The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-04
WORK OF FATHER BURNS
AN INDIANA TEMPERANCE ORATOR
VIC Is WINNING RENOWN.
Though a Catholic, P~rOtestants Are
ApplaudinG His EfOrts-HOw He
Fights the Liquor Habit.

/ April 3.-The TimeS-Herald'S
Notre Dame. Ind, correspondent says: The
big university at this place has a Francis
dAssisi of temperance, who is a joy to the
Young Mems Christian Association, and a
delight and a wonder to the Women's
Christian Temperance Union. He is Rev.
Father j. A. Burns, c. S. c., and he is at
tracing widespread attention among tenn
perance workers.. Father Burns is the State
organizer of the Catholic Total Abstinence
Union of Indiana. but religious differences
fade away in the presence of the silver
tongued orator" and those who have heard
him once are eager to hear him again.
There are very few places in the Union
where his voice has not been heard in the
cause to which he has devoted his life, but
he shows the deepest interest in his own
State. lecturlng where temperance lectures
are most needed and starting new societies
everywhere.
The stand taken by the reverend lecturer
is a broad and a new one. Though a clergy
man of the Roman Catholic Church, he
works in harmony with the Young Mems
Christian Association and the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union whenever 1t
is possible TO do so. He is lavish of praise
where praise is deserved, and is thankful
for any suggestion. no matter how humble
the source, that may enable him to con-
tinue the fight. He is seeking to establish
among Catholic women an organization
similar to the w. c.. 7. L., on account OF
the tremendous good accomplished by wom-
en- in the home, but the object really next
his heart is lettering the condition Of young
men, of raising their moral tone, OF inter-
esting them in intellectual and innocent
pursuits. and so taking their minds off the
Ill I;1--,~~- @N@-ol L@- -sl-
His idea is that healthy youth must have
an outlet. 1t must have activity. Youthful
energy must be expended in some direction,
if not in a good, most certainly in an evil.
Father Burns holds that mere temperance
talk alone is simply a waste of time and
energy. He is laying the foundation of
reading rooms, gymnasiu'ns and debating
clubs through the State of Indiana, and,
In fact, everywhere time and opportunity
offer. His idea that all weapons are good
that rout the common enemy, but the
most effective ones are those that keep him
away" is doing more than anything else
TO stop the sale of intoxicating drink. He
hopes to fight the evil with its own weap-
ons, /. e., amusement, and so counterfeit
the attractions of the barr0oms.
done an Incredible amount of work for the
cause OF temperance and shows a wonder
rector op' of sorin fHf ail e1sgppasednu aPte espH HaiD in me the ie
University of Notre Dame and consequent
ly a very busy man. Hi influence over the
graduates is very marked indeed, % per
cent. of them at least leaving the college
pledged abstainers. This is a great show
ing, and it is steadily on the increase.
Their rector had an opinion that one edu-
Gated total abstainer has an influence over
one thousand who are not, When one con-
students and that fully one-fourth of those
are sent out to WELD so powerful an infiu-
ence the outlook for temperance is very
bright indeed.
Notre Dame stands alone among the
great Catholic colleges in this respect.
Temperance meetings are held there every
month. The programme Of entertainment
is varied and the greatest enthusiasm and
interest are displayed by the students-in
fact, enthusiasm and interest are apt to
Burns is orator and the theme is temper
ance. as much so in the toughest and
toughest Indiana town, with the saloon
twenty feet away, as in the stately college
halls.
Father Burns is a born orator. and. like
all such. has an immense amount of mag
netism. His voice is clear and resonant and
not one syllable is lost. His presence is
commanding, his gestures r few and effect
Harvard man. combined with the vim and
force of the Western schools. A great rea-
form is his method of handling his subject.
A profound scholar and thinker, he speaks
as a thinker. and. unlike the ordinary lee
turer, without eXaggeration or unnecessary
rant. He provokes tears and smiles SEEM
ingly without an effort. and so quietly does
he lead the people TO his way of thinking
that when he rises to the point in question
his audience is with him TO a man. Like
all reformers, he is an enthusiast, but he
carries his enthusiasm well in line, and. like
a true artist. never allows it to obtrude
prematurely.
Though Father Burns is a Western man
he has studied in the best colleges East and
West. spending three years in Harvard
Those who hear him predict for him a great
future. He has been compared with Beech
er. Talmage. Capel and other great preach
ers. but while he has one point in common
with other orators, that of reaching mems
hearts and driving home the truth. he can
be safely said to have a style of his own.
Those who remember Mgr. Capel. the ia
nous English divine. see a strong resem-
blance between the two.
This gifted young mar belongs to an or
der that avoids notoriety. and were IL not
for the special need of just such a man his
fame as a speaker probably would be con-
fined to the walls of his college. Like many
others whose names make history. the cir
cumstances called forth the man. The
youth in many places. left 20 chance and to
grow" like Topsy, wrecks before even
reaching manhood-without n hand held
forth to offer a substitute for facilitating
amusements. appealed strongly TO the right
man. He knew that not one parent in a
thousand could afford to send his son to
college. Bright. talented boys are sent
early TO work. How will they spend even
ings? How will they improve themselves
so as TO be a blessing, not a curse to
society later? Rev. j. A. Burns is trying to
solve those questions.