshing candour about them, which shows that the Church and the world are now beginning to understand each other; that the lesson taught is that this poor persecuted thing gambling—deprecated by the Press and ostracised by the Legislature—is about to be taken under the wing of the Church, and “ added to the not too long catalogue of the Christian graces!”