The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-25
SUNDAY LAW BROKEN
REV. FATHER O'BRIEN SPEAKS OF
1T IN HIS TEMPERANCE ADDRESS.
City's Magistrate Sitting His
Conscience.

The first of a series of Sunday night tenn
perance entertainments to be under the
auspices OF the knights OF Father Mathew
was given last night at Masonic Hall. The
wretched condition of the weather doubt
less Kept a great many people at home. but
notwithstanding the storm. a good sized
audience was present. Rev. James A.
OfBrien, assistant curate at ST. Johns, de-
hvered the address of the evening. Father
OfBrien Is a newcomer to the diocese OF
Indiana and last night was his first APP
pearance at a public entertainment. He is
a young man Of more than ordinary abi,-
lily as an orator. and his remarks in de-
tense OF the temperance cause were lis
tened TO with interest.
Much of the blame for the liquor curse
he laid at the door of municipal govern
ment. Saloons and brothels are licensed
and tolerated. and the men who are re-
sponsible for the Jaws that create these
places in many instances patronize them.
Father O'Brien thought 1t a shameful
raised to the position Of chief magistrate
OF a city stifie his conscience to the evils
about him and let them continue. The
reverend father had witnessed gross viola>
lions OF the laws right here in indianapolis.
He had seen hundreds OF men come out OF
saloons not a hundred miles from ST.
Johns Church on Sunday mornings while
~AD - FtN<F vi OCIltS lt4A OtdO Lllo
cathedral. While on his way to administer
to the sick and dying he had met young
mes carrying. cans of beer. He was proud
that the ranks of such organizations as
the Knights OF Father Mathew contain
men and women who are not afraid to do
battle with this evil. 1t was lamentable,
he said. that temperance people must be
be proud TO be called one. Columbus was
a crank and an enthusiast: Pasteur was a
crank and an enthusiast: Father Mathew
was n crank and an enthusiasts boyf hia
cause was the cause of God. and the men
and women who have been knighted in his
name have a beautiful gospel to preach.
Father, OBrien made the assertion that
excessive use of liquor. Where he had found
a saloon he had found poverty in the neigh
borhood, but, he did not mean to say that
poverty made the saloon. 1t is the saloon
drunkard Is thus: Make a man drunk and
he VIII run the gamut of the whole category
OF sin. Father OfBrien appealed to his hear
ers In the lame OF the Master to array
themselves against the men who persist In
selling liquor on Sunday. IF the keepers
of the law won't make them obey do it
lash of the law" In concluding Father
OBrien pictured the woeful condition of a
home despoiled by drink He sometimes
viewed the drunkard in the light of a muir
derer, he said, and he felt that he must
refuse to perform his priestly office in the
last hours of such a man.
Don't call me to a drunkard when he is
dying ne concluded. "for / would as leave
give the sacred oils TO a hog or a horse as
to a ~drunkard when he is dying"
The address of Father O'Brien was fol-
lowed by an excellent programme of music
and speeches by other enthusiastic tem-
perance men. Rev Father Bessonies made
a brief but strong temperance speech and
was heartily applauded. p. j. Kelleher de-
livered a stirring speech and favored the
audience with an appropriate recitation en-
titled 1.-The Face on the EIOOr.