Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-14
TOTAL ABSTINENCE.
THE CONTENTION OF MTNNESOT1
CATHOLIC SOCIETIES AT F'4RI-
BICLT.

A Large Gathering of Representatives
Distinguished Persons Present Flo
quent Sermon by Bishop IreIand-The
Procession in the Evening by
Patrick Egan and Others.
Especial Correspondence OF the Globe.
FARIBAULT, June 13.-The day for the
Faribault convention could not have been
more suspicious.
The sun has shone brightly all day, and
delegations are arriving by every
train from all parts of the state. At 10
o'clock this morning all the delegates who
had arrived, assembled at the church for
high mass Rev. Thomas O'Gorman,
pastor, was celebrant and
Rev. j. P. Ryan, master of ceremonies.
cipal singers being the Misses Puyant and
crowded in every part.
Among the priests present were Rev.
Fathers John Stanley, P. Denehy
and P. Gallagher, of ST. Paul I;
j. Hand, of Minneapolis; R. GEMS, j.
Paolin, of Northfeld; +. McDevett, of Bell
Greek; P. Ryan, Green Isle; P. j. Fox,
Granville; Z. Hennesy, Litchfeld; NJ. J.
Hanley, Chatfeld; j. Slevin, Shieidsville;
James Fleming, Albert Lea, VIM. Cullen,
Kilkenny; A.Christie, Waseca; E. Duffy, In
yer Grove; w. J. Kent. Avoca; J. B. Cotter,
Winona; Thos. o. German, J. P. Ryan
and John Van Leert, Caribault. The ser
mon was preached by Right Rev. Bishop
Ireland, and was one of his most eloquent
efforts. The following is a synopsis of the
sermon:
THE SERMON.
1t is my privilege to meet once more IN
convention the delegates of the Catholic
Total Abstinence societies of the diocese
OF st. Paul, to recount together our bat
thing during the past year against intern
perance, to rejoice over victories won and
to counsel together as to the plans and
methods for the future. I am reioiced to
meet the delegates. I meet in them the
soldiers of a cause which deeply cherish,
and upon which l rest so much of my hone
for the growth of religion in the North
west; aye, I meet the bravest and most
honored of those soldiers. 1t is the men
who have in their several localities de-
served the best of their brethren that are
usually honored with the mission to repre-
sent them in convention.
The reports which will be read to the
convention will be cheering news. You
will be told that there are enrolled in the
union seventy societies, and that all of
them are full of youthful vigor. Now, much
reason have We to thank God this morning
When the crusade began in Min
nesota in 1869 the prophets
of evil were numerous, announcing
that the movement would be ephemeral.
We ourselves had brighter hopes, stouter
reliance on Gods assistance. But even the
most sanguine among US did not for a
moment dare to imagine that in fifteen
years the record of this convention could
be a possibility. In the work accom-
pllshed we see our reward for past labors,
and encouragement for renewed efforts.
Who. with spark of zeal for religion, of
love for fellowmen, would
willingly blot out from the
history of tbs dioceses the pages in
scribing the doings of our union. We point
to facts: they defend and justify US.
Courage for the future, my friends! Pay
no attention to the specious arguments
by which your movement will be assailed,
neither to the open attacks of foes, nor to
the faint praise of false frier DIS. These
latter would [ particularly guard you
against. They are more dangerous than
open foes, for they pretend to speak for
the interests of religion and charity and
even of tenn perance itself. They point to
the good yet undone despite our movement
and would persuade US that it is hope
less task to try to stem the tide of intern
perance. An argument of this nature
would tell against religion itself Why
not look at the good done? The saving of
one unfortunate brother, of one family.
surely is reward enough for the labors of
society; and, thank God, in this one do
cese of st. Paul how many souls have
been preserved by you from sin? How
many wives and mothers pour blessings
upon you for peace and prosperity shed
upon them? How many men, young and
old, now bright models of manhood, would
have been wrecked amid the stormy temp
tatlons of life without your assistance?
Then, we are told that total abstinence is
heroic form of temperance, and that all
men can never be brought 70 practice it:
that consequently some other form of war
fare should be used. VINO expects all
men to become total abstainers? When
the country was threatened by rebellion,
score of years ago, not all became
soldiers. All citizens were not of the hero
ic mould; but heroes sprung forward IN
sufficient number to save the country. Tee
totalers are the soldiers. the heroes of tenn
perance. By their absolute abstinence
from intoxicating liquor they enforce
among others ut least ordinary tens per-
ance. Their examples change pubic opin-
ion, sanctify the moral atmosphere of
community. removo temptations, strength
en- the weak, encourage the struggling.
When great evil affiicts society, special
stress Is laid on the opposing virtue. Nor
Is it the ordinary form of the virtue that is
recommended As the protest against the
evil, but the perfect, the heroic form. To-
tai abstinence emphasizes temperance as
the evangelical counseis emphasize the
precepts. The greater the number of our
soldiers the more potent viii be the exam
pie, and If our false friends would join us
instead of criticising Us, less good would
b6 left uOdOnE than they anYiOuc 70