Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-09
The Diocesan Union of Total Alb
stainers ConYenes at Irwin.
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION.
Members Advised to Take an Active Inter-
est in the Movement.
OFFICIALS FOR THE YEAR ELECTED

The days proceedings were lnaugurated
by the celebration Of high mass at $50
o'clock in the Catholic Chapel, Father Con-
merry, the spiritual director of the union,
officiating. Father Graham, the pastor, de-
livered the address, in lieu of the customary
sermon, in which he welcomed the members
of the convention to Irwin, and alluded to
the importance and high character of the
work in which they were engaged, which,
he sale, while productive of temporal ad-
vantages to themselves and those who
would benefit by their example, would
bring upon them due blessings from above.
After the service, the delegates and local
societies to the number of 250 marched in
parade through the town, and at IL o'clock
the visitors sat down to banquet in the
X. of L. Hall, rendered to them by the hos
pitable folk of Irwin
AT o'clock the convention was called to
order by the Rev. Father Cameron, the
President of the Union. P. W. Joyce acting
as secretary. The Secretary's report showed
an increase of 10 societies and 500 members
on last years figures, the total number of
members in the Union now being 1y750.
The Committee on Auditing reported a
credit balance in the treasury of $5f5.
AMENDMENTS INSERTED.
Amendatory clauses were then inserted
in the constitution. On the proposition that
laymen should take as active part in fur
thering the temperance movement as did the
clergy, Mr.. Sullivan charged that the lack
of enthusiasm should be laid at the door of
the clergy and not to the account of the lay
men. Ii the reverend fathers of the diocese
of Pittsburg would take the interest they
should in the cause they would soon be fol-
lowed by the laity.
1t was proposed that lay organizer be
appointed to see to the proper development
of the diocesan societies, and also that re-
cruiting committees should be appointed by
each society, and report to the Secretary.
In the discussion that followed the Rev.
Father NJ. Sheedy said he was in favor of both
amendments, and believed that good would
result from them. He thought that during
the ensuing winter the organizer would have
opportunities of doing very effective work.
He was in favor of having layman ap-
pointed as organizer, and he believed that
the recruiting committees should be given
trial. If one was not effective, another
could be appointed. He hoped that the
amendatory clause would pass, as he be-
ieved it would be found that good would
ensue.
The President said they always received
strong support from the ladies, and hoped
that they might hear from some of those
present on the question, but none of them
responded. Both amendments were carried.
PRINTING THE BULLETINS.
Considerable discussion ensued on the
amendment as to whether the bulletins
should be forwarded to the societies as here
tofore or printed in the C. T. A. News.
Some delegates took exception to the Ne,os
on the ground that it contained at times
anti-temperance news, while others held
that, as it was, the bulletins were seldom
read by members, and if printed in the Ne,os
would be ignored. Father Sheedy was
opposed to any change on the ground that
the insertion of the bulletins in the NeDs
might form precedent for other unions to
accept it as the official organ, and held that
coming from the President and secretary
they would have more effect. The amend
ment was lost,
Father Cosgrove then made a short ad-
dress, in the course of which he said that
a good deal had been said on the question of
temperance within the last twodecades. He
remembered IS years ago when he was then
a young priest, throwing himself into the
temperance movement which had been Just
started in Western Pennsylvania, and
he had administered the pledge some
thousands of times. Since then the work
had gone on, and he looked forward to the
time when it would leave its mark on the
history of the country. He had to give up
his work in the city owing to ill-health, and
going to a town where there was local
option had tried to organize society there,
but found 1t hard work. When efforts are
made in such a case as this Almighty God
cast down blessing upon them. He
will not ask what the results of your efforts
are, but what you did by force of example
to encourage others.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
The question was stupendons one, it
was hard to know where to begin. Primari-
ly, we must take care of youth We must
among our young people. In his young
days, youth seen smoking cigar would
have it taken from him by anyone pass
ing; now his own father couldn't
take it from him. We should try to
raise our young boys without knowing
what drink was until they were 25. At
that age they begin to have responsibilities,
to marry, and their common sense would en-
able them to see what would be for their in
terests. Old drinkers we cannot change,
but surely we can take care of our youth.
If we 60 on in this way we may expect the
reward which God will give unto those who
serve MIN IalLnfullY IN tllS lie.
Father Sheedy adverted to the necessity
OF encouraging the circulation of literature
among the societies. He said that, after all
very little was being done at present to help
on the cause Of temperance. There was no
element or attraction about the societies.
The difficulty was not so much in inducing
young people to become members as in keen
ing them in the society. Reading clubs
and circulating libraries should be estab-
lIshed, and prominence should be given to
temperance literature, for our young people
complain that the societies are too bene-
fciary and that they do not hear much
about temperance.
The President indorsed the suggestion.
and resolution embodying the Rev. Father
Sheedy's suggestion was adopted. Father
Lambing said that every member should
work among his neighbors as would ward
politician drumming for votes. They knew
the weak points of their friends. Let them
use their common sense, and not depend on
few trifling changes in the constitution.
PRIESTS INFLUENTIAL.
Mr.. Sullivan argued that word from
priest carried more weight than a years
talk from layman. He condemned the
practice of administering partial pledges to
men who had not courage to shake off the
habit of drink altogether. He held that
until the clergymen of the diocese. in a
body supported the temperance cause, their
constitution would be as a dead letter.
Father Lambing said that delegates should
inform their societies of what had tran
spired there, and they should discuss pro-
jects for development among themselves.
On the question of the endowment of the
Father Matthew chair in the University at
Washington it was reported that $707 had