The Ethics of Gambling
SIR,—I am surprised at the Spectator's rather grudging attitude to the report of the Social and Industrial Commission of the- Church Assembly on the ethics of. betting and gambling. It must have come as a great relief to thiesands of loyal Churchmen who are convinced that to " buy a chance" as no more sinful than to buy anything else not strictly necessary. They simply regard the condemnation of raffles at a church sale of work as nonsense. In this part of the world you may apparently, vain a cake by guessing its weight at the price of 3d. without sin, but to expend 3d. on the chance of winning a cake is sinful. Surely we are all agreed that a Christian is responsible to God for the best use of his money and-his time. If that is accepted as the controlling principle of life, then individuals must be left to decide for themselves what money and what time they are entitled to spend on amusement. It is all a matter of proportion. Only 'Puritans and prigs would deny the right of every min toiwaste a little time and to waste a little money. Whether you waste your money on chocolates or cigarettes or football- pools is a matter for individual preference. Again, the number of good Christians who play bridge for modest stakes must be enormous. The Church only weakens its own authority on weightier. matters by denouncing as gambling and therefore sinful such harmless amusements. Only a fanatic wtidld grudge our Royal Family, who set the [lawn such a fine example of Christian living, the innocent' pleasure they get out of race-meetings and the ownership of horses. The finding of the Church Commission is very much in line with the finding of the' Roman -Church on -this subject: I only wish the Church of Scotland had shown as much good sense. It would be a good thing for all ecclesiastics to remember the -legal axiom( "Abitsus non toilet usum" and "De minintis non curat /ex."—Yours, &c.,
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