Sentence:  At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors....In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a <WSD>club</WSD>, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An association of members joining together for some common purpose, especially sports or recreation.