The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-03-14
Total Abstinence.
LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP DAYLEY.


dreds of persons were unable to enter
Among the prominent persons on the stage
were many of the Rev'd clergy, and mum
Der of the leading spirits of the laity. The
frst step in the proceedings of the evening
was the reading of the following excellent
letter, which we hope will be read by the
advocates.as well as by the opponents (of
whom, unfortun ately, there are many OF
the grand movement now being made in
the Church against the curse of intemper-
ance:
ARCnBIsHoP's House,
BALTIMORE, January 81, 1875.
Mn Dear .SirS
have received your letter of the 9Th
inst. inviting me, in the name OF the ot.
Vincent of Paul's Temperance Benevolent
Society, to deliver lecture in the hall of
the Mary land Institute, in order tn rouse up
a spirit of more zeal in the cause of tenn
perance in this city.
/ regret that it will not be in my power
to comply with your request. have been
suffering for months past from an attack OF
rheumatism, which affects particularly my
head and eyes, and my physician orders me
to limit myself to my necessary official
work, and it is with much difficulty that
can get through even with this. am sorry
to hear that the temperance organizations
in this city are falling Oft in eaInestness,
and not doing all the good that could be
wished for. This is TO be regretted the
more because the evil itself is as active and
destructive as ever, scattering the seeds of
sin and misery and crime on every side. 1t
ia the duty of every Christian and every
good citizen to fight against it by word and
example, aud would be a most unworthy
Bishop if did not mourn over its ravages
and willingly lend my aid to every judicious
effort to stay its progress. For great as Is
the evil, it is one which, from it's very ma
ture, requires to be met with great prudence.
The cause of temperance has been greatly
injured by exaggeratlon and by the folly of
it's advocates The foolish women's cru
SADIE last wear did more to harm the cause
than the opposition of it's open opponents.
In my opiBion the proper sphere of the zeal
and work of these societies is the parish to
which they belong. Meetings of delegates
from the particular societies may sometimes
be held to encourage one another In the
good work, and to devise plans to make
their organizations more efficient, but the
real work of each society is local and par
ochial, and their success will depend on the
zeal OF the parish priest, and the active CO.
operation of the good men of the parish.
1t is not at all necessary that temper
ance society should be made up of those
only who have been given to excess. One
! of it's great objects, it is true, to rescue
such persons from perditiou, toencourage
them, aud help them to pcrsevere. But
| this will he done all the more effectively if
large portion of the mem bers of the so.
| cety have always been temperate men.
| Another important object is to aid the
parish priest in breaking up grog shops
| where bad libuor is sold, and especially ON
| Sundays, and to persons who VIGOROUSLY
make bad nse of it. 1t is one of the
duties of the State to see to this to inspect
| all liquors that are to be sold, with the
same care that they look after bad food,
aud everything offered for sale that may be
Injurious to the health. But, as we all
know, there ia no hope of their doing 3d.
Our miserable political system of appoint
ments to such Offices renders it impossible.
An inspector of liquors who attempted to
fultill the duties of his office would be soon
obliged to give way for n successor of the
! "how not to do-it' school. Still, a we'll
organized temperance society might do i'm,
mense good in helping the parish priest to
| create sound state of opinion on these mat
ters, and by causing those who give scandal
| by excessive drink, OF by selling it to
others, to be regarded as bad citizens and a
disgrace to their religion.
One of the causes why these associations
have not succeeded better, and done more
good, ia because they have relied TOO much
on what may be called 'galvanism.n aud
| TOO little upon earnest, steady eHorts.-
/ Speeches and PROFESSIONS may be all very
we'll in their way, but the real work is by
| kindness and wise counsel TO draw into
your societies those who have become in
! temperate; to protect the young against it
and to create and foster, as have said, 8
sound, healthy sentiment against intemper
ance, and against those who sell liquor t.
persons to whom they know it will become
| IA direct occasion to am.
! With sincere wishes for the prosperity OF
the good work you are interested in, re
nfaiu,
Very truly, your obedient servant,
ROOSEVELT BAYLEY,
Archbishop of BIltimore.
Addresses were then delivered by Faith
ers MColgan, Boyle aud others, after whc
the following pledge was administered t
the members of St. Nincent's T. A. Society
numbering 300, the immense audience q
1000 persons rising to their feet and testify
, ing their interest in the proceedings by APP
8 plause:
l al, tor the love of God, and in honor @
tue excessive thirst of our Divine Saviou
dying on the cross, resolve, with the assis
fan of H,N1 q hat