The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-16
TOTAL ABSTINENCE PAUL|ST'S SUBJECT Father HeaIy Urges Catholics
 to Sign Pledge VERY ELOQUENT APPEAL Reasons Why All Should Abstain From Intoxicating Drink-No Services Tonight-Sunday Exercises to
 Include Papa Blessing.
VERY ELOQUENT APPEAL

The largest congregation of the week attended the Paulist mission at St Paul S church last night, when the Rev Father Healy preached notable sermon on to- tai abstinence. Not only were tle pews filled but the chairs placed in the main aisle were occupied.
 Crowds attended the mission masses yesterday morning. the first service at 5:9O o'clock being even more largely att tended than the s o'clock mass.
 There will be no service tonight The Sunday masses will be at the usual parish hours-6:3O 7;SO 9:3O Sunday school mass). and 1O:30 o'clock (high mass). Hundreds of the faithful have approached the com munion rail within the past three days and the number receiving holy com munion this morning will be large.
 The mission to Catholics will close Sun day night. During the exercises mem- bers of the church will renew their baptismal vows. and after the sermon the Pope's blessing will be bestowed on all who have made the mission" Tho authority to give the papal benediction in connection with missions is one of the special faculties delegated to the Paulist fathers.
 The mission for non-Catholics opens Monday night.
 Just before the sermon last night forms reading as follows, were distributed to all present: Total Abstinence Promise mace at the Mission given by the Paulist Fathers, St. Pauls Catholic church, Bir- mingham, Ala, March 1907. For the love of God and for the good of my soul, I promise to abstain from intoxicating drinks.
 Name ...............".......
 For ......,.,. Years.
 The form of promise was printed on bristol board, and attached to it was this coupon to be filled in: l have signed the total abstinence promise for.......... years. Name.. ......................... Ad- dress ..................... Tear this coupon off and give 1t to one of the mission fathers.
 On the reverse side of the card were many reasons in favor of total abstinence
 All those who sign the promise are to hand in the coupon between now and Sunday evening. Father Healy intimated that he would be glad if the signer would run his pen through the word years, and write life" He said if the signer did not like to write the word life he or she might get over that by making it go years.
 The preacher was in his best form. He spoke in part as follows:
 "Three motives there are which impel me to advocate the cause of total ab- stinence: Love of country, love of church and love of souls.
 And first love of country. | do not desire to assume the undignfed role of calamity howler, and prophecy the disso- lution of the American nation. or the breaking mp of it's power, yet l cannot refrain from lamenting that there is a vice which is threatening to become na- tional with us, which is already appalling in it's proportions. and which, did it grow unchecked, would prove in short time the deadliest foe to America's strength a hindrance to her glorious future. For this reason I shall give my best efforts throughout life for the cultivation of a national sentiment against the intemper- ance that threatens to sweep over the land.
 Secondly, I speak out of love for the church. It is not infrequently charged against the Catholic church, by those who are her enemies, that she condones the sin of intemperance too readily and countenances the saloon traffic. even in its worst forms. I desire to give the lie to that islander. for the Catholic church ,Incompromisingly condemns whatever is sinful in the use or sale of liquor; she commands her children under pain of sin to be temperate, and strongly urges us to the practice of total abstinence.
 Finally, l speak out of love for souls With missionary the saddest of his sad experiences is witnessing the dreadful havoc of wrecked and ruined souls, the