The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-10
A TALK ON TEMPERANCE.
The Address Of Father McMullen to the
Irish Temperance Societies.
The Evil Effects of Drinking Oh the Young
Men of the Day-Some Advice to
the Saloon-Keeper.

noted temperance advocate, spoke last night at
St Johns Catholic Church, giving to large au-
dience plain, straightforward and thoroughly
orthodox talk on total abstinence. Yesterday
was the anniversary of Father Mathew, the
great apostle of total abstinence, and among
Father McMullen's auditors were the two Cath
olic temperance societies, the Knights of Father
Mathew and ST. Patricks Total Abstinence
Society, both organizations attending in body.
That Father McMullen is an effective
temperance advocate is shown by the fact
that some time ago, during his first pastorate at
Richmond, there were six saloon keepers Of the
Catholic faith. Of these five, through his argu-
ments and entreaties, were induced to give up
the traffic.
After briefly reciting the good work and good
example Of the illustrious Father Mathew who,
when he signed the pledge at Cork, exclaiming
Here goes, in Gods name," had no thought
of the six millions who would follow him,
he exhorted his hearers to be like the great tenn
perance apostle in his work, who while never
loving sin, never hated the sinner, and the
cause of total abstinence is to be furthered, not
by intolerance, but by sympathy and love for
our fellowmen. We must be enthusiastic. but
not fanatica fanaticism would destroy our
cause. Nevertheless, be downright and terri
bly, in earnest in advancing the cause of total
abstinence.
He called attention to the words of the plena-
ry council, at Baltimore on the liquor question,
signed by all the bishops and priests in that
great body, which advised all Catholics to quit
the traffic and seek some other way of earning
living: He said the use of drink, even in small
quantities, led to abuse in the majority of
cases, and the injury is to man. the
masterpiece of Gods creation. It Injuries him in
bis physical welfare, in his material welfare in
his influence socially. and, greatest of all, in the
welfare of his soul. How many young men, who
should be strong i'll body and intellect. have been
made puny in body, feeble in mind, infirm in
purpose through drink God never intended
there should be such number of puny dudes as
we see upon our streets. These things have
come from drink, and the extravagances and
vices that follow indulgence in drink. 1t is not
well to complain of bad health self-inficted
There is too much accorded to the medicinal
qualities of stimulants. Liquor cures and it
kills, and more often it kills than cures. Like
opiates, liquor deadens pain, but does not it.
The use of liquor stands in the way Of
mans material prosperity. In the matter of
employment man who does not drink has the
preference. The man who drinks cannot hope
for advancement His brains are muddled
morning after morning, and promotions are
made over him, and this is not said of those
whom drink causes to actually neglect their
business 1t is the abstemous man who pros
per III LQ0 WOrlQ. luey are QOC merely INC en-
ployes; they become the employers. Business
leaves the drunkard. People have no confidence
in him. You have seen this time and again.
Nothing has done this but the abuse of drink
and the curse of God that follows it. And those
young men who drink pay the penalty i'll loss of
intelligence and power, in destroyed prospects.
and they continue mere hewers of wood and
drawers of water all the days of their lives
Every Irish-American, every German
American should own his own house and little
Lot mall hnI1ph fhaxy hA ond not o
Too much money is spent in drink by the father
or by the brother. You will tell me times are
hard, and it is not easy to buy house and lot
That is true. 1t is not easy at any time to buy
q house and lot but you never can buy and pay
for them if you are buying and paying for beer
at the same time.
would be far from saying anything severe to
the poor, but must say that great amount of
poverty among them comes directly through
drink. Almost the poorest could provide them
selves with homes if money was not spent in
drink. Much of this thing called poverty is of
own creating. That Catholics bring reproach
upon the church is due to drink. 1 say Catholics,
because it is for their benefit I speak, not
keeps many out of our church. The intellect
God gives is made to feast on truth. 1t is made
to feed on certainty. These people are not at
rest outside the true church. They
seek tor Tor. the, the truth. and when they
this cannot be the true church of God. They
would embrace the faith were it not for this bad
example. I would say begin with the1children.
Let the boy not know what it is to ever be inside
of saloon Teach him never to darken the
door of such place. and let the father and the
elder brother set him an example. Of the sa-
loon-keeper have nothing to say but what is in
strict kindness. I would advise him to quit the
saloon business and earn an honorable living.
1t is no way to make money. l know q man
who suddenly amassed 500, 600 by selling liquor.
It went as suddenly and now his widow is living
in poor. rented property. Many of those who
have not lost money have not boy who is
credit to them-not son who has not brought
shame and disgrace to father and mother. Often
the saloon keepers seeming success at money
making has ruined himself and his family.