Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-29
WHOLESALE DEALERS SCORED, TOO.
The Young Minister Makes nm Ear
nest Plea for Christian Sentiment
20 Rise In Against The Great Evil
Other Sunday Services.

Richmond" served as the basis for Rev.
MIR. Bcauohamp's discourse at ST. James
Methodist church Sunday night, and was
delivered 10 large and attentive
congregation. The text was taken from
Habakkuk, a.. Is: Woe unto him that
giyeth his ncighbor drink" etc. The
preacher began his sermon with the
statement that he had no apology TO
make for his authorities as TO the dis
grace attaching 10 the sale OF liquor,
for they were God the Lord, Jesus
Christ. and John the Baptist. After re-
ferring 20 Richmond as one Of the love
Hest cities In the South. around which
clusters memories Of courage and self
sacrifice. and surrounded. like Jerusa-
lem, by many hills Mr.. Beauchamp de-
clarcd that tho beauty Of our city was
blcmished. it's honor stained. and its
purity disgraced. Marantha, looking
with pride over Athens. exclaimed,
''Athcns has no hclls" but here In beau
tiful Richmond. with its boasted Chris
tian civilization. there are go hells. The
proper Specification OF the word saloon"
was place Where learned men met to
discuss important questions but, unfor-
tunately. the word is now associated with
the destruction Of our young men. the
breaking Of mothers hearts. and the
damning OF immortal souls.
CRIMINAL EXPENSES EXCEED REV
NUE..
The speaker refuted the claim that the
saloon was a producer Of wealth TO the
state. for. said he. lit is an indisputa-
Die fact that the criminal expenses due
10 drunkenness. or crimes resulting there
from, far exceed the sum received from
licensing the sale Of liquor" He. also. in
n most emphatic manner. denied the
charge that some Christians are engaged
IN the sale OF whiskey. and said there
was no difference. from n moral stand
point. between the man who sold ii by
the barrel and the one who retailed ii
at cents a glass.
Concerning the sale Of liquor on the
Sabbath day. Mr.. Beauchamp declared
that the law was constantly violated;
''young men tell me so; the police and
others In authority know IL, and the
fact that this IS so is very conclusive
evidence that some one Is dereict in The
discharge of duty" The speaker had
been told that IL was not wise for an
officer TO be too efficient in this matter;
that his position might be vacated and
no reason assigned therefor. If this was
true. the moral and law-abding people
Of the city should serve notice on those
high I'm authority that II was not pro-
posed 10 allow men to be "butchered'
for discharging their duty. Mr.. Beau
champ next adverted TO city officials
receiving favors from corporations and
individuals. and denounced the system
as vicious and tending 20 tempt men 10
wink at evasiOns of law and become
slaves Of the tempter The sentiment
OF the Church should be such as TO pre-
rlude the possibility Of such a state Of
affairs existing. wherever we 30 and
under whatsoever circumstances we may
be placed. first of all let us go as agents
Of the Lord Jesus Christ. II necessary
surrender every heritage Of political faith
rather than that the Church should sur
render I'm it's fight against the saloon"
ANTI-sALOON MOVEMENT.
The anti-saloon movement. i'm which
we're enlisted Catholics and Protestants
alike. the preacher believed TO possess
The clements Of She earliest solution of
The liquor problem. for the question was,
"Shal the Church or the saloon pre-
vail?' "Whiskey Is invading the pulpit
and creating apostates It is entering
the editorial sanctum and stealing the
brains and paralyzing the hands Of the
erudite and convincing writer; it is
debasing our Senate chamber and de-
stroying the intellects Of some of our
most brilliant men; it is robbing our
homes of manly and robust boys: ii is
breaking hearts of mothers. wives. and
sisters, and it Is filling our prisons"
In the face of these facts. the preacher
mplored his congregation to stand firm
for Christ and His Church against the
saloon. The sermon was strong in Ian
guage. and delivered in an earnest
manner.
Tho second Of the series will be
preached next Sunday night. when Mr..
Bcauchamp's subject will be- "Clubs and
Sambling-Dcns."
OId-EoIss' Day ut LnureI-Street.
1t was old folks-day at Laurel-Street
Methodist church last Sunday, and a
large congregation took part in the spe-
cial services, which were of a very in
teresting nature.
Mr.. Henry Wright. one of the Oldest
members of the Sunday school, offered
the opening prayer. and the choir rem
hered appropriate music.
Rev. II. }. Taylor gave very inte-
resting history of the Sunday school. II
was organized. he said. October IA. 1S49.
and in q few Sundays il numbered fifty
SCHOLARS. Inc REV. JOHN Il. clarke, now
superannuate of the Virginia Confe-
renee was its pastor. Mr.. Watkins
Taylor was the superintendent. and Mr.
W. r. Pemberton secretary. This school,
when organized was named Oregon
chapel, located on Church street, be-
tween Rowe and Maiden's Lane streets.
The school prospered in all its work.
In the year 1879. under the pastorate of
the late Rev George NJ. Wright, and
by his indefatigable efforts, the lot was
secured on which this congregation now
worships. From that time until now
the work has gone forward. despite the
many obstacles that were in the way.
This school also started the Asbury
church and the Epworth Mission. both
doing a good work in the West End of
the city.
Following Mr. Taylor. Mr.. A. C. Oster-
bind one OF the first members OF the
school, spoke entertainngiy OF the early
days of the school,
One Of the most interesting features
OF the occasion was the presentation OF
q very hand ONE bouquet of flowers by
six members of the Junior Epwor;h
League 10 six of the original members
Brief Notes from the Churches.
At the regular weekly conference Of the
Methodist ministers, held yesterday
morning, committees were framed TO ar