The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-12-29
Rev. Father Giessen on Drunkenness.

Rev. Father Giessen on Drunkenness.
At tho solicitation of tho members of the
New Orleans Catholic Total Abstinence Associ-
alton, the Rev. Father Gesseu, C.SS r.. favored
them with his presence at their hall, l2% Car
ondelet street. on last Sunday evening, and de-
livercd eloquent, though extempore DIS
course on drunkenness. We subjoin n synop-
sis:
MI frienGs.-Of all the vices in the cata-
logue of human trailty, there is none 80 do
structive of human happiness as drunkenness,
and yet this terrible vice is daily growing
more prevalent 1t is not confined to q certain
class it seems to have taken possession OF tho
highest and most respectable of onr communi-
ty, as we'll as the humblest. With people In
our days, drink seems to be the beginning and
end of every thing. 1t is regarded as an en-
joyment, q luxury, and the dearer and more
expensive the liquor, the more it is coveted
and priced. My friends let us pause The
pleasures of drink are a mockery, deluson.
The evil Influences and illusory nature OF such
pleasures, are too obvi ous to be denied, except
by those who are impervious to truth and can,
not see and by the poor, degraded, confirmed
drnnkard and yet, cren he, will acknowledge
when the feverish spas:n Of his drunken enjoy
ment is over. he experiences nothing but mo mo
shath serrow WHO hath contention Who
hath babbingf Who hath wounds without
causef Who hath redness of eyes Ihey
| that tarry long aL the Wins, lucy 81 "
seek mixed wine" Here We have a scriptual
picture and how true picture OF cause and
effect !
NV friends it is impossible to imagine a crea-
ture so contemplate, so affect as tho drunK-
ard the miserable slave Of stupidity and debll-
ity. His will, his power, and his memory ee-
como the slaves of his passions, and he IS H.
CAPABLE of rejecting, of reasoning, OF draw
ing lust conclusions any more. Father, mother,
wife children, kindred, friends, and all th:it Is
near aud dear and that should occupy his alice
tions are cast aside 40 make way tor his ihor-
dinate beastlv appetitcS. The greater portioho OF
the misconduct of mankind, and of the evils
which we witness in the world aroma us,
. sprinc or arise from drunkenness. The object
OF your Association is to crush this vice, ana
a laudable, heavenly object it is Perseyerc'
and success will asSurslly crown your Efforts
= = You arc yet but few, but remember tue Twelve
, Apostles conquered the world. fou too are
: fighting under their banner tne los So nnr
that uncouquered and unconqneraoIe pahne, u,
" will lead YOU to victory If you are bus trasl'"i
faithful, 10y to your cause: My tiie"a',, y
,, coura geous you have planted the goou seeu, ,
will become n tree of life under when thouS
ands will vet take shelter. Ion no doupt VIII
: have some draw backs, but with GoaS graz
. YOU will surmount them all. You have take
i the pledge, You have imposed upon yonrseiFe
g the practice Of self denial. Now to make OH
20 ers believe in the souulness OF your cause, an
q in order that they may folow your eXamPt'
- Won must sedulously practice what 20" oeieS
H. Tho mass Of mankind are tue creatures VI ba'
10 IT. they generally follow in the track OF othcE
u give them striking proofs of yonr carnesthe
o in the noble cause of Temperatures, ana my "o'
~ for it-yctt II FFiafs from the vortex
AZ the drnnkard. Many imagine that mono b,
u, drunkards join, or should join a l"tal aus
NJ ucnce Association, and that all WHO take u
: pledge proclaim themselves az having pe e
IN drunkards This is the knockdown, reasohit
III cf the moderate Griuker, the devtta ia"f
nE The man who takes the pledge manites's c"r
40 nrr pluck ofno ordinary character, anu shou
- receive tho praise rather than the censhFo
" ,,L, In a r.. weak t.IuOrOuS TO go "a
p do likewise. My friends You have eihoatk
IL III "A noble cause, Il cause pregnant WIN
ce lightful hopes, heed not the J"ers or contun
us ~ OF any, but pursue the even tenor Oh 20
~, way. =
l"r attain the realization of your hopes. Inc Z"
ltt work has been auspiciousy begun, foster
or perpetuatesit, and with Gods help, our peo
Oh will soon learn to regard it as an active Nv
rts responsible reality. My friends in this 90
work am with you, am OF you, al your 10
leu all your lopes are mine.
't The Rev. Father welt at some length on
80 frHrtuf pref aieRce of drunkenness IN TINS CO
10. try. 1t seemed to be the national vice.
an next gave q succcinct history OF the te"
nca ance movement originating in the North;
"a Bishops of Ireland, England and the I'M
az States have in their pastorals called the AT
,ar ton of tie Clergy and the faithful 10 tne a
3iJ tinr of the shameful, scandalouB vice oil ara
IT, ennps4 The Rev. Father brought his briiiI
la discourse to a close by eXhortng ms hea
NJ 10 keep right on in that path of reciltnde
{ of lad maj ken "u. io ,I. -, Il ,Ibonsnnd
eut- they wouiO pa &c ~. -, 81 drrpkards
-" " r,hl,. f,t. that fate 50 terribly depicted
tb. fo'lowimg passage from Father bHI
and l"Ctni" III "" ?s-,,,,,..
-, IT, aDn of God became man, l" ot"'r
',,t'. He might bring down from Heaven the II.
ant ana thV ", 80 80 80, ~, 90 ,,, iT,...,Is l.
w. :; highest attribute, surpa-sing all h'S '"
=" iii. greatest delight ct God Is TO "X"' ;'se
mrrcy ut is natural 10 Hun, says Tue
- 81 Thomas AquImds-aud therefore, 1t -
6r.t of His works; for II is the first prom
ich is ~ the nature of -Gad--The mercy OF
-F-7Tzrss