The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-16
AN ELOQUENT SERMON
BIZ BISHOP KAN YESTERDAY
On the Sin of IntompsraneS-Tho Position
of the Catholic Church in this Country
Made ClsAr-HIS FOroIbls Language
on Sabbath Dissertation, etc.

On bAppAAu DooeCEAlAouI gkua
The announcement that Ri. Rev. Bishop
Kahn would preach on intsmpeIsnce yes.
terday morning, Allsd the Cathedral.
Many non-Catholics were present, atten.
tive and interested listeners. Bishop Kahn
has never been heard TO better advantage.
It was evident that he was intensely in
earnest. He stated with clearnsSs and
force the position of the Catholic Church
in America with regard to the drink evil
and the sale OF intoxicants. There was no
minciug Of matters, and those who heard
the Bishop were convinced that he was
speaking on subject very near his heart.
His censure Of the law-breakers In the
liquor traffic and Of the officers OF the law
for permitting the defiance of the law, was
90 severe as his plea for the sanctity Of
the Sabbath was earnest. Throughout the
sermon the Bishop'G manner was as i'm.
pressive as his language.
After having read the Gospel Of the
day John H., 1.12), the Bishop referred to
tho necessity OF baping all Christian viz.
tuea on the solid foundation Of sound the
illogical principles. Dlsregarding this
precaution, soma OF The advocates Of the
cardinal virtue OF temperance had employ
ed arguments strongly impregnated with
the old ManichIean heresy. He then laid
down these three principles: l. Wine and
o4laH f1ahrfaNin1 linNnpa ava mt nOnnp.
thing evil in themaelycn. 2. The use Of
wine, beer, etc., is not Of itself sinful.
The Gospel just read Ia quite sufficient
proof Of both these proportions, as Ia also
the fact that Christ designated wine "a one
OF the necessary elements Of the EuCha.
ristic sacrifice. From these two principles
flows third equally incontestsble, viz +:
that the sale Of these liquors Is not sinful
OF itself, however dangerous that oCcupa-
ton may be. Indeed, the traffic Is fraught
with 30 many dangers that Catholics are
strongly exh0rted by thu Bishops Of the
last Plenary Council TO avoid altogether
engaging in 80 hsZardous business.
Then in reference TO ssloon-keepeTs, he
stated the following principles, all clearly
set forth in tho teachings OF the came
council: Firs!-They do sir, whenever
they sell to one already intoxicated, or
who, though perfectly sober, will become
intoxicated, as they know, even II he
takes but ons drink Of liquor. Second
Thoy Gin also by selling to children.
Third-They ain, and grievously, by keep
ing open their baT.rooms, as is commonly
done in our city, on Sunday, in defiance
Of oil law, civil, moral, scriptural, ecCle-
slastiCal. Against this Dissertation Of the
Lord's day, the Bishop spoke in terms Of
powerful and sCathing denunCiation, up
braidiDg those in authority with violating
their solemn and oath.bound obligations
as guardians Of public morality.
Then directing his discourse to those
who drink, he reminded th0m Of we'll
established principle Of christian morals
laid down in the most emphatic Language
by the Divine Lswgjver himEelf, when
he said: ali thy right eye scandslizs
thee, pluck it out and cast 1t from thee, "
DC. Matt v. 90, etc. This rule Of con.
science binding on every man is, that
when any person, place or thing becomss
to him the approximate occasion Of griev:
ous sin, he Ia obliged at all costs to avoid
this occasion for the Holy Ghost reminds
Us that she that loves the danger, will
perish in it." Eccl. III, q. When then
experience has taught anyone that he is
led into excess every time he enters
gsloon or takes q glass OF beer or wine, no
is bound in conscience to avoid the dan
gerous occasion. This practical rule Of
morals the Bishop further explained and
calculated by several pertinent illustrs-
tiOns. He then passed The consideration
Of the malice Of the sin Of intemperanCs
both in ito intrinsic nature and Its hor-
rible consequences. Apart from tho sac.
religious outrage sgsinst God involved in
every grievous Gin, drunkenness possesses
a specific and horrid maliciouaneBs all its
own. God has made man the lord Of His
lower creation, and as such, has endowed
him with three annobling faculties OF will,
memory and understanding, which Coneti-
tute his natural likeness to the Triune
God, his Creator. By robbiDg him Of theEe
glorious prerogatlves, the demon OF in.
temperance debasss his victim even be-
low the brute creation. No animRl-nay,
not even thetraiiing worm We tread under
our feet, ever surrendera the instincts oil
Ito ns.u!a which the Creator has given 1t
for its Gelf.preseryation. In place ofthese
mere animal iDstinctg, man has received
God-like gifts; and thege the drunksrd
bsrters away in the indulgence Of his base
appetite, though he knows their loss robs
him OF every vesEigs Of hig manhood. But
usually, be IL not the only sufferer; and
here tho Bishop portrayed tho bhghhug
effects Of this sin on wife and children
and home.
After drawing q touching picture oil
these heartrendiDg evils Of intempersnce,
he reminded the drunkard Of the judg.
ment most certainly in store for him at
the close OF his life, and appealed to those
addicted to this vice, II they loved father
and mother, or wife and children, II they
loved their own Bouls, II they loved their
God and hoped for happy eternity, to
burst forever the iron bonds in which this
hend had bound them. When tho ply
siCisn tells you that You must abstain from
certain kinda Of food because injurious TO
your System, you do not hesitate to follow
his advice; why then do you continue the
use OF intoxicating Btimulants when ply
stefan, friend, conscience, experience and
MI unite in warning you sgainst their In
jurious effects on soul and body, on home
and family? Are you moral towards ?
Seek strength and courage and christian
manhood In prayer and the Holy saCra.
ments, and God will give you the needed
grace. These are, In fact, the only means
that will prove efIicaClous in Graduating
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