The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-09
Members and Friends of Leices-
ter Catholic Total Abstinence
Society Gather at the LeiCeS-
ter Hotel
BANQUET FOLLOWED
BY SPEECHMAKING
After Which Floor Is Cleared and
Dancing Is Enjoyed Till the
Wee Small Hours of the Morn
ings = Several Distinguished
Guests Present

Leicester, Oct. S-The first anniver-
sary and banquet of the Catholic Total
Abstinence Society of Leicester was
held in Leicester Hotel tonight.
The guests of honor were: Rev. Dan
iel F. McGillicuddy, President of the
Worcester County Temperance Union;
Rev. ]. F. Redican, spiritual director
of the society; John T. Sheehan, Pres
ident of the United Temperance Socie-
ties of Worcester; Edward J. McDer-
mott chairman of Selectmen and Rob-
ert Asworth, benefactor of the socie-
ty.
Supper was served by Charles Sleep
err after which the speaking of the
evening was in order.
The Introductory remarks were by
Thomas A. Kane, President of the So
ciety. Mr.. Kane said in part: Rev
erend Fathers, ladies and gentlemen
] consider it an honor to be called up
on on this occasion, the first anniver-
sary of the c. T. S. of Leicester, to ex-
tend to you a cordial welcome, and to
thank you for the numberless ways
you have assisted us in the past year.
Our society as you perhaps know was
organized to promote the good and well
fare of our young men, morally and
socially and 1 am proud to say that
we have accomplished this and stand,
I now say without flattery, one of the
leading societies, if not the leading So
ciety of the old town of Leicester with
the grand old motto in the words of
our charter, Total Abstinence and So
ciability."
'In behalf of our society, I wish to
thank the members of our beloved
a.
agement we have received at your
hands. What words of censure we re-
ceived seemed hard at first but 1 am
glad to say they were of profit to us.
To our benefactors I am also grateful,
and 1 am sure that every member APP
preciated the gifts received. l now ask
the members of our society to continue
the good work of total abstinence un-
til we elevate our society to a higher
tenor than it is today. In closing l in
troduce to you the POSTMASTER of the
evening Thomas j. Toner"
Mr.. Toner in assuming the post of
honor said:
Reverend Fathers, Mr.. President
ladies and gentlemen:
1T is with feelings of both pleasure
and regret that l rise as POSTMASTER,
to heartily second the welcome that
our president has extended you in the
name of our society. My pleasure
comes from seeing so many of our
friends here at this first anniversary.
of our organization, showing by their
presence the interest they have in our
society and its work, that interest
which has done so much for us in the
past and which we hope Will continue
with us in the future. My regret is
that some one better fitted than l is
not here to greet you tonight and to con-
duct YOU through the program of the
evening
"Our president has aptly remarked
that "Sociability'' is one of the founda-
ton stones of our society. DID 1t ever
occur to you that it is very important
part of the foundation of this or any
other total abstinence society.
temperance society without its social
adjuncts would be like a brick wall
without mortar; the first gust of wind
would blow it over. Now my friends,
during the coming year we intend to
increase the interest in our society, and
also it's membership, by means OF the
social and literary features which we
are planning.
During the past 10 or II months we
have, principally through personal sol
icitation, succeeded in adding about 40
names to our list of members. This
is a work of which the charter mem
bers of our society feel justly proud
But the hardest work is yet to come.
There are still number of young men
in this town that We have not listed
as total abstainers. They are still in
doubt. They find it hard to admit that
a total abstinence society is really
success. and until that fact is proven
bevond all doubt, they will still hold
out.
Here is where we intend to use the
doctrine of sociability to good effect
Here is where we want the help and
assistance of all. our friends, and es-
pecially our young lady friends. DO
Won Young ladies realize the power you
have to help us in this line. Your IN
sistence on total abstinence in all your
friends would undoubtedly prove OF
benefit TO us and to all others concern
Cd but that is not what we are going
10 request of you tonight what we
40 asl, is that you lend your ald ana
tnanence in making all our SOCIAL al
fairs for the coming year a success. II
is onr earnest desire that they De even
mora successful than those OF the pas !,
for this reason. 1t is our oeslTe Gnu
intention to show our non-aps ts.iii ms
1rienSs the difference between the two
grades of sociability. the dliIerence ~ -
eo the sociabilitv of the home ana I
Il. fnfan0