The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-04-08
A CATHOLIC BISHOP ON TEN
Pm NICE

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The Wheeling Register gives the
following extsaet from sermon on
temperance preached at the cathedral
in Wheeling. ON Sunday afternoon by
Bishop Whelan:
What. then, do I advise? First, as
Catholics, call upon You to abandon
the use and sale of liquors. do not
speak to yeu as though the trsff1c
vereI unlawful, as the word OF God
does mot reaiiy forbid II when used
with moderation aud within reason;
but. on the other hand, these condi-
tions are seldom complied with. Ju,
das betrayed the beloved Son OF God
for thirty pieces of silver, for gain;
true he was afterward filled with re-
morse and threw away his hire. The
same evidence suggests thousand ex-
euses. You think there is money to
be made in the traffic, without once
thinking of the consequences. Wouid
you deliberately lead your own child
to destruction? Would sou take be-
loved brother by the hand and take
him to the brink of certain and fear
full death, and there leave him to per-
ish? How then are you to make your
excuses to God for leading another
into evil for the sake Of your purse!
You say you do not urge them TO
drink to excess. but you ought to
know that it will finally lead TO that.
Remembering how fearful is the desc
lation, and knowing how strong is the
temptation, and that it will shortly
lead to excess, you feel prompted to
caution him; avarice steps IN; you
think the more that is sold the more
gain there is. Yon don't care if it is
the gain of Judas. There is danger,
great danger. Therefore l advise you
to seek other employment. The Bible
saws that we must visit the widows
and orphans, and do all in our power
to lessen the evil brought into the
world in consequence of sin. w hat
are these men doing to relieve all this
weight of sorrow2 Suppose you saw
YOUR neighbor's children in danger,
would you let them go to destruction
with the excuse that you were not
their keeper? This is what you say
about the traffic; you are not respon-
sible for the evil But l tell you you
are. In the account of Cain and Abel
God took the opportunity to tell as
that in a certain sense We are all broth
ers, and are responsible to Him tor
the loss of the least of us, IT the rest
have not done their duty. We hold a
mutual relation to each other. and 1T
is our duty to care for all; aud IT We
offer no one drink we will lead no one
into temptation. And even suppose
that you will not sell or give to excess,
yet you are suspected of having done
it. You are classed with those who
go to the greatest extremes, and com
nit the greatest excess. Are you VIII
ling to rest under the suspicion! Are
You willing to be classed amone those
who have committed crime which God
has forbidden, although you may not
be one of them? And then another
point; the gain which one receives
from this source seldom remains. A
man who spends his life in dealing In
liquor often finds creeping into nj )
own house the evils which he sends
into others. 1t is almost impossible
in this traffic not to partake yourself.
Catholics, turn away from this traffic,
and leave it to those who can look on
all its evils and horrors without one
pang of compunction or feeling OF re-
morse. Leave it to those who care
not for the welfare of their neighbors,
and care not for the love of God. Re-
member the sacred thirst and agony OF
Jesus, and let the remembrance teach
you that you are called upon to make
sacrifices and practice self-denial.
The Bishop then spoke of Catho-
lie organization which had been start
ed some time since in aid of the tenn
perance cause, and read the order of
exercises, which requires all Catholics
to pray on certain days for the sup
preston Of the evil. He closed with
an exhortation to all present, and
especially young men. to come for
ward after the benediction and sign
the pledge.