Church Gambling by Golden Censer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1873

Church Gambling.

By Golden Censer

The Protestant Episcopal church of New York held a meeting lately to discuss the subject of church fairs, and the sinfulness of lottery gambling in connection therewith. One of the reverend gentlemen unqualifiedly condemned the raising of money for religious purposes by games of chance; but a majority of his clerical brethren differed from him, and argued that these little devices of the adversary were the only means by which the worldly-minded could be made to bear a portion of the burdens of supporting the gospel. No wonder that people become disgusted with the present-day religious professions when gospel ministers have so far departed from faith in God as to resort to such means in order to have the gospel supported. God have mercy on such preachers. Only a few weeks ago the Governor of Wisconsin was called upon to suppress, by the strong arm of the law, church gambling. Referring to this, the Rev. B. F. Booth says: “I hide my face in shame when I hear of a governor of a State being compelled to call upon the law-making department of his State to pass laws to counteract the swindling carried on, under the auspices of the church, under the names of church-fairs, festivals, and other forms of ‘pious’ church-gambling. “All this is done in the name of Christ and for his glory;” they say, “The end justifies the means.” What blasphemy, what an insult to the name of Christ! Shame upon all such schemes, designed to cheat the devil out of a few cents, but which give him a good bargain in the end. If we must have money for church purposes, let it be given fairly, honestly, without having to pass through the devil’s machinery, giving to it the odor of perdition. The world demands of the church fair dealing; and it should have it, also. And if the church wants influence over the world, let it put away its shameful practices of corruption of every kind, such as fairs, festivals, fun-lectures, pride, with every doubtful amusement; and let its banner be inscribed with honesty, peace, humility, and holiness. Then shall it have power both with God and man. Nothing shall be substituted for pious living, for this we must have. I have no objection to profession, but insist upon a correspondence between such profession and walk. A godly walk and chaste conversation must accompany such profession of piety. We need more invincibles who will “do right though the heavens should fall.” We need, must have, men and women who will walk with God. The odor of the lives of such will fill this vale of tears with the sweetest perfume. “Leaving us an example that ye shall follow his steps.”

—Golden Censer.