Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-31
CHURCHES rHaEATESED.
Resuls or Opposition 20 Lottery scheme :
Two Mluissers Warned.

Two Ministers Warned.
A Boston (iass.l special says: During
the last three or four years the Grand Army
posts OF Massachusetts have made millions
OF dollars by holding the lotteries. Tickets
to these have been sold all over tho coun.
try. Stoughtor, small but very busy
town few miles south OF Boston, has a
fourishIng Grand Army OF the Republic
post. The mt,1ibers OF course have felt
the need Of funds, and to help them.
selves decided to hold fair and
have a lottery as an addition. They
sold number OF tickets and vet time for
The drawing. The two clergymen OF the
town decided that the drawing should not
be held. because lotteries were immoral
and Illegal. Tie civil authorities we're In
voked, hut decided to do nothing about
the matter until after the drawing. The
PEOPLE took sides with the Grand Army
boys, and for the past few days there have
been very exciting times In otoughton. On
saturday night 1t was given out that the
drawing would not come of. But last
evening a secret meeting was held by a
few OF the most prominent citizens OF the
town and the $4,000 in prizes were drawn.
ANONYMOUS THREATS.
The excitement and bitterness eugen-
dered by the affair have become so great
that anonymous sympllhizers with the
Grand Army men have descended 10 a
crime that will bring serious consequences
upon the authors n they can be detected.
" thin day or two the Parish Commit
tee OF the UniyersIllst church, In the cen.
ire OF the town, received the following let
ter:
GcGtlcmen,-I am very sorry TO be
Obliged 10 write this note, but unless you
instruct your minister to stop the proceed
ings against the Grand Army your church
viii be burned just az often rs you see BIZ
TO rebuild II. This l. not done for any
scare. mean every word OF IL, and have
plenty TO back me up IN it. Perhaps u will
be well for you TO take warning before it
is too late. Yours truly, -"
There was OF course no signature TO the
cowardly missiye. Rev. Z. Ii. Tenney,
pastor Of the Universalist church, yester-
day read the letter from bis pulpit with APP
propoiate comment. \ similar letter was
received by Rev. e. Ii. Ever, pastor OF the
Methodist church. The writer threatened
also 10 burn the parsonage in which Nr.
Ever and his family live. Rev. Mr.. Ever
does not desire to have printed the com.
munIcation at present, rs II might defeat
the ends OF justice. The State police will
use every effort TO trace the anonymous
letters.
STILL DETERMINED.
Rev. Mr. Ever states that he will at once
cooperate with Others in prosecuting all in
any way connected with the prize-drawing
OF last evening. To-day's developments,
the threatening letters especially, have
naturally created no small sensation in the
town. While on the question OF Interior
ing with the prIze.drawing there is a d.
vision Of opinion, there is nothing but COLI
demDation OF the cOwardly threats OF in
crndIarism and arson. The members OF
the Grand Army post OF course repn-
date the crime. Ii is TumOred that some
Of the most prominent citizens in town are
involved in the difficulty. but their names
are not known. The officers Of the post
have said That they were sincere In their
determination not to have the drawing. but
that gentlemen not connected with the post
urged them to 20 ahead and make test
case Of il. promising to pay all expenses,
They claim that these citizens took the
matter into their own hands and thus re-
lieved them OF all responsibility. No ar
rests have as yet been made. Tick
cts for the lottery were sold larGe' y
In the southern and western States.
The committee Of The post Will hold meet
ing soon, and startling developments are
| expected. Tue members and all citizens
Ihaically coodcmn the rashneSs OF tbs
individual who sent the letters to Rev. Mr.
Ever and Mr.. Tenney threatening to burn
| their churches. Ii is said that the Post will
take steps to ferret out the person whC
wrote them. Prominent members have
waited upon those gentlemen and assured
them that the Post had nothing TO do witt
that business. The letters were written II
a disguised hand and it will be difficult t,
| trace them TO the writer.