The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-27
INFLUENCES OF CLUB LIFE.
DR.. 7. Dewitt Talmage DiscOurses of
Club-HOuses and Their Tendencies.
Tests by Which Men May Ascertain Whether
Life at the Club Is Having Good or
Evil Effect Upon Them.
Special to tho Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, April 26.-Dr Talmage
preached this morning in the Brooklyn Taber-
nace on the subject, What is the influence Of
club-houses in American cities" Before the
sermon, DR.. Talmadge explained the 22d chapter
Of Proverbs, on the value of a good name which
comes from equipoise of temper and industry
The hymn sung was:
Before Jehovahs awful throne,
Ye nations bow with sacred joy!"
The text was Luke vi, "A: every tree is
known by his own fruit" DR.. Talmage said:
Fall pippins do not grow on crab apple tree
Choke pears are not found in orchard of
Bartletts. Christ laid down this principle, and It
is always applicable and everywhere applicable.
If you want to find whether an institution is
good or bad you have only to explain the kind OF
character it produces. I remember in my faith
er's orchard there was a large apple-tree that
yielded luxuriant fruit; but it had hollow
trunk, so that we boys could hide in it. Which
was the best position from which to examine the
fruit of that tree; in the trunk where we some
times used to hide, or standing on the outside
looking up at the fruitl SWELL" you say,
standing on the outside looking at it" and so l
really believe that those inside any institution
are less competent to judge of its tendencies
than those who are standing outside watching
the products perpetually shaken down.
am asked what is the influence of the club
houses of this country. To the answering of
that question I give this discourse Men are
gregarious. Cattle in herds; fish in schools
birds in f1ocks; men in social circles. You may.
by the discharge of a gun. scatter q flock of
nv "a 0f thn part
the denizens of the sea; but they will gather
themselves together again. If you, by some
new power, could break tho associations in
which men now stand, they would again cohere
God meant it so. He has gathered all the flow
ers and shrubs into associations. You may
plant one forget menot or hearts-ease alone,
away off upon the hillside, but it will soou
hunt up some other forget-me-not or
hearts-ease Plants love companionship. You
will find them talking to each other in the dew.
galaxy of stars is only mutual life insur-
ance company. You sometimes see man with
no ut-branchings of sympathy. His nature is
cold and hard like ships mast ice-glaced, which
the most agile sailor could never climb. Others
have a thousand roots and thousand branches.
Innumerable tendrils climb their hearts and
blossom all the way up and the fowls of heaven
sing in the branches. In consequences of this
tendency we find men coming together in tribes,
in communities, in churches. in societies. Some
gather together to cultivate the arts; some to
plan for the welfare of the state; to discuss
religious themes; some to kindlo their mirth;
some to advance their craft So every
active community Is divided into as
sociations Of artists, Of merchants, of
book binders, of carpenters. of masons, of plas-
terers. of shipwrights, of plumbers2 Do you
cry out against it2 Then you cry out against
tendency divinely implanted. Your trades will
accomplish no more than if you should preach to
a busy ant-hill or bee hive long sermon against
secret societies
All intelligent ages have had their gatherings,
characterized by the blunt old AngloSaxon
designation of clubs" If you have read his
tory, you know that there was Kings Head
Club, Ben Jonson Club, Brothers Club, to
which Swift and Bolingbroke belonged; q Liter
airy Club, which Burke, and Goldsmith, and
johnson and Boswell made immortal; Jacobin
Club Benjamin Franklin Junto Club-some
of these to indicate justice, some to favor the
arts, some to promote good manners, some to
despoil the habits, some to destroy the soul. SO
now we have club houses, and they are as differ
ent from each other as day and night Look at
two specimens:
TWO KINDS OF CLUB-HOUSES
What an imperial hallway! Seel Here are
parlorS on the side with the upholstery Of the
Krenllin and the Tuileries and here are dining
halls that challenge you 30 mention any luxury
that they cannot afford; and here are galleries
with sculpture, and paintings and Autographs
and drawings from the best of artists-Cropsey
and Bierstadt and Church. and Hart and Gift
ford-pictures for every mood, whether you are
impassioned -shipwreck, or sunlight
over the sea; Sheridan's Ride, or the MONDAY
party of the farmers under the tree foaming
deer pursued by the hounds in the Adirondacks,
or the sheep on the lawn On this side there
are reading where you find all
newspapers and magazines. On that side
there is library where you find all books, from
hcrmeneutics to the fairy tale. Coming in and
out there are gentlemen. some Of whom stay ten
minutes; others stay many hours Some of
these are from luxuriant homes, and they have
excused themselves for while from the domes-
tic circle that they may enjoy the larger socia-
bility of tho club house. These are from dis
membored households and they have plain
lodging somewhere but they come to this club
room to have their chief enjoyment One black
ball amid ten votes will defeat a mans becoming
a member. For rowdyism, for drunkenness,
for gambling, for any kind Of misdemeanor.
member is dropped out. Brilliant clubhouse
FROM top to bottom. The chandeliers, the plate
the furniture, the companionship the literature,
the social prestige. a complete cnchantment
Another MISUNDERSTANDING tho door we find
the fumes of strong drink and tobacco something
table, it is easy to understand what they are at,
from the flushed cheek, tho intent look. the
almost angry way of tossing the dice or
of moving the chips They are gambling At
another table are men who are telling v;lo
stories. They are three fourths intoxicated
and between IL and o'clock they go staggering,
honA ell, IL =