The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-07
THE SIN OF DRUNKENNESS
The Evils Of Drink Powerfully
and Earnestly Presented.
THE MISSION SERVICES.
Father Hopper's Sermon at ST.
Mary's Last Night. He Urges
Total Abstinence From Liq-
uor. The Use of Drink
the Cause of Crime.
Friday, Sth of February.

The instructions and sermons Of
the Paulist Fathers Hedges and
Hopper at St. Aiary's yesterday
morning aud evening we're of deep
est interest. AS usual there was II
good attendance at the early service
at and 6 O'Clock, as also at tho S
O'Clock instructions TO the children.
The subject OF instruction ut these
services was ContrItion. 1t was an
essential to the forgiveness aud re
mission of sin. God loved con
trite heart, and His mercy flowed
out to all who repeated of their evil
ways and resolved for love OF Him
to amend their lives.
At the evening service the bea'uti.
full editice of st. Mary's was, ns on
the previous evening, thron2ed by
an immense congregation. Every
seat was occupied, and it Is estimat
ed that nearly 1000 people were
present. The discourse of Father
Hopper was on the "Sin of Drunk
enness, and from beginning to end
it merlted and received profound
attention from his listeners. Prev
GUS to the sermon, cards we're cir
culated through the congregation
containing pledge of total .absti
nence, which will be collected ut to
nights services by the Rev. Fathers
from all who subscribe to the same.
The card is rs follows
Total abstinence promise made
at the mission given by the Paulist
Fathers, Ill St. Mary's Church, for
February. 1895. For the love Of
God and the good OF my soul /
promise to abstain from Intoxicating
drinks"
THE SERMON.
Rev. Father Hopper chose for his
text the words from Proven bs .
There is way which seemeth lust
to man. but the ends thereof lead
to DEATH"
He said: "There is way leading
to happiness here, aud to an eter.
nal happiness. and there IS also a
way leading to earthly misery and
terminating IN an eternal misery
hereafter. But there Is no way on
Gods earth that leads more o tenn
poral and eternal misery than the
unhappy life Of drunkard. Drunk
enness drives its victim into more
despair and wickedness than any
other vice. for this reason it is called
The beginning of all vice. Oh, would
10 God that | could describe in
words what intemperance has causcd
and is causing daily.
Look at home and mothers. both
once bright and happy. but now
paralyzed by drink, while little
children are uncared for and almost
starved. In our criminal annals
most OF the men condemned to penal
servitude are those who committed
the overt act while under the min
ence of the dread demon of drink
woe to him who drinks. because
drink leads to every form OF vice.
lake away drink, dear brethren.
and yon take away half of the
crime of humanity, Drink makes a
man quarrelsome, i'll tempered: il
makes him rob his innocent dau0b.
ter OF her virtue ana purity. Drink
ooes II all, because 1t Is the parent
OF Gil crime. There is nothing moro
disgusting here and more painful to
GOD and His angels than drunken
man and a drunken woman. What
ID drunken woman? She ,s a
woman who has lost ell of the yittpe
ana purity given her by God,
"She Is forsaken, heartbroken
degraded. and for what? For noth'
ing else than to satisfy that unwo.
manly appetite for drink. Oh. that
my voice were clarion. like, that n
might reach every woman on earth
and | would cry never touch it
The habit grows almost imuercem.
tably. 1t may begin by glass with
friend. TO it may be traced the
rum of many pure girl. 81. PanI
says: NO drnnkard shall possess
the kingdom of heaven,' and this
warning should be sufficient to con
vince any one of the divine disan.
proval OF the traffic.
"Ihe home attacked bv the man.
ster of drink is all too often uttarl,,
wrecked, and If it is brought to this
state by an Incorporate mother, anil
oftener is 1t done by ali lutemuer.te
fsther, who, fearless OF God, turn.
90 home into q hell. At ona tins