The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-17
AGAINST THE LIQUOR CURSE.
TWE1NTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CONVEN-
TION OF THE CATHOLIC TOTAL
ABSTINENCE UNION.
REPORT AND ADDRESSES HEARD.
President Frank Barth Reviews the
Work of the mbership
Shows an Increase.

archdiocese of ST. Paul, which was
held yesterday in Cretin hall. The
archbishop was an interested listener to
the reports which were made at the
opening Of the afternoon session by
representatives of the different societies
throughout the state, and we'll on in
the day, spoke to the delegates, VINO
numbered possibly $50. He spoke Of
the great pleasure he felt in listening
to the encouraging reports from the
societies on the noble work which was
so modestly begun twenty-seven years
ago, when a few earnest workers in
the cause of abstinence had met and
begun the battle. He could think OF
no more worthy I'M Of consecrating
the efforts of those who had kept up
the struggle against the liquor curse.
He paid high tribute to the Waverly
society, which reported 225 members in
good standing. The union has done
much for God and humanity, with its
conventions and consequent inter
change Of ideas and enthusiasm, and
had made it possible to keep up the
good work for total abstinence. He
urged them to keep the C~onVSnt1CnS big
and enthusiastic, bade his hearers con-
tinue stanch and answering in their
1abors, and explained that the work
lone in the cause had worked a great
change in the Catholic population Of the
state. In~tenperiEce, he explained, YVES
the sole cloud which hung over the
c~ountenanCe of the Catholic church,
and was the one thing Which prevented
the church from holding her head up
higher than now AS long as liquor
was sold, the efforts must be kept up
with unabatad energy to put down the
evil effects it had upon the closest re-
latiOns, and the nearest friends. He
admonished the delegates, young and
old, men and women, to leave the con-
vention with increased courage and re-
newed determination each to 90 his
share in the work Of the church
against intemperance.
The convention assembled in the
morning and after tie credentials cCm-
mittee had done its work, TIE delegates
adjourned to TIE cathedral, Where Rev.
FT. Woods assisted by Fathers Cos
grove and Colbert, celebrated mass.
Rev. j. NJ. G AZ Of st. CT ar,es church,
Minneapolis, who is president OF the
national c. 7. A. union, preached a
sermon On 'TenEerance." He review
ed the work accomplished since the in
ception OF the state organization and
paid high tribute to those who have
been actively engaged in the work.
The Catholic ladies Of st. Paul spread
a most substantial luncheon in the
basement Of the hall for the delegates,
ard at 2 o'clock the afternoon session
was begun. Most OF the AFTERNOON was
spent receiving the reports of repre-
sentatves of the different societies
through the state, and in almost every
case where reports were made in
creased membership and Furnishing
conditions were reported. During the
afternoon tie standing committees, to
which the duty Of preparing an address
which will today be presented in the
name Of the convention, were appoint
ed. Their chaLrmen are as follows:
To the Ord;Iary-J. r. McGuire, St. Paul.
To the Ciergy-T. J. Doyle. st. Paul.
t. the Catholic Pe2pIe-Rev. z. D. Casey,
Merriam Park.
To Young Men-Wiliam P. Kenrey, Mime
aroiis.
To Young Women-Miss Gerevieve Halves,
St. Paul.
On Reso,u:ions-Daniel Getchell, M;nnea2-
OILS.
On Constitutional Amerdments-T. ,.
Naugkton, minneapolis.
Dr.. Marie Merrill, of the Sacred
Thirst Society Of the Cathedral, St.
Paul, read a paper on Effect of Al
cohol on the System" The paper was
discussed by the delegates.
The officers CT the association ara
as follows: President, Frank A. Barti,
WATERFOWL; first vice president, j. NJ.
Mccain, Clontarf; second vice presi-
dent, P. McKenna, Shieldsville; third
vice president, Miss Mary Smith, ST.
Paul; treasurer, Hugh c. Sherry, Min
neapolis; secretary, J. ]. Reagan, st,
Paul.
The convention will end today, the
programme including a number of pa
pers, as follows: A. w. Gutridge, Oh
Union Meetings. J.. M. Lynch, of st.
Paul, on Temperament j. F. Melon
aid, OF Waverly, On 'Intemperance in
Country Districts and Mr.. McKenna,
on "Fraternal Insurance" Late this
afternoon new officers for the coming
year, and three delegates from this
state to the national convention, which
will be held in August, at Scranton,
Penn, will be elected, and the place for
holding the next state convention Sc
lected. Waverly is making a strong
bid for the next convention.
The address of President Frank
Barth was in part as follows:
The work during the past year has been
eminert.y satisfactory, in some districts ex-
ceptionally so. We have submitted to the I'M
ion six new societies with a total membership
of nearly GOO. About SEQ more have been adj
mitted as new members in societies already
existing. We have dropped from the union
rolls a few societies that have practically
passed out Of existence. But those were
neither large nor important. and do not mate
rally affect the general total which will, as l
have said, show a substantial increase. This
We think is remarkably good showing when
We consider the times through which the conn
try has just passed.
Ladies' societies have been as usual very
active during the past year and have added
largely to their membership. OF the new So
cieties admitted one IS a ladies' society. The
mems societies have also been active and show
a healthy growth.
To sum UP the status OF the union, I would
say that after looping eff al de2ayed branches
we still show a very material increase in msm-
bership for the PAST ard have the further sat
izfaction of knowing that every member now
On our rolls is not a fgurehead merely, but
an active and enthusiasts total acStainer.
Considerable interest was aroused in this
union last year by the nation convention.
Through the efforts of the union secretary
ard other total abStainenCe workers of Ram
sey county what We believe was the largea!
delegation ever leaving st. Paul to attend
a nation convention left for st. Louis. The
party numbered thirty, most of whom were
members of this union, and included two of
our delegates at large besides the resident
and secretary Of the union. We were the
largest represented union there with the pos
sible exception Of st. Louis and Kansas City.
Movements ere now on foot looking to the
holding of union temperance meetings, that is
meetings gotten up jointly by Catholics and
non-Catho.ic les. l trust our members will as
sist such lau0able efforts in every way they
can. The common ground of temperance Is
one on which we all can and should stand to-
gether.
| would like to emphasize the request made
by our national secretary that the union feas.
dow CT IOhr tha RantistS day. be observed