New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-19
ENJOINED UPON CATHOLICS.
THE COUNCILS OF THE CHURCH COMMAND
OBEDIENCE TO EXCISE LAWS.
sorLcITrDE or THE AMERICAN HIERARCHY FOR
TIE PRESERVATION or THE AMERICAN
SABBATH - THE DUTY OF ALL
GOOD CATHOLICS.

SABBATH - THE DUTY OF ALL
GOOD CATHOLICS
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir The Catholic Church in this country has al
ways opposed the sale Of liquor on Sunday. No
good Catholic wants 10 see our Christian New
York Sunday turned into an inhde Partisan or
viennese Sunday by men destitute Of true Chris
tan sentiment and DESTROYS Of making money at
the expense OF public order
The following facts show the position OF Cath
olics on this question:
The last Plenary Council Of Baltimore held in
1894 at which nearly eighty Bishops and nearly
all the prominent priests in the United States as
sisted and over which Archbishop Cardinal
Gibbons presided. thus speaks on the liquor ques-
ton:
We earnestly appeal. therefore to all Catholics.
without distinction. not only to take no part in
any movement tending toward a relaxation Of the
observance OF Sunday. but to their influence
and power as citizens to resist in the opposite
direction
There is one way OF profaning the Lords Day
which is so prolific OF evil results that we con-
slider II our duty To utter against IL special con-
demnation. This s the practice OF selling beer
other liquors on Sunday or OF frequenting
places where they sold This practice tends
more than any other 20 turn the Day OF the Lord
into day of dissipation. TO use II as an occasion
for breeding lntemperance While we hope that
Sunday lawson this point will not be relaxed but
more rigldly enforced. we implore all Cath
ocs for the love Of God and OF country. never 10
take part In such Sunday traffic. TO patronize
nor countcnance IT, And We not only direct the
attention OF all pastors 10 the repression OF this
abuse but we call upon them 10 induce all OF their
nOcks that may be engaged In the sale of liquors
T. abandon soon as they can the dangerous
traffic and to embrace a more becoming way OF
making n living
And here II behooves ne to remind our work
ingmcn. the bone and sinew OF the people and
the specially beloved children 81 the Church.
that II they wish 70 observe Sunday as they
ought they must keep away from drinking
places on Saturday night. Carry your wages
home 10 your family. wh're they rightfully be-
long. Turn a deaf ear, therefore. to every temp
tation. and then Sunday Slll be bright day
for all the family. How much better this than
10 make II day ~ sin FOR yourselves and 0f
gloom and wrctchcdness for your homes by
Saturday nights folly 'r debauch. No wonder
that the prelates Of the Second Plenary Council
declared that the most shocking scandals which
"" have 10 deplorc spring from intempcrancc.'
No wonder that they CAV" special approval 70
the zeal Of those who the better to avoid ex-
cess or In order g. give bright example. pledge
themselves 20 total abstinence Liz" them we
invoke n blessing the cause OF Temperance,
and on all who are labor!rg FOR It's advancement
In true Christian spirit. Let the cxertions ~
our Catholic temperance societies meet with The
hearty cooperation Of pastors and people; and
not only will they - far toward strangling the
mOnstrous evil Of lntempcrance. but they viii
also put powerful check on the Dissertation OF
the Lords Day. and on the EVIL Influences now
Let all our people remember 20 keep holy the
Lords Day" Let them make II not only "A day
OF rest but also n day 80 prayer.
In St Patricks Cathedral. In this city, was
held the last Provincial Council ~ Ncw-York
All the surrsgan Bishops u the Province. eight
In number. assisted Cardinal McCioskcy In fran
ing the degrees 81 this Council. and they We're
promulgated by Archbishop Corrigan on August
-. 1886 Nearly all the priests OF tho city and
the most prominent priests Il the state wer"
present at the sessions ~ this council II de
creed ARTICLE D. Chapter o. page 49, Of the Acta
ct Decreta) that liquor sellers should refrain
altogether from selling liquor On Sundays; and
from selling II at any time 60 minors or drunkards:
that liquor dealers should faithfully observe the
laws OF the State passed FOR the extirpation or
diminution ~ intempcrance." and that charity
t. their neghbors required the liquor dealers to
observe these laws even though they entailed
on them pccunlary loss"
Again the NTH Diocesan synod Of New York
held In St Patrlck's Cathedral. by Archbishop
Corrigan In 1856. speaking OF liquor dealers says
We cxhort our priests to admonish frequently
liquor dealers not to sell 10 drunkards or TO
minors and to keep their liquor stores closed on
Sundays. (section 81. page ID
At this synod nearly 800 priests OF the Arch
diocese present.
II is quite evident. therefore that the city and
nquor selling have the sympathy and will have
the gratitude OF all good Catholics.
4 CATHOLIC PASTOR
July H. 1895.