Evening journal., 1896-10-13
PLEA FOR TEMPERANCE.
FATHER M'MANUS STRONGLY DE-
NoUNCES MODERATE DRINKING.
HE PREACHED A POWERFUL SER
MON TO AN IMMENSE AUDIENCE
AT ST. MARY's CHURCH ON THE
EVILS OF INTENPERANCE.

A large congregation attended st.
Mary's r. G. Church, Sixth and Pine
streets. Sunday night to hear Rev
Miles J. McManus preach on Strong
Drink, an Enemy of Christianity" A
feature of the evenings Vesper SER
vices was the fine singing Of Miss Liz
zie Schawb in the "Tudicabit," and of
Miss Lizzie Harman in "Salve Regina"
and "Tantum Ergo"
Father McManus began with an
earnest appeal to young men to be-
come interested in a subject of vital
Importance to their future. In no case
did he wish it understood that tenn
perance alone would of itself be suffi-
cient for the salvation OF the soul The
use of any gift of God did not pre-sup-
pose its abuse, and since God created
no evil, excesses in eating or drinking,
or of any other cause, could not but
indicate q loss of self-control. In con-
trasting the life of the divine Saw
ior the reverend father dwelt elo-
quently upon the aesthetic sacrifices
of that life in all its purity and sub
Unity. as against the murmuring and
discomfort OF the Israelites under
Moses in their forty years of wander
ing to the promised land. From this
were drawn from ST. Augustine, st.
John, Chyrostom and of the teeming
thousands of those who in solitude
communed with God in abstinence and
lonely sacrifices from the things that
were hurtful
Taking up the material side of the
temperance subject, the speaker de-
velOped in thrilling and pathetic word
MI .Y
ard to wallow in the mire in a less de-
gree than that Of beasts having only
their instincts to guide them. "See
that drunkard reeling and staggering
along Now a plunge to this side, and
then with a maudlin effort recovering
sufficiently to pitch headlong to the
other. This is man endowed, not with
the instincts of the beast, but with
God-given reason. But how fearfully
perverted. The day passes, as have
other similar days, but a dim recollec-
ton of having, sometime in the early
morning, left a place called home; now
as the shades of night fall. seeks il
again, carrying in his breast the surest
intent to heap upon his wife and chill
dren the abuse and blasphemy not toll
Grated elsewhere. See the hopeless
greeting of the poor wife, with her
poorer children clinging to her. The
first question comes with an oath, is
supper ready Yes, such as It is, an
hour ago.. He tumbles in q heap
across the bare, uncarpeted floor. The
| blackened chairs and table tremble as
he falls, and should he rise again, it is
/ to fell with a blow the woman he had
| taken from a comfortable home and
/ swore to love and protect through life
a promise that hardly outlived the or
ange blossoms that clustered around
her bright prospects and her wedding
dress.
Let me say one thing before I &c
back again to this wretched example
| When man or woman becomes so ad-
dioted to strong drink as to bring them
to this state, It is of no use to attempt
| reasoning them out of it. / have tried
and every trial was a failure. A miracle
of grace alone is available Beware
| then of your moderate drinker. The
social glass or two, the merry zest, the
right good fellow, the deadly repetition
of last nights good time, at your feel
yawns the drunkards abyss. How dc
you know you can keep out of il? THAI
is the way the poor drunkard l hav,
described commenced. Go back with
me again, and pick your way through
places where vice turks. Push oper
the battered door, climb in the evil Of
night the rickety stairs, and what is il
lying upon a heap of rags in yondel
corner2 II is the poor heart-broker
wife giving up the awful struggle
raising her emaciated arms to HEAVIER
as if she implores protection for hel
children. and then breathes her last.
This is moderation-the end of it
Temptations come always in the guis,
of moderation. Take you heed to pra,
for strength TO resist before it is toe
late"