The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-09-08
6. T \. U. CONVENTION.
ANNUAL STATE MEETING IN NoR-
 WALK YESTERDAY.

One Hundrsd and Fifty Delegates
 Prsssnt-Addrsss by Rev. Father Mclean, President of Union.
 Norwalk, Sept. 1.-The thirty-fourth annual convention of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of Connecticut open ed here to-day. There were 15O dele gates present this morning. The con- vention opened with a mass at St. Ma rvs church, celebrated by Rev. aFther Peter H. Mclean, of Milford, who is president of the society.
 The convention opened in Lockwoods hall at Il o'clock. The mayor extended welcome to the delegates and Rev. Father Mclean responded. The latter then delivered his annual address, in part, as follows:
 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. | .aThe purpose of this assembly is for i the bettering of manhood and woman hood in society. The means to thls noble end is total abstinence from all stimulants that intoxicate. It seems l strange that reasoning men should pc I forced or even called upon to practice | the virtue of total abstinence. Iher treason should of it's very self inculcate | this virtue upon them I .sIs not the total abstainer at least as good a citizen and church man as the l moderate thinker, and surely far better ithan the tippler or drunkard The an- l swer to this question is certainly plain and easy, and assuredly most favorable to total abstinence.
 "Total abstinence is, then, virtue to ! be practiced; if not out of absolute duty, l certainly out of charity for our fellow man, wkho may not be gifted with so l strong a character, or who may pc ltempted more violently by the demon or drink.
 .sNo other business of the day carried on as d retail business can afford so imany attractions as does the saloon, lhigh-classed as it is misnamed. It is the only disgrace of American institu- | tions Nothing would so soon and so I jeffectually rid the land of this great and crying evil as an army of earnest totai abstinence crusaders
 | RI SECHEIAh1 o nfII7CIs l.s | The report of the secretary, John j.. l Corbet, of New Haven, was then sub mitted. and. in substance, was as fol-
 lows:
 Since the thirty third annual conyen- ton at Stamford, on September 3, 1902, five new societies have been admitted
 to the state union, with membership
 of 226
 The state union lost during the year l five societies, which were reported as I out of existence, with membership of 26S.
 { The membership in the eight counties
 of the state September 2, 1903, was dis 5 tributed in this way: New Haven coun- ty 2507 Hartford 1,S50 New London 669,
 Fairfield 6S6, Litchfield 504 Middlesex
 PAS. Holland 1892 Windham 14S; total, I7,047.
 2 The largest mems society of the state union is the Y. M. 1T A. B. society of I New Britain with membership of S2O. ,The St. Rose of Meriden is the largest ladies society, with membership of 200 Twelve of the societies own real Iiestate valued at $125, GOO, a decrease of
 two societies and s41,900 since the last
 convention
 The sick and death benefit features
 are still doing great good for the mem
 bers. During the year 1902 the mems
 societies disbursed $2, ,Oo1.60 for sick ben !, efits and $S47 for death claims The la
 dies, societies paid out $275 for. sick ben efits and $500 for death benefits. ii The convention continued in session this evening and tomorrow will occur the election of officers and other impor- 'ti tant business.
 HOME FROM THE MOUNTAINS.
 Mrs. A. Sanford of 291 George stree { l t1nne ,,oti1rnnd frnr,n Q rlaaeant sninilrr