The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-18
The Most Rev. Archbishop and the Total Absti-
nence Societies

On Saturday evening, March 10th, the mem
bers of the State Union and the Presidents o
the several Catholic Total Abstinence Societies
of this city called on the Most Rev. Archbishop
of New Orleans at his episcopal residence. The
| object of their visit appears from the subjoinet
address, which was read in the most feeling
manner by the President of the Union, Mr.. II
R. Giffney:
ADDRESS OF THE CATHOLIC TOTAL ABSTINENCE
UNION OF LOUISIANA TO THE MOST REV MA
PoLEoN JOSEPH PERCHE, ARCHBISHOP OF NEW
ORLEANS.
Aonseigneur-As representatives of the Ca
tholic Total Abstinence Societies Of this State
and Archdiocese, we are deputed to express t.
you, Most Rev. Archbishop, our gratitude fol
the warm and loving interest you have Away,
manifested for our Association, and to con
graduate You with feelings Of heartfelt affec
ton on your safe return to your children sftel
many months of anxious and painful toll. The
necessity that forced You to undertake this
heroic work is not unknown to ne, and We fee
satisfied that the memory Of this self-sacrifce
for the welfare of your hook will never be for.
gotten by your devoted people. As members
of the Catholic Total Abstinence Societies, we
are in q special manner called upon to sympa-
thize with you in all your efforts, because, in
common with all the Catholics of Louisiana,
we are fully aware Of the zeal, energy and
cause of religion on different occasions during
the last thirty years or more. We are not
Ignorant that your writings and sermous have
aided not q little to awaken in the city and
country Il knowledge of the beauties of Catho-
licity, and at the same time to refote the va
rious and pernicions errors that unhappily had
taken possession of the minds and hearts of too
many. We feel that the striking progress of
practical religion in the State is owing in no
small degree to the labors of your Grace and to
the afectionate outpourings of Your loving
heart. We also know that your untiring
activity and desire to promote Gods glory have
naturally impelled You to undertake many ex-
psusive works for the benefit of your people,
for the churches built and the number of
priests ordained under your administration
bear ample testimony to the spirit that ami
mates you. But in addition to these copsidera-
tions we are in very special manner Indebted
to you. Yon have called us into existence, and
us by word and work, and thus en-
abled US to multiply our numbers and to bring
comfort and happiness to some afflicted and
distracted homes. We trust that you are
pleased with our endeavors and disposed to
continue your kind protection and support. As
faithful children we shall always listen to your
words and Loyalty act in accordance with your
fatherIy counsels. We hope that the difficult
ties with which at present you have to contend
will shortly be removed and that you will
long continue to rule in peace and happiness
over your loving children. In conclusion, we
beg you, Most Rev. Father in Christ, to bless
our little Association and not to forget at
Mass and in yonr prayers, in order that God, in
come the debaoing vice OF intemperanoe.
Net1 Orleans, March 10, 1877.
His Grace responded in his usual eloquent
and paternal style. He said that he held the
Society in the highest esteem and commended
very particularly it's religious features. So
long, he said, as the members were faithful to
their rule, God would bless them and their
Societies would prosper. He took great in
berest in the movement, but in the multiplicity
IF his labors he was unable to give it the at
tention it deserved. Fortunately it was in his
power, however, to place the spiritual control
IF the Society in the most excellent hands,
having delegated his authority to Father Nc
Kiniry, ST., who would in the future, as in the
past, direct it with Judgment and work for its
with zeal which could not fail
Of euecess. His Grace then entered into gen-
eral conversation with his visitors upon the
present condition of the Society, and inquired
into the details Of its government,
the number of Societies and members in the
State, etc. After q half hour thus pleasantly
spent he bestowed his blessing upon the mem
bers, who departed fully assured of his cordial
support in their LAHORE.