Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-17
TOTAL ABSTINENCE.


 tInued PrOsperfty-A Surprise To,
 Faithful WOrker-The Election of
 Officers.
 The annual convention of the Catholic Total Abstinence union of Connecticut was held yesterday in Irving Hall, Waterbury. Forty-seven societies were represented and sixty-ive or seventy delegates beside the State officers. The delegates on arriving quartered at the Scoyille House, Smiths Ho- tel and other places. The Catholic clergy of the city were present, Rev. Fathers Duggan, Harty, Donohoe, O'Donnell and Curtin The delegates attended mass in 6 body at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 9 g. m Father Harty's address at mass was very eloquent. He said: You are doing Gods work and cordially and sincerely ex- tend to you warm welcome from the house of God before you begin your deliberations. The church will take 8 deep interest in your work at the convention because it is intended to suppress an evil which is an obstacle to the salvation of souls. He hoped their in- fuence would be felt while they remained in the city. The traffic has grown in Water bury to an alarming extent We pay be- tween S19, 900 and $20,OO year for the privilege of selling distilled and fernented liquors, the sale of which costs in round numbers the sum of $70O,OOO annually. Some time ago it was great dis grace for man to be seen drunk but now adays women and even small children arc addicted to the use of strong drink. As an instance of the crime caused in that city by the use of strong drink he cited the fact that it cost about $17,000 annually to run the police court. Nor did it's evil effects end there. It was making further inroads into society. A great man had said some time ago that universal suffrage was a sham while rum ruled the large cities. He hoped there would be even 8 stricter guard upon the Sun day laws and the law which prohibits the sale of drink to minors.
 : From the church the delegates went to Irv was called to order by the president, the Rev. Joseph w Zones, of Thomaston, whose re- port for the past year was the first thing in order.
 The societies had not been active, he said in raising the necessary funds for campaign purposes, and consequently the promised temperance rallies had not been given by the union. He said nothing so promoted the cause of temperance as the public meeting, as it is by agitation that the good work is &C., compEshed. He urged hearty cooperation with the clergy as the best means for the suc cess of the societies in the different towns. He briefly stated disadvantages derived from such cooperation and the disadvantage of an opposite course. The presidents report stated that at the convention held at Middle town September 18th last year there were 43 societies in the union with @ membership of 2, ,437; since then there had been an actual gain of 489 members, making total Il ow of 2,926 members. The societies which were admitted last year were St. Joseph's T. A. and B. society, of Willimantic, St. Patrick's cadets of New Haven, St. Joseph's Y. M. T. A. andB society of Thomaston, and St. Patrick's T. A. and B. society of Tariffville
 Secretary Cannon then announced the following committee on credentials:
 John Reynolds, New Haven county; Thomas Kehoe, Hartford county; John O'Hea, New London county; James Noonan, Fair field county; M. F. Baker, Litchfe1d county; James Reagan, Holland county; James Dren- nan, Middlesex county.
 The committee on credentials, who held 8 meeting in the ante-room, reported the fol- lowing delegates present:
 Father Mathew T. A. and B. society of Ansonia, Hugh Gaffney; Young Mems T. A. and B. society of Ansonia, William H. Kane and William Gafney; St. Mary's T. A. and B. society of Branford, Thomas F. Ma1loy and E. J. Bird; St. Roses T. A. and B. so- ciety of Meriden, John Reynolds, Joseph H. Potts and Michael Marony; St. Laurent's T. A. and B. society of Meriden, no delegate; St. Patrick's T. A.. and B. society No. of New Haven, Thomas J. Kennedy; St. Johns T. A: and B. society of New Haven, with drawn; St. Mary's T. A. and B. society of New Haven, John 4eWeeney; St: New Haven, John J. Foley and Will liam Weber; St. A1oysius T. A. and B. so- ciety of New Haven, Bernard E. Lynch, James F. Bree, Michael F. Campbell, Thomas O'Brien, John Shaughnessy and James E. Calvin; S. H. B. St. Aloysius cadets, New Haven, John Cummings: ". R. C. T. A. and B. society, Waterbury, Henry Burns and James Meagher; Waterbury cadets, no dele gate; St. Joseph's T. A. and B. society of Westville, no delegate; Young Mems T. A. and B. society of Wallingford, J. c. Roach and John 0. Phelan; St. Peters f. A. and B. society No. of Hartford, John Turner; Father Matthews T, James Murphy and P. Gum; St. Augustine T. A. and B. society of Hartford, William J. Dolan, John Mccarthy and Edward J. Ryan; St. Eary's T. A. and B. society of New Britain, no delegate; Young Mems T. A. and B. society of New Britain, Thomas H. Kehoe
 lE-T L -1- B. society of Poquonnock, John Dynor, St. Johns T. A. and B. society of Middletown, John F. Welch; St. Mary's T. A. and B. society of Middletown, John F. Nolan and John SlaEin; Young Mems T. A. and B. society of Middletown, James brennan; St. Joseph's Cadets of Midd1etown, T. w. .O'Keefe; Father Matthew Cadets of Middletown, An society of Portland, no delegate; Young Emerald T. A. and B. society of Portland, Edward Connors; St. .Patrick's T. A. and B. society of Bridgeport, James Noonan; St. Patriek's Cadets of Bridgeport, no delegate; Father Matthew Cadets of Bridgeport, Jere- @iah 3is aeggeTty; St. MsEy T A. and B ds1 so gate; St. Joseph's Y M T. A. and B. society of East Bridgeport, G. Nuttan; St. Vincent De Paul T. A.and B. society of Danbury, John J. Stone; Star of the Sea T. A. and B. society of New Lon don, N1enOlaS K. Murray, Jonn Odea; SG. Thomas Cadets of New London, no delegate; St. Marys T. A. and B. society of Norwich, John M. Lee and Jeremiah Riordan; Father Matthew T, A. and B. society of JewetS City, no delegate; St. Thomas T. A. and B. society of Thomaston, John F. O'Donnel1; St. ThoTnas cadets of Thomaston, Jeremiah O,DonneIl; St. Francis T. A. and B. society of Winsted, Michael McNerney and M F. Baker; St. Bernard T. A. and B. society of Rockville, John Rogerson; St. Joseph's T. A. and B. society of Wi1nmantic, no delegate; St. Joseph Young Mems T. A. and B. society of Thomaston, John Cartan; St. Patrick's T. A. and B. society of Tarifville, J. Burns.
 The county directors each in turn reported in the following order:
 New Haven. Hartford, Middlesex, Fair field, New London, Litchfeld, Holland and Windham New Haven led the list with total membership gain of 530 and present of 1, ,541. Hartford reported total gain of 6os.Inembers. Middlesex had not increased, but has held it's own, as well as Fairfield county. New London and Litch- field members had no cause for complaint, but were working faithfully. Holland show ed gain of 38 members, and Windham made no formal report, as the county was not rep resented by it's director. It was evident that Windham was not the stronghold of l Catholic temperance societies. : Letters of regret were read from promi- nent temperance men throughout the coun-
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