The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-29

solemn admonitiOn OF H~abakkuh. the
blessed Savior 5 specific CHARGES against
tho people and John the Baptists indict-
ments. as he called men 10 repentance.
Tho speaker In eloquent language referred
to Richmond's illustrious fame-her greet
men and her conspicuous historic position.
are then drew a pretty word picture OF
the city's beautiful situation and natural
advantages.
But" added he, Il cannot say OF her as
the celebrated writer declared OF Athens.
there ara no heils within her gates, Tor
(and surely ] may with propriety use
the same term employed by so chasle
and celebrated a writer there are $50 hens
In Richmond. This is a stain and nothing
much short Of an actual disgrace TO Inc
Christians OF fair Richmond. The term
saloon In itself means no evil IL originate
~ implied a place where cultured men
met to confer and TO discuss: but now 1t
implies a place where men 20 to get
drunk, where the youth OF the CITY IS en-
meshed In the snares of evil, where
mothers hearts are broken, where our
almshouses are furnished inmates. 1T Is
all a great lie, this pdny contention that
the saloons arc a source OF revenue 10 inc
State. Even in the matter of dollars and
cents they cost largely more than the
revenue they put In our Golfers from their
licenses. There is nothing good about the
saloon-it Is all bad. and as ] speak many
"A young man Is cursing his life in tha
saloons OF Richmond. Here the speaker.
who was now thoroughly warmed up to
his subject, declared that the attempted
distinction between the bar-kceper and
the wholesale liquor dealer was the
yefiest nonsense and that the difference
In criminallty between the keeper OF the
lowest grocery who retails the stuff pro-
I.IIu for Two cont. /. drink and tina
wholesale liquor dealer who lives in the
fashionable West End was simply the
difference I'm the amount of capital in
vested IN prosecuting the same nefarious
business. A man wished to join the speak
ers church once and stated he would or
curse give up the bar-room business, but
would 90 into the "bottling business lie
didn't take him In. Such distinctions are
frauds. The whole business is bad and
ineXcusablc.
1t is like the bar-keeper who told me
he never sold TO a man who was under
the influence and | asked him did he
sell him before he got under the influence
and If such sales didn't put men under
the inhuence? "Ah, maybe we can't
reach this whole business as We would
like all at once. but we will after a
while" Then the speaker paid a pretty
tribute to the organized temperance
UbtutltS-N =. i. W, bDO0 JtnDIdlS,
etc, and 10 the Prohibitionists, and de-
clared his own Willingness and readiness
To cooperate in all legitimate ways to
suppress the browning blight of our city
and land, and held that the sentiment
is rapidly growing and developing that
tho saloon in Richmond shall go and that
our sons shall not be thus murdered by
the curse.
The growth Of the prohibition sentiment
In the State was adverted TO and the
speaker declared that the people were
getting ready when the question is di-
vorced from partisan politics and put 10
them on the square issue OF license or
no license, TO declare that the saloon shall
go.
Mr.. Beauchamr next touched on the
Sunday liquor law in Richmond. and said
that it was being violated. People get
drunk in Richmond on Sunday. a few
weeks ago n man was arrested for being
drunk and disturbing religious worship.
This ought not to be. and Richmoi.d's
Christian citizenship should see that it
no longer exists.
The law is ample enough If the officials
and the people will insist on its enforce.
ment. lie elaborated on this point, and
declared IL 10 be d citizens duty TO re-
port all known violations, even at the
cost of inconvenience.
We are not blameless in this matter.
Then the police justice. the chief Of police.
the mayor, the policemen, and the law
abiding citizens should vie with each
other in enforcing this law. Let us at
least have one day free from the saloon
curses. He wanted no New York Raines
law. no compromise, but our saloon doors
CLOSED absolutely on Sundays. With 100
officers and 800 saloons it didn't seem 80
hard TO enforce the law.
Let the policemen do their duty fear
lessly and the people will see that no
minor official is allowed 10 suffer AT the
hands of the higher powers because of
doing his duty. If all of US work to-
gether this thing can be stopped in six
months. The practice Of treating public
officials was touched upon and instances
quoted in Norfolk history TO show its
evil effects.
The speaker said further that he was
prepared 10 say with Talmage, that the
great and momentous question confront
ing us to-day is. Shall it be the church
or shall IT be the saloon?'
1t il the church's greatest foe, her
greatest danger, he declared. IT stands
at the top-the browning blight of oui
age and land, lie deciaied IT TO be the
Christians duty to relinquish all party
ties, every political heritage, every sen
timent that would hinder him from an
tagonizing this great curse.
Floquently and earnestly he pleaded
for a ~rallying for Christ against the sa-
Loom" picturing the blight in its black
ness and hideOusness. and calling in tri-
umphant tones for Christian citizenship
to bcstir itsr.f in a determined effort 10
rescue the land from its greatest foes.
The church or the saloon Christ or
the siloon.' rang out the clear notes OF
the aroused preacher in a grand perora-
ton which stirred the congregation from
centre TO circumference, and which was
the climacteric gem of a fearless, pow
erful, eloquent. and vigorous arraignment
Of the whole liquor business in all its
phases.
The sermon, Of which this Is a running
synopsis merely. was greatly compliment
ed. and a large number Of people. at the
close of the services, pressed forward and
warmly thanked the minister for his dis
course. among the number being the
president OF the Richmond Prohibition
Club. who said Ia us that such preaching
is what the people need, and is a power
ful aid toward enhancing the temperance
sentiment.
Rev Mr.. Beauchamp breaches fearless
". eloquently. and vigorously, and yet
Is free from sensationalism and personal
abuse. lie is well balanced, as the
expression goes, aud is not susceptible 10
the charge Of anything akin To fanatioism.
His delivery is excellent and his die
ton superb.
ON next Sunday night he will touch on
ni.lmoulfs cluh life. among other mat |