West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-12-07
TEMPERANCE MEETINGS.
ST XAVIER CHURCH-REv. FATHER
HICKEY ON TEMPERANCE

lectured on the evils of the intoxi-
eating cup, at st. Xaviers Church,
this city, to very large and deep
ly interested audience made up of
all classes of our citizens of everv
name and denomination.
The Rev. Father started out with
an apology in approaching such a
vast subject in one evening lee
ture. Said he, "How, in one
evening, speak of that which, for
the most part, is the the cause of
all the mischiefin our world? How
IN one evening speak of that which
nils our poor houses, hospitals and
Jails? How, in one evening speak
ola plague, a pestilence that sweeps
away everything in life and all
hopes of the hereafter?
"lntemperance is the very start
ing point of all the mischief in the
world. The best way to listen to a
lecture on this subject was to listen
and look at what we can hear and
see of it every Gay all about us.
1T was the duty Of all ministers
to warn their people of danger, and
now when public opinion is will
ing to be arrested, it would seem
the duty of the Priest to speak"
The lecturer proceeded with
logical, eloquent and terrible ar
raignment of the drunkard as an en-
emy-an enemy of God his creator
I'm enemy of Christ, his redeemer
an enemy of his neighbor, and
his own implacable foe.
We cannot attempt to follow the
theological argument, beginning
with the dignity of man made in
Gods own image, and the malice of
the demon of drunkenness, exhib-
tied in the destruction fthat image.
The pictures drawn of this horrid
demon, standing over his helpless
victim, robbed or reason, and defy
ing God and man while laughing
infinite mercy to scorn, were made
to stand out in colors terrible to
| CoioClll pave.
After exhibiting the shocking
crime of the drunkard and his dar-
ing insult to God, the speaker in
qu:red with terrible force, what
should be then said Of him that
sells the drink, and furnishes the
poison thus to disfigure a soul and
defile the image of God! His de-
nunciations against the miserable
vile dens," where this demon made
his headquarters, where the help
less victims were poisoned and rob
bed of all manhood, were most
fearful. If the cup were bitter for
the drinker, it would be far more
bitter for the man who gives him
drink. 1t were blessing if light
ming from Heaven came and shat
tered the "vile dens."
He related striking instances
that came under his observation in
his ministry, Of the enslaving power
of this demon over his miserable
victims, and urged that all should
try to get young men away from
these miserable dens" where his
drink poison is had.
We regret that we are not able to
make some approach toward doing
Justice to this learned and theologi-
cal presentation of drunkenness and
the drunkard, and this terrible ar
raignment of that demon of drink
that stalks abroad defying God and
man, spreading mischief, plague,
pestilence and woe everywhere.
The lecture was listened to with
the closest attention and we are
sure with great profit throughout,
and we are quite sure the large au-
dience withdrew at it's close, abund-
antly prepared to take the facts
and arguments so wildly and forci-
bly, presented by the Rev. Father
and carry them to their immediate
and legitimate conclusion, in de-
handing and working for the tax
ing away all license and protection
from this "demon" of destruction,
and the suppression of these "mis-
cradle vile dens" where he has his
destroying drink poison dispensed.
Surely all who heard this lecture
ought to aid in praying the powers
that be for that lightning of legal
prohibition that alone can shatter
and destroy utterly these 'misera-
BILE vile dens."