Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-28
DIR. HAwruoRNE.s LAST SERMON
ON LOCAL CONDITIONS.
THE LAUREL-ST. METH0DISTS.
,,cnt Follows the Retire
at Calvary

mon Sunday morning cealinS Will 't'
local situation" Grove-Avemnc churcH
was crowded to its utmost capacity, ihe
congregation being made up of all classes
Of people among whom We're not a re"
gamblers scattered here and there. Or.
Hawthornes subject was The Affected
Innocence of Moral Courage; or, Lessons
From the Conduct of PLATE in the Iflai
of Jesus, His text was, Il am innocent
es the blood OF this just person.
Or. Hawthorne said in part
srhe recent investigation before the po-
Rsee board furnished another deInohs'ra-
zion OF the proposition, so often assei ecu
from this pulpit. that men charged Win
Tho administration of civil governments
.r;1, Oh no further in the execution OF the
law than public sentiment requires ther
70 20 In that investigation IT was SHOWN
that a large number Of disreputaole
bouses have existed in this city Tor many
years. and prosecuted their nefarlous
business without being disturbed by the
police authorities. The laws OF Virginia
make il the duty of the police depart
mont to detect the keeper of these places
TO report them to the police court, where
ibov shall be punished by fine OF not
more than $500 and by imprisonment IN
fail for q period not exceeding Twelve
months If there is an instance upon
record where the keeper of such q place
has been fined. imprisoned and elected
according TO the requirements OF the law
/ have not heard of il. Only lew no
tablv disorderly places have been closed
The investigation before the police board
brought to light the fact that large gam
bling houses have existed in conspicuous
places on our thoroughfarcs and have
prosecuted their business of corruptlnS
and making criminals of our young men
for the last quarter Of a, century. from
time TO time. some of the minor gambling
places have been closed and their keepers
fined but the large houses have seldom
been disturbed.
POLICE BOARD AFFAIR.
The investigation disclosed the fact that
until recent period a great number of
The bar-rooms of this city were selling
)iuuor in violation Of the Sunday law
Occasionally there was an arrest for this
offence but there was no decided and
vigorous policy adopted by the police de-
partment for the closing Of the saloons
on Sunday before the 18th of last March
The excuse given for not executing the
laws against these offenders was the diff
Iiculty in procuring evidence TO convict
them.
WHAT THE SEQUEL SHOWS.
The fact that within the last six months
=
sure, stopped the selling of liquor on Sun
day, closed the gambling houses and made
nUkuc bonfire of their furniture and i'm
plements, shows that they could have
done the same thing at any time within
the last ten years. Why was it not done?
The only explanation or 1t is that not
until recently have the citizens of Rich
mond risen up and demanded that it be
done. The blame rests upon US as We'll as
the police department
The agitation of this question began in
the pulpitS OF this city about two years
ago. The feeling generated by the pulpits
crystalized into the organization of 4
Sabbath Observance League. The minis
ters and the Sabbath Observance League
have received the united and vigorous
support Of the public press of the city.
When the police authorities heard the
voice of the law-abiding and good gov
eminent people of the city. through the
pu1pits and mass-meetings and newspaper
editorials. they responded to the will of
The people and adopted a policy in har-
mony with the reform movement. That
statement no man can dsprove.
In view of these facts how absurd has
been the censure visited upon the men
who begun this agitation and who have
kept it up to the present hour. Without
such agitation there would have been no
reform.
The good citizens of this community
will continue their work Of reform, until,
for good government, good order. purity
and happiness, our city will be second to
none in the wide world. Never was there
a more timely and profitable agitation
And if this be SO, have I committed a
crime in promoting the agitation?
Last Thursday night. AT a meeting Of
the Laurel-Street Methodist church. Mr.
Carter Osterbind, for many years super
intendent of the Sunday school, and Mr.
Thomas Dance, for many Years {
member OF the Board of Stewards. Were
retired and others elected in their places
The change has caused much conmen
among the members of the congregation
and it is stated upon good authority tina
it is likely to cause a split in the church
1t is positive that it Will cause sew
cral of the members, including the TIVE
gentlemen mentioned, to leave the church
The pastor, Rev. j. L. Johnson wa:
seen last night, and when asked regard
Ing the matter, said: The statements il
the afternoon papers We're inaccurate
Further, / have nothing to say. l Dc
not think it a matter for publication
AS far as can be learned, the caus.
of the trouble dates back to the purchas
of a. parsonage some time ago THREE
members OF the board Messrs. Bailey
Dance, and Busser, did not agree witt
the pastor as 10 the location of the par
sonage and fou ght hard for the location
which they believed to be best. while tn;
question was an open one. When the,
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