The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-16
SOCIAL CLUBS RIs THEME.
Rov. DIR. Broughton Delivers n Strong
Address to a Crowded House.

Rov. DIR. Broughton Delivers n Strong
Address to Crowded House.
1.-The Social Clubs Of Roanoke" was
the topic OF the prelude to Rev. DR.. L.
&. Broughton's sermon Sunday night at
Calvary Baptist Church. The announce,
ment in THE TINES that DR.. Broughton
would discuss the clubs had the effect
of bringing out q very large congrega-
ton, and after every available space in
tho tabernacle was filled over a hundred
people were turned away, being unable
TO obtain admittance.
The pastor of Calvary, in his dram attic
and highly interesting way, stated that
for season he would each Sunday night,
before tho regular sermon, briefly dis
cuss tho different phases of Roanoke
social life, and that his determination
to discuss the clubs at that time was
strengthened by the following anony-
nous letter he had received few DAYS
previously:
"RoASoKE, VA, Jan. 10, 1S9i
"Rcy. DIR. L. G. Brouyhton, Pastor Calvary Bap-
oa had better keep qqG on the subject Of
you. hint TO the wise is sufficient.
YOUR WoULD.BK FRIEND
He was sorry that anyone would have
so little respect for him as to write him
this letter or to believe he would be in
fiuenced by it, He thought even the
devil would have more respect for him
than that He would not write the
devil letter without signing his name
to it. This anonymous letter writing
was getting to be- too common an occur
renee in Roanoke. Other ministers
also had been receiving them and it was
q frr loo
and stop put to this spirit of anarchy
There are twenty-one social clubs"
he continued, lin this city, all of which
are chartered by the legislature of Vir-
glnia and there are seven others seek.
ing charter. They have had a won
derful increase in the last few months
These clubs range all through the diff.
ferent stages OF society; from the bigh-
flyers to the lowest and most degraded
people in the city. There are some OF
the rooms furnished in very elaborate
style, at great expense and are made
up, some Of them, OF church mem ers.
They have various theories as an
excuse for existence; for the dissemina.
ton of good and wholesome literature
and the main tenance of q reading room
and library"
We deny these claims. They say
they are for the purpose of promoting
social itercourse. 1t is the first step
to hell. Is that good society?
I'VE deny that it is the purpose of
these clubs to disseminate good litera-
ture. The books and papers and maya
zines are there, but are there as blind
TO lead your boy and mine beyond the
front room into the barroom and gam
bling hell and into hell itself.
Each one of the clubs has a bar
room with whiskey, brandy and wine.
You say you do not sell whiskey; you
have checks, No, you don't; you don't
have anything but the clean, hard cash.
You pay your money and buy whiskey.
appeal to the law-making powers OF
fanny. | contend that a policeman with
his brass buttons can find out as much
about these dens as l can. If they
don't want to violate thair oaths Of
ONCE their will put stop to it.
after the first day of May local
option will go into effect in this city, If
Judge Woods don't knock it in the
head, and these petitions to the legisla
ture for charters will increase. Not
only do they sell whiskey in the clubs
but they gamble and this can be proved
lone OF the most disgusting incidents
that ever heard Of happened In this
city. A man of high standing belonged
to one OF these clubs and young man
in his employ belonged to the same club
and learned to drink whiskey in the
club. He became dissipated, got drunk
and the employer kicked the young man
out OF his position
That's social elevation for you. That
is disseminating good literature. God
speed tho day when this hydra beaded
monster will be driven out OF this city"