The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-02
The Rally at Temperance
Hall Last Evening Was
Slimly Attended.
Rev. Father Ryan of Brooklyn
Spoke EIOquently OH the
Effects of Drink.
ALCOHOL THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
Warned the People Against Giving Liquor 10
the Sick, as II Was Against the Teachings
of Medical ColIeges-Notes.

A small attendance was present last
evening at Temperance Hall to listen to
the address of Rev. Father Ryan OF Brook
Iyn, N. Y. Why more interest was not
taken in the lecture Is mystery to the
members of the temperance league, mas
much as they had gone to the expense OF
obtaining the services of one Of the most
eminent temperance lecturers on the Amer
ian stage. Notwithstanding the small at
tendance those who were present were &C
corded treat and one which was well and
heartily appreciated. Throughout the dis
course Rev. Father Ryan Was listened to
with the closest attention, his handling OF
tho question being, In the nature Of nov
city 70 the audience.
The first part Of the program was care
fully prepared by the members OF the
Ladies' Auxiliary connected with the So
ciety, and although short was decidedly
pleasing. The reverend speaker was es-
cortOd to the platform by Matthew Nc
Caf,rsy, Chairman of the Committee of
Arrangements, Martin O'Gara, President
OF the society, Joseph Cole, Secretary of
the Catholic Total Abstinence, and other
prominent members of the society. Mr..
McCafIrey, the presiding officer OF the eve
ming said that he was sorry to see such
small audience in view of the fact that one
OF the ablest temperance speakers in the
country was to be present. He then in
troduced the first number on the program:
Vocal selections, ''Song For Me-" and
''Send Back the Picture" Miss Mamie
Butler; "On Fontenoy," Patrick Dugan;
vocal selection, "Only a Letter." Miss
Emma Flynn. Miss Mamie Parkinson
and Miss Annie Flynn acting as accom-
Spanisss.
Mr.. McCaffrey then introduced Rev. Fr.
Ryan, who spoke in part as follows:
"While waiting for my turn my thoughts
wandered to many subjects. / was tempt
ed to handle it in many ways to see which
would be the most interesting, most useful
and most appreciated by you; one thought
decided me to treat il as follows: am
now in the centre of the hive of industry,
this being the most industrial centre Of
the United States consequently thritiness
and good common sense must predominant.
Accordingly have decided to treat it in a
sensible manner. The virtue of temper
ance is extensive. 1t is ruled according to
the sense of justice. 1t regulates not alone
the PASSIONS but all of the human construc-
tion.
In the case OF man il Is reason that con-
trolls him and when human passion Is sub
ordinate to reason Ii can be effected by 1t.
do not undertake to advocate, at all
times, total abstinence. That Is not my
theme. My duty is to place before you,
facts that every person should know.
What do scientific men tell us about intox-
icants7 Those drinks called intoxicants
contain one particular ingredient. Wine,
whiskev, beer, ETC., oil contain alcohol
Take this ingredient out of these drinks
and no one can object to them. We who
are interested are inexcusabls II we do not
know the nature and power of this ingre-
dient. BY chemists it Is catalogued as
poison. 1t Is not found in nature being
made from fermentation, and there is
scarcely any substance from which poison
cannot be distracted.
''The grape Is fruit which has been in
use for many centuries and the Juice when
properly treated makes a healthy drink.
sAlcohol when taken into the human
system Is never otherwise than injurious
and no state OF the human organism but
what will be seriously affected by its use.
/ argue that the indiscriminate use Of this
drug by physicians Is injurious to their
patients and there Is absolutely no neces-
sity for its wholesale usage by them. One
of the darkest stains upon the medical pro-
fession today is their prescribing Of this
for patients. All medical colleges dis
countenance It's use by physicians and as
Priest of God warn you to be on your
guard when doctor prescribes alcohol for
sickness. Chemistry teaches US that al
eohol is devoid of nutriment and the pre-
vsiling belief that 1t is an energy supplier
is wrong, having only temporary effect.
''The human body IL a complex machine
and may for time be able to do prodigies
under the effects of alcohol but later It
leaves the system more degenerated than
before. Many take wiskey under the be-
lief that they con do more work but IL Is
delvsion.
zone would not set fire to his household
effects but they are foolish enough to
drink alcohol which Is the same as setting
fire to their bodies. IL the destruction
caused by this drug ended with the body,
well and good but 1t goes still further and
the soul Is contaminated, the brain effected
and in fact every portioa OF the body Is
destroyed. Alcohol destroys reason and
what Is man without reason? He Is lower
than the beats which walk through our
streets. God never bestowed reason upon
beast but gave him as substitute in
stinct and consequently the man who is
deprived of reason from this cause is lower
than beast.
drunkenness is the one sin which God
Furnishes with severity. OF all almost
every sin there Is chance of repentance,
but the drunkard owing to the hold which
is secured on him and through his reason
being warped by constant usage of the
drug often fills grave without having
made his peace with God. 1 notice that
many OF my hearers are women andI would