The Irish standard., 1886-07-03
address Of Welcome.

Opera House in behalf of the delegates
and invited guests, on Tuesday even
ing, June %, was received TOO late for
publication in last weeks issue.-ED.
IRISH STANpARD.I
Rev. Fathers, Ladies and Gentlemen
of the Conyention--In the name OF the
Total Abstinence Society of Rochester
and of our sister society Of st. :Bridgg~
cts, bid you welcome to our city.
Your visit is favor Of which we are
not insensible. I regret to say that
you find us in a predicament which we
would have otherwise. For some time
past our organizations, especially in the
city, have not been what might be ex-
pected, but owing to the efforts OF our
Rev. Pastor, and moved by the honor OF
your promised visit, our people became
active and exerted themselves that
your reception (though we canno5 do it
iustice} might at least be:a cordial one,
and that it might bring good results to
all concerned. We know the object of
such assemblages-what they tend to
attain. We know that they do not ex-
pect perfection in human institutions.
The sower scatters his seed where he
expects to reap the most bountifnl har-
vest. Then may we not tf1atter ourselves
that your coming has been prompted by
bright anticipations Of future reward ?
I hope that you may not be dlsap-
pointed, but that the seed sown during
your stay may find soil rich for its nur-
ture. Such soil exists plentifully iii our
midst. The germ is planted. Nourish
naent aud training are necessary for its
proper growth. Let us hope tAaS we
may see those requisites and procure
them before our leavetaking. Whilst
you shower blessings on us, we shall
remember that nothing is lost by glv~
ine. AS the poet says:
The sky pours down its rain.
And mists rise up again.
And this inability of ours to rep.ay you
is bearable, since we can console our"
selves that there shall not be wanting
ample sources forreward.
It is the grandest sight to see body
Of men associated for the furtherance
of some good cause. The philosopher
expatiates upon this subject when con-
sidering such an assemtlage for ma
tional purposes. And is not this ma
tional cause? And is not this voluntary
action on the part of individuals por-
tentious Of the best results to the
State? The idea Of temperance is not
a new one. It has occupied the minds
of the ablest men since the re1notest an
tiquity. The statesman, the philoso-
pher, the divine-all have considered
this subject, and they have shown by
their lives how we'll or i'll their thoughts
served them. We know the debauch-
cry of the Claudian family. What be-
came of the Tarquin? In the sturdy,
upright spirit of the avenger OF Lucrece
do we not see the high principles of
dignity to be reached by that rigorous
self-denial and command ct faculties so
necessary for discreet action? Volumes
as heirlooms have been handed down to
US from the minds Of those great men.
Cicero, in his treatise, ''De Seneet>tte,"
tells to the youth how he can best make
his old age burden or a boom. The
first requisite for the latter, he says, is
to live life Of moderation and tenn
perance. We pass on from that time to
the present. We witness the rise and
fall of great powers. Examining the
cause of the decline, we find it in cppo-
sition to the virtue for the considera~
tion of which we assemble. The world
looked on during all this time with the
deepest anguish. 1t saw the disease
but knew not the remedy. 1t was not
until Father Mathew, that great apos-
tie of worldwide renown, snatched
from divine source the idea of a visi-
BILE body to convey to our minds the
necessary impression, that the cure was
discovered and the virtue of temper
ance took a sensible form. The right
seed was sown by him, and during sue
ceeding generations the plant was nur-
tured until to-day it spreads its branches
broad and wide, bidding fair TO DER
shadow the land.
To be brief, my friends, I would only
say in conclusion that hope cur branch
may prove a fit limb to shis tree. Un-
like the misletoe, may our connection
be kindred tie; then we may hope to
add to that cooling shade which grows
with our growth and which it is our
first end to accomplish.
::s.;.E: ::s;tE:f ----
Forty thousand Turkish troops are to
withdraw from the Greek frontier.
Prince Luitpoldt hrs been made Re-