Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-27
INFLUENCES OF CLUBS.
DIR. TALMAGE DTSCRHuNATEs
BETWEEN THEM.


i'm Tabernacle on the subject: "What is
tie influence of club houses in American
citiess" Before the sermon Dr. Talmage
explained the pa chapter Of Proverbs, on
TIE value of q good name which comes
from equip6ise Of temper and industry.
The hymn sung was;
Before Jehovs=' awful throne.
nations bow with sacred Joy
The text was Luke Vi, A: Every tree
is known by his own fruit" Dr. Talmase
said
Fall rippius do not grow on crab APP
rle tree. Choke pears are not found in an
orchard OF Bartletts. Christ laid down
TINS principle, and il is always applicable,
and everywhere applicable. II you want
TO find whether an institution is good or
bad YOU have only to examine the kind Of
characteri il produces. remember in my
fathers orchard there was a large apple
tree that Welded luXuriant fruit; but il
had a hollow trunk, so that we boys
could hide IN it. Which was the best pO-
sition from which to examine the fruit OF
that tree-in the trunk where we some
times used to hide, or standing on the out
side looking up al The fruit: NV ell, you
say. standing on the outside looking at
it, And so | really believe That those IN
side any institution are less competent 10
Judge OF its tendencies than those who are
standing outside and watching the pro-
lucts perpetuaily shaken down.
am asked what Is the influence Of the
club houses q this country? To the
answering Of that question I give this
disclosure Men are gregariOus, cattle in
herds, fish ia schools, birds in flOcks,
men I'm social circles. You may, by the
discharge of gun scatter flock OF
Quail7. or 10y the plunge of the anchor
send apart the deniZens of the sea; but
they viii gather themselves together
again. II you. 10y some new power,
could break the associations In which men
now stand. they would again adhere.
Sod meant it SO. He has gathered all the
flowers and shrubs into associations.
You may plant one forge -me-nOt' or
'.hearts-ease' alone, away of upon the
hillside, but it viii soon hunt up some
other farget-me-nOt or hearts-ease.
Plauts love company. You viii ind them
talking 20 each other in the dew. A
galaxy Of stars is only d mutual lite in
suranCe company. You sometimes see a
man with no Out-branchIugs uf sympathy.
His nature is cold and hard like ships
mast, ice-glazed which the most
agile sailor could never CLIMB. Others
have thousand roots and a thousand
branches. Innumerabie t-rdriis climb
their hearts and blossom an toe way up;
and the fowls Of heaven sing in the
branches. In consequence Of This ter
demos we lind men coming together ina
tribes. in communities, in churches, in
societies. Some gather together to cui-
tiyate the arts; some TO plan for the well
fare of the State; some 90 discuss rel!g-
ious themes; some To ldudie their mirth;
some TO advance their craft. So every
active community lis divided into as50cia-
tions of artists. OF merchants. of book
binders, 0f carpenters, of mas0ns. of
pasierers, OF slipwrights, OF plumbers.
Do you cry OFT agaiustltt Then you cry
Ont against Il tendency dhlnely inn
planted. Your TRADES VIII accomplish TO
more than Ii You should preach to busy
ant hill OF beehive long sermon against
secret societies.
An intelligent ages have had their
-.flerings, characterized by the blunt
old AEglc-eaNOu designation Of club"
ID YOU have read history YOU know that
there was a Kings Head Club, a Ben JON
son club, Brothers Club to Whicn Swift
and Bolingbroke belonged: "a Literary Club
which Burke AID Goldsmith and johnson
and Boswell made immortal; "a Jacobin
Club a BENJAMIN Franklin Jnt0 Club
Some of these % indicate Justice, some to
favor the arts. some toprOmote good man
neTs, some 10 despoI the habits, some TO
destroy the soul. so now we have club
houses, and they are as different from
from each other as day and night. Look
at TWO specimens:
What an imperial hallway See, here
are parlOrs on this side with the up
holstery of the hremlin and the Tuiler-
les; and here are dining nails that chal.
lenge you 10 mention any luxury that
they can NOT AFFORD; and here are galleries
with sculpture and paintings and li;ho-
craps and drawings from the best OF ar
fists. Cropeey and Bierstadt and Church
aud Hart and GiiiOrd-pictures FOR every
mood, whether you are lmpassiOned or
placid; shipwreck or sunlight over the
sea; Sheridan's ride or the MONDAY party
Of the farmers under the tree; iOamng
deer pursued by the hounds in the Adiron-
dacks or the sheep on the lawn. ON this
side there are reading rooms, whore you
sad all newspapers and magazines. On
tlat side there is library whore you find
all books. from hermcueutCs to the
fairy take. Coming in and out
there are gentlemen, some Of
whom stay ten minutes, others stay
many hours. Some OF these are from
uXauant homes, and they have excused
themselves for while from the domestic
circle that they may enjoy the larger
sociahnity OF the club house. These are
nom dismembered households. and they
have a plalu lodging somewhere, but they
come % This club room 10 have their chief
enjoyment. one hlack-ball amid ten votes
will dete.rt q mans becoming member.
For rOW0yism, for drunkenness. Tor gam
bling, for any kind OF miademcanor. a
member rs dropped out. Brilliant club
house from top 70 bottom. The chandc-
Tiers, the plate. the furniture. the cOm-
panionship, the literature, the social
prestige, q complete enchantment.
Another club house. Opening the door
we hne the fumes OF strong drink and to-
bacC0 something almost intOlerable,
Taese youag men 81 this table 10 is easy
% unders aud what they are at. from the
flushed check. the intent look, the Mm0st
angry way " tossing the dice or Of NOV
ing the "chips." Tney are gambling. At
another table are men who are telling vile
stories. They are tbree-ICurths iutONi.
Gated, and between - and o'clock they
will 90 staggering, h0Oting. swearing
shouting on their way home. That rs am
only son, On him All kindness. all care
an culture has been bestowed Heis pay.
ing bis parents in mis- way for their Kind.
ness. That is young married man who
only few months ago az the altar made
promises Of Kindness AMI fidelity. every
Que OF which be has broken. Walk
through and sec for Yourself. Here are
an the implements Of dissipation and OF
quick death. A. the hours OF the night
10 away the conversation becomes imbe.
ellie and more debnsing. Now 10 is time
20 shut up. Those who are able TO stand
VIII get out on the pavement and balance