Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-24

Big Audience Attends Meeting in
M South Worcester.
Earnest Temperance Addresses by Rev.
Bernard S. Conaty and Rev. D. F.
Feehan of Ftohburg.

The third in the series of rallies for
total abstinence under the auspices Of
the United Temperance societies was
held at the Sacred Heart Church hall on
Sheridan street, Sunday evening, under
the direction Of the Catholic Young
Mems Lyceum, and it was a rouser. The
hall was more than filled with an en-
thusiastic audience that filled all the
available standing room. Large delega-
tons from the other total abstinence
the most of the people were from South
Worcester and Quinsigamond. The
stage of the hall was handsomely dec
grated with the many trophies won by
the Lyceum in years past, and amid
these pleasant surroundings, the speak
ers delivered earnest and eloquent adj
dresses, which were listened to with
close attention. The speakers were Rev.
Bernard S. Conaty, pastor of the Church
of the Sacred Heart, and Rev. D. F.
Feehan pastor of st. Demands Church
of F'itchburg am ex-president of the Do
cesar Total Abstinence Union. On the
platform there were also seated Rev d,
F. McGillicuddy, the present president
of the diocesan union, Rev. William e.
Foley, and the presidents of the tenn
perance societies connected with the
Sacred Heart Church.
The meeting was opened by President
John ]. Harrington of the Lyceums, who
cordially welcomed those present and
gave a brief sketch Of the work being
done among the old and young people
of the parish by the several total absti-
nence societies connected with the
church. A piano and violin duet was
then given by Messrs. O'Rourke and
Riedl, after which the first address of
the evening was delivered by Father
Conaty who, in OPENING paid an earn
est tribute to Father Feehan's efforts
in the cause of total abstinence, saying
that to him was due in great meas
ure the fact that Fitchburg has been
relieved from The shackles of the rum
traffic, that city having voted for pro-
hibition for the past five years. Con-
tinuing, Father Conaty said that no one
can deny that 1t is an acknowledged
truth that one of the giant evils Of the
day is the use of intoxicating liquors,
for their use always means an abuse.
This has been the occasion of untold
grief to many a hearthstone, and near
~ everybody had some dear one who
would be an honor to the family if 1t
were not for this evil. He then CEN
sured in severe terms the moderate
drinking and treating habits OF society,
saying that any indulgence in intoMcat-
ing drinks means over-indulgenCe IN
time. and unless the will is strengthened
by help from on high, we may expect
TO see it's wreckage on the shores of the
sea of life. Happy is that community
where there are safeguards to protect
the Young men from the evil assocla-
lions of the saloon. He who will avoid
the danger of intoXication by becoming
q total ebstainer is better ana
stronger man in every way only one
slavery is known on this American soil.
and that is the slavery of the curse OF
drink, and if we can break the letters
of that bondmaster, we will certainly be
enjoying the blessings of perfect free
dom. AS Catholics, it is our duty to
show ourselves to be men worthy OF the
freedom offered by this country by be-
coming total abstainers.
A couple of recitations by Miss Mar
garet McDonough and song by Eugene
A. O'Connor were then given, after
which Father Feehan was introduced.
He was given a cordial greeting, and
after complimenting the people OF South
Worcester on turning out IN such large
numbers, he said that if he were to take
any text for his address ne would take
those words of St. Paul to the Ephe-
slams: Have nothing to do with drink
for in it there is a great deal Of sin. He
said those words were just as applicable
to the present time as they were when
written by st. Paul. because, notwith-
standing the lamentations Of those who
have been the victims of the drink
curse, there are still to be found many
men who give no heed to the words Of
the scripture where it condemns drink
ing and drunkards.
Father Feehan then addressed himself
particularly to the moderate drinker of
today, who, he said, was on the brink of
a bottomless abyss into which he was
surely falling He was not only his own
enemy in this world, but he is assuring
himself Of eternal misery hereafter
There are many vices in this world
which God does not punish as soon as
they are committed. He waits and lets
the sinner run his course, but this he
does not do with intemperance. The in
temperate man begins his own destruc-
ton even in this world. The greatest
blessing a man can enjoy is health, but
nature will not be trifled with. Give to
1t excessive drink and nature will pro-
duce a fever to throw off its effects, but
If the practice is continued in nature
eventually breaks down, and then it is
that we see men who are guilty of the
revolving sin of slow suicide.
If man loses his health on account
or 0VerWOfK, We can comfort MIN by
saying that God will not tax him with
more misfortune than he can bear; but
all we can say to the man who has
brought on his ill health by drink, is
that me should thank God he was not
struck down in the midst Of mis- sins
The man who is addicted to intoxicat-
ing liquor not only ruins his health, but
he also degrades his own character. He
is Stunned by society and men avoid
him as a corrupter Of good mems mo-
rails. Nobody trusts him and the world
turns from him, as The vice of which
he is a victim is the parent of all the
other vices which run headlong after
him. His character changes until he
loses whatever freedom he might enjoy.
and instead of being a comfort to those
who depend on him, he is a terror to
those who love him. The liquor that is
in him increases all that is bad in him
and his anger becomes a wild frenzy.
He is a mad man in everything except
that his madness lasts only while the
liquor is in him. You have seen all this
verified in your own lives, and it needs
no words from me to tell you the evil
effects that always accompany the
drink habit.
FIR F'eehan condemned in strong
terms the habit of some parents in
SEEDING their children to the saloon for
drink and told story which came to
his own attention, to show the evil eff
fa.,fe that r1n1e from S11ch q rra otice