The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-10-16
FATHER MATHEWS BIRTHDAY
1t Was Observed Last Sunday at st.
Charles Church.

1t Was Observed Last Sunday ut st.
Charles Church.
The anniversary of the birthday or
the great Father Mathew was observed
last Sunday night at St. Charles church,
when Rev. ]. M. Cleary delivered an
eloquent address upon the life work OF
the great apostle of total abstinence.
The church was filled, the eloquent Ill
vine was at his best, and his discourse
was greatly enjoyed.
He began by speaking briefly OF the
great work of total abstinence believers,
and then paid a glowing tribute to the
pure, unselfish, marvellous priest who
inaugurated the great movement for
the publication of human life every
where by the eradication of intemper-
ance. The speaker paid tribute 20
the efficiency of the method of moral
suasion employed by the total abstain
ers. and contrasted it with the less
successful methods of modern rampant
reformers. He emphasized the import
ance and the superiority of the reform
effort which appeals to the reason ana
the intelligence and the humanity OF
mankind.
Father Cleary launched with vigor
and determination into the drink prob
lem, held the habit up to scorn and
ridicule, analysed it's selfish motives
tn1
it's folly, it's absurdity, it's infamy, and
it's damnable results which stamped the
world over in pain and misery and
suffering.
"There is no greater delusion than
people seem to have in regard to the
drink habit" he said. cit is commonly
said that it cannot be done away with,
that it is an absolute necessity. This
is ridiculous. 1t does absolutely no
good, and it never has. No man can
say honestly that drink ever helped him
in a single instance. 1t has never
added to mans happiness, it has never
increased his personal worth, 1t has
never made him more efficient IN any
N. 1
his sorrow, or increased his joy. Not
even the most moderate drinker can
consistently claim that this dangerous
habit is doing him one iota of good.
"There is no sadder reflection on the
civilization OF this century than the
reflection that thousands of men with
the capability to think ana understand
can work all summer long at the sew
crest labor, with self-sacrifice that is
inspiring, denying themselves dress and
food almost, Shaving that they may
scrape together a small wage savings.
and then spend every cent of it fer
drink before the winter sets in, and
have to beg and plead for crust or a
rag and spend the long winter in
shameless beggary and squalor.
at does no good, but it does positive
harm. 1t despoils the home; it entails
misery and suffering upon innocence. 1t
drives men to destruction, casts women
and children into starvation and shame
and death. Because of it men lose
love, faith, hope, life and everything.
mo matter how clever or how bril-
liant man is, If he is addicted to this
drink habit he is sure to disgrace him
self sooner or later. Drink always con-
quers man. 1t cannot be fooled with.
1t must be left entirely alone.
"Our salvation is to bring children
up with the natural loathing and dread
of this monster Parents should en-
phasize the awfulness of intemperance
and reiterate it until 1t is instructive
in the mind of the child that drink Is
terrible destroyer. They should have
it drilled into them how drink destroys
happiness and life, makes man ridicu-
lous, absurd, foolish and finally damns
him entirely. They should be taught
by hearing it always preached, over
and over again, the grossness and the
foolishness of it. Never have liquor in
the house where children are. Never
send child for liquor. The father
or relative who sends child for beer
is deliberately, of his own free will,
sending him to destruction and he must
answer to Almighty God for his sin.
Save the rising generation from this
demon of blighting and destroying
Wickedness."