Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-01
AGAINST DRINK EVIL
ADDRESS BEFORE CATHOLIC
TOTAL ABSTINENCE UNION.
Mr.. James Dunn of New York APP
peals for Abolition Of Alco-
holic Stimulants

An address against intemperance was de-
livered by James Dunno of New York. last
night, at Good Samaritan Hall, 1928 l.
street, before the Catholic Total Abstinence
Society. Following the speakers address
six of his auditors signed the society's
pledge, while many others signifled their
intention of doing SO in the near future.
The meeting was opened by the presi-
dent of the society, Mr.. William F.
Downey, who, in a few appropriate re-
marks, showed the Importance of having
sober and temperate men and women in
the community. and preserving the image
of God on their immortal souls.
"While that image is preserved invlo
late said Mr.. Downey, 1.-The noblest at
tributes of man are demonstrated, and
there Is nothing that does much or acts
so effectively in destroying the grandeur
and beauty of mans original godliness as
the horrible curse of drink. We have with
US tonight veteran in the cause, a gen.
tleman who has spent the best part of his
life-Over fOrtytwO yearS-in this noble
work, and 1t is my great pleasure to pre-
sent to you, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Jas.
Dunn, the great twentieth century apostle
of temperance.
Mr. Dunn received quite an ovation, and
his venerable appearance made a most
striking impression, and his exposition of
the great work in which temperance men
are engaged was listened to with profound
attention. His humorous anecdotes pro-
voked laughter; his logical reasoning eic
tied hearty applause, and when. with pa
thetic eloquence, he described the misery
and desolation of the drunkard's life, there
were tears in the eyes of many In the audi
ence.
Mr.. Dunn's Address.
Ladies and gentlemen" said Mr.. Dunn.
ITO see so many present such a dis
agreeable night Is indeed a very agreeable
surprise. 1 regret my picture was not
given in the Washington papers, because l
feel sure If it had been, this hall would
be packed with ladies'" This remark was
greeted with laughter.
II leaders In the church often permit their
attention to be diverted from the import
ance of this great crusade. They sometimes
overlook the fact that 1t has other aspects
than the moral ONE that the evils we are
arrayed against are physical, as well as
social and that with the ruin OF the I'M
mortal soul is also involved the destruction
of the human mind and body. Owing to
this universally blighting influence of drink
the ordinary ministry or grace becomes m
operative because intemperance destroys
the natural man in his feason. will, and
physical fiber, so that all ministrations OF
a spiritual nature are ineffective Drlnk de-
prives q man of his intelligence, enslaves
his will arouses all his animal instincts,
and nullifes all attempts to reach his inner
soul.
l,
out IN deep sympathy to the man who Is
continually taking and breaking the pledge,
because by taking 1t he proves that he
earnestly desires to overcome the tempta-
tion and by breaking 1t he shows that he is
physically and mentally weak. He feels or
believes the whole world is against him.
1t then becomes your duty to speak kindly
to HINT costs you nothing. Some day you
will see the tear drop down his repentant
cheek-not maudlin tears, but the tears of
man looking back to the days of his
youthful innocence; of a man who re-
members when he was a devoted Christian,
who recollects that drink caused him to
neglect his religious duties-the tears of a
man who yearns to save himself, but Is the
victim of drinks destructive work. But he
can be saved, and it is by kindness, not
abuse
Incident in Point.
Here Mr.. Dunn told the story Of a man
who was once proprietor Of one of the
| leading gents furnishing stores in the city
of Boston, employing sixteen clerks and a
| lady cashier, but whom he and some of his
Knights Of Columbus brothers found one
| night in drunken stupor In an alley in
South Boston clasping crucifix in his
hand. After describing the downfall of this
| man Mr.. Dunn showed his ruin was caused
by the fallacious theory of those who claim
| they can take a drink and leave it alone.
| But We induced him to abandon drink, -
continued Mr.. Dunn, land today he is a
l
! "Of all the decisions that beguile the
| unwary, there Is no hallucination so dam
| gerous as the erroneous contention that L
| can take it or leave 1t alone A desire for
| intoxicants is the controlling influence In
| the lives of such men and such pretexts
are but excuses for Indulgence In that de-
| sire.
! How often have men started, got one
| third of the way and len have fallen down
| again because no one was there with a
kind word, no one with helping hand, no
! one to slap him on the back and say. IN
| help you
| tif we could only have thoroughly Or
| ganized bands of devoted women under the
| direction Of devoted spiritual advisers, who
| would enter upon this crusade with the
| proper spirit-in twenty-five years they
would sweep the curse of drink from the
| land.
| Appeal to Business Men.