CHURCH AND SPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 161, 7 January 1914, Page 8

CHURCH AND SPORT.

RACE-GOING PARSOX'S VIEWS. Auckland, January a. I The relations between sport and the Church were dealt with by the Rev. Jas--1 par Gtldar, son of Archdeacon Oalder.at I an Anglican service which was held last evening at Rrey Lynn. There was a large congregation, including many people interested in horse breeding and racing. The point of the discourse was that clean wholesome sport was quite compatible with true Christianity. Mr. Oalder said that lie spoke as one who regularly attended race meetings, Mild one wiio look a great interest in this sport. "1 want," he said, "to impress upon all men who go to races, and the public generally, that there is no reason whatever for concluding that because a man patronises a racecourse 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 he wag just as keen and enthusiastic in regard to racing as iinv member of his congregation, he did not bet. "I do not bet," lie said, '•firsllv becnuso if I did it would offend some members of my colligation; secondly, because I do not think that it is desirable; and thirdly, because I think that it would lie wrong for me, with my meagre stipend, to bet. I simply could not afford it."

Mr. Calder proceeded to discus* the ethics of betting, and pointed nut. that circumstances alter cases. "Tal;e the ease," he said, "of a man with £IOOO a year, who invests on the tote. Is he doing right? I certainly have no right to forbid him to do bo, as his monev is his own, and he can do what he likes wifh it. Moreover, he can afford it. Take, however, the case of a young man earning ,10s or £2 a week, who invests in two or more fl totnlisator tickets, hthat wrong? Certainly it is, as he cannot afford it, and in the event of loss it may tempt him to fake inonev from his employer's till. I have many friends, good, devout Christian?, who bet. Thev are, able to afford it. and I have no right to say that thev shall not do so. There is nothing in the Bible, or the pravcrhook, which says Thou shalt not bet.' It is wrong, however, that « man wiio owes money to his grocer should go to the races and put £•"> on the tote without asking his grocer's permission. That would not be honest ov straightforward.'" ■ Tile preacher appealed to "all sports" not to allow their sport to drive them away from religion. If thev could race and 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 Excluing speculations, and yet. many people [ who got ii]> and denounced the evils of gambling never said a word about the gambling on the Stock Exchange. He was glad to be able to sav (hat horse racing was iiunroviug. and he 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 see faces in my church which I have seen at the races. Tt will be a sorry dav for Hod and the Cliurcli when the feeling that religion begins and end within the four walls of a church is allowed to have sway. Be.cause von love sport you need not go !nway from f3od. There is no reason at all, because a man loves horses, that he should not say his prayers."