The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-06
TOTAL ABSTINENCE
SUBJECT OF LECTURE AT MOBILE
 CATHEDRAL.
Rev. Father Healy Apeals to Large Congregation fin Name of Christ
 to Shun strong
 Drink. .tN

Mobile. March 5.-(SpecialD D--Tonight the Cathedral was overcrowded by the large congregation which gathered to shear the lecttffe on "TotaI Abstinence" by Father Healy. Extra seats had to be used, and many were compelled to stand during the discourse, to which all gave the most attentive hearing,
 Total abstinence promise cards were distributed to the congregation for the signatures of those who. desired to take the pledge. Father Healy took for his text the words of St. Paul to the Romans. Tt, is good not to eat flesh. and not to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother is offended or scandalized, or nmde weak" In part, he said:
 Three motives there are which inn pei me to advocate the cause of total abstinence. love of country. love of church and love of souls.
 First, love of country: I do not de- sire to assume the undignified role of calamity howler and to prophecy the, dissolution of the American nation. or the breaking of its power. yet cannot refain from lamenting that there is q vice which Is threatening to become national with us which is already ap- palling in it's proportions. and which, did it grow unchecked, would prove in a short time the deadliest foe to Amer ica's strength, the aborting of her gio- rious future- For this reason I shall give my best efforts throughout life for the cultivation of national senti- ment against intemperance that threat ems to sweep over the land.
 Second, speak out of love for the church. It Is not infrequently charged against the Catholic Church, T by those who are hera enemies. that she con demns the sin of intemperance too readily and conferences the saloon traffie, even in its worst forms I de- sire to give the lie to that islander. for the Catholic church uncompromisingly condemns whatever Is sinful in the sale or the use of liquor. She commands her children under pain of sin to be temperate and strongly urges us to the practice of total abstinence
 "Finally, speak out of love for soul With a missionary the saddest of his sad experiences is witnessing the dreadful havoc wrecked and ruined souls, the unfortunate victims of the demon of strong drink. As a sin upon the soul of man, drunkenness is of the lowest order. In itself it Is hideous be. yond description. It ruins mans in- tellect. demoralizes his whole charac- ter and leaves only shadow of what he was when he came from the hand of God. In a word, 1t unmans man. And who shall tell of the multitude of other evils that follow in its wake? Impurities, blasphemy, murder and rapine; the specter of pauperism, gaunt hunger and desolate despair; these are only part.
 Against the sin of drunkenness therefore, which is & deadly disease gnawing at the vitals of the nation which Is a scandal to the church and to religion, which damns so many souls, advocate with all my heart and soul the cause of temperance; nor do I stop here. but go further to plead for total abstinence with regards to the use of liquor, temperance means simply moderation.
 But total abstinence means a com plete denial to ones self of the use oi liquor, even in moderation. This is a virtue which. when prompted by some noble motive. is more meritoriouS in the sight of God And there is g motive which I will now present tC all. even to the temperate, for going the full way to total abstinence, { motive which I am sure will appeal tC all. That motive is love"
 In conclusion Father Healy appealed to his congregation in the name O Jesus Christ. "As devoted Christians" he said '' 1 appeal to you in honor of the sacred l thirst of Christ to be total abstainer l stand beneath the cross and hear tha | plaintive moan, scarcely audible as l is spoken by tongue swollen with parchipg thirst. I thirst and let you | sympathetic response be, that for low | of your dying Christ, you will be tota l abstainers."