The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-24
WORSE THAN WAR.
Father Montgomery Talks about
Intemperance.
How the Youth May Be Caught to Avoid the
Use of Liquor and Successful Crusade
Conducted Against Its Abuse

Rev. Father Montgomery preached yes
terday morning at st. Mary's Cathedral to
large congregation on the subject Of tem-
perance. His text was from the Epistle to
the Galatians, where st. Paul contrasts the
works Of the flesh with the works of the
spirit, ending with these words: drunk
eHness, reveling and the like, of which l
foretell you as / nave foretold you, that they
who do such things shall not obtain the
kingdom of God"
The speaker said he would speak on the
subject of temperance for the reas on that
it was contemplated to organize in a short
time movement for the promotion of the
virtue of temperance, and he simply
wished to throw out some thoughts for the
people to reflect upon, with view Of en-
listing all Catholics in the work.
He said that permanent success in any
worthy decree must be looked for from the
cooperation of the church and the munic-
ipal authorities; that 1t is a matter in which
the church and municipality are equally
concerned, as the virtue of temperance is
both civil and a religious virtue. Iutem-
perance is not only violation of the moral
law. but is a social sin as well.
EVILS OF INTEMPERANCE.
He attributed the evils that all admit to
certain habits in society to the present
almost SAFE OIL h. Inc
habit of treating" he considered
banefu, and one that must be dis
couraged; that the methods employed in the
retail sale of liquors, by which the young
ana the weak are decoyed to their ruin, is
of so pernicious nature that n public Senti-
ment must be aroused that shall in time cor
rect 1t. Every alnrement, by means of
games and the like, that attract boys to the
saloon, where, if drinks are not; sold TO
them they are thrown into companionship
with the low and depraved, and where OBJ
scene language IS made familiar. he cOnsld-
cred the beginning Of their ruin. Hence
the people would be asked to lend q hand
in purifying these places or of suppressing
them entirely, and us they would be called
upon to act in this matter as Catholics, he
would state clearly the position of the church
in the matter.
SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED.
He quoted from the pastoral letters of the
Bishops of the Second Plenary Council of
Baltimore. wherein the Bishop deploring
the dissertation of the Sabbath was largely
accountable to the sale of liquor on Sun
days They earnestly eXhort their fOekS
not only to discourage this tiaffir, but ask
such OF them as may be engaged in the bust
ness to discontinue ii as soon as possible
and engage in some more becoming way OF
making a living. He said that the action by
the council and the efforts of individuals
looking to the same end had been especially
blessed and approved by the Sovereign
Pontitf. The speaker also called attention
TO the fact that if his people needed any
outside appreciation of the truth and JUS
tice OF this movement it was to be found in
the expressed opinions of the abiest states
men, lawyers, Judges and physicians of tile
day-all declaiming that the evil OF drunk
enness is one OF the social dangers of the
age. Their little boys, upon receiving con-
hrmation, had asked with the parents con-
sent TO promise total abstinence until they
would obtain their majority. In this way
their characters would be formed 10 habits
of temperance and sobriety, and if, when
they obtained their majority, there was a
public sentiment created making disrep-
utable habits, that are now respectable,
Disgrace, we would have hopes of better
state of affairs.
WORSE THAN ANY WAR.
The speaker looked upon war as dread
ful calamity, and yet what were the raw
ages of war in comparison to those Of in
temperance. Father Montgomery thought
that in view of the fact that there is more
liquor consumed in this city in proportion to
the population tnan in any other city in the
country there must be corresponding
abuse There Is no State in the Union
where more taxes are paid to support the
victims OF lntemperance than in California.
He exhnrted his hearers not only to encour-
age their boys By good example, but to keep
the promise they had made aud also to teach
them the effects of alcohol on the human
system. Its use leads to its abuse, and the
only infalible prevention is total absti-
nence.
He called on his hearers to study the oues-
tion as never before, in the light of reason
and experience. and place themselves in the
ranks OF earnest workers for the cause of
temperance. Let us take" he said, ''the
" ung and plastic mind, where habits have
been formed neither good nor bad and de-
veiop in them that higher principle whose
fruits are JOY, peace and atience."