The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-11
TOTAL ABSTINENCE.
Strongly Advocated by the
Rev. Father Hennes-
seY and Mgr.
Seton.
CATHOLIC TEMPERANCE WORK.
The Societies, Their Numbers
and Methods - Local
Church Notes.
CATHOLIC TEMPERANCE WORK.

Not the least important work OF the
church in the community is in the tenn
perance field, where almost every church
has an active interest aud in most cases u
regular organization. The work done by
tae Roman Catholic churches is FIR
reaching in It's influence and systematic
in the means employed. While there are
many large societies OF this class In
Roman Cath Ollie parishes of this city,
there are three which may be taken to
fairly represent the methods employed by
the church in the cause of temperance.
These are connected with ST. Patrick's,
St. Joseph's and St. Peters Churches.
The first organization is by far the larg-
est in the city, numbering over Il thou
SAND active members, bound by a pledge
to abstain from the use of all IN
toxIcating liquors. 1t is known
as he Confraternity of the
Sacred Thirst and Agony of Jesus
aud the Dolurs of Mary. and is under the
direct supervision of the Rev. Father
Patrick fiennessey, who has the we'll
earned reputation OF having done more
for the cause of temperance than aoy one
man in the city. Upon enrolment mem
bers are presented with the manual OF the
Catholic Total Abstinence Union OF
America, a yellow-covered pamphlet set
ting forth very vigorous views on the sub
iecI of inebriety, and frequently quoting
the dictum of Cardinal Manning, ITEM
perance is good. but total abstinence IS
better" Sermons on the subject are fire.
ouently delivered in St. PaLrick's by the
Rev. rather Hennessey or visiting priests,
and in addition to public efforts u constant
open warfare is Waged not only against
drunkenness, but the liquor traffic in gem
erul. In fact, the perfect and
candor with which the Rev. Father Hen
nessey defines his position on this sub
iect i'll III rs we'll as conversation Is
we'll known in the city.
DIR. sEToN'S WORK.
The Rev. DIR. Seton, OF st. Joseph's
Church, Baldwin avenue, is another en-
thusiast on this subject. and conducts St.
Joseph's Temperance Society, which num-
bers 16S mem pers, and holds meetings
the third Sunday of the month. The
| society has been organized ever s1uce the
| cornerstone of the present church was
laid, aud needless to Jay, is a power in the
| locality. DIR. Seton is u firm believer in
| the practice of administering q temporary
| pledge to young men, to last until their
twenty-frst year. believing tnat after
TINS period there is a strong probability
habits, 1.-The worst rulfians l see,"
said DR.. Seton, ARE from sixteen
to eighteen years old; by the time they
are old enough to be men they have made
themselves beasts" There are W So
~cieties. ST. Aloysius' and st. Joseph's, Or
ganized TO reach boys and Young men,
over which Rev. Father McHale is in
charge, and whose members take the
pledge until Gwenty-one. DIR. Seton says.
however, that ne has followed up those
who have passed that age by three years
or more, and in each case the pledge has
remained valid. DIR. Seton Is strong in
his denunciations of the Executive De-
parLment Of government, which, as he
saws. allows the luws to be unbiushingly
violated Il then expects the church to
put down the evils of intemperance.
''What can we do?" said he. I'VE can
reach the children. Yes. and we can do
something through the confessional, but
what can we do with the men. When we
have those in authority to work against
us?' DR.. Seton has often declared that
he would not admit to the communion q
| confirmed drunkaru. until he had made
public reparation and remained on PRO
baton long enough to test the sincerity OF
his professions.
ST. PETERS SOCIETY.
st. Peters Temperance Society Is OF
large numbers and long standing. II
holds meetings every Monday night III
the parochial school, and Mr.. John Mad
deu, of York street. is the presiding
off Ger. The society is now considering
the subject of an excursion to be held in
August The mem bers are men of al
ages, although those of middle age are In
the majority.