Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-13
TEMPERANCE RALLY
Interesting Address Made By
 Rev ". 5. Flynn.

was held last evening in City hall un- der the auspices of the St Joseph's and St Mary's T. A. societies of this city. Though the weather was in- element a good sized audience was present and heard mighty interest ing address by the Rev William H. Flynn, chaplain of the St Joseph's so- ciety. John Robinson, president of the Tabs" made brief address in which he urged all those who believe in total abstinence to join the blue ribbon societies. He also made an ap- peal to the women to take an active part in the temperance cause. He then introduced the speaker of the evening.
 Father Flynn devoted his opening paragraphs to the discussion as to wether alcoholic beverages if taken in moderation are injurious to man. Some physicians maintain they are, while others declare that if not taken to excess they are healthful. This may be true he stated but the general public undoubtedly is convinced from what it sees that these beverages are much more harmful than healthful. And how many moderate drinkers have never gone beyond the mark, he continued. II am willing to state that there are few, if any, of the so- called moderate drinkers who can raise their hands to heaven and swear that at no time have they gone be- yond the bound of moderation. All drunkards were at one time moderate drinkers. It is fact that cannot be disputed that if one never becomes a moderate drinker he will never be- come drunkard."
 The speaker stated that the ma jority of crimes from murder down to the petty offenses could be traced to drink. Visit our penal institutions, especially those that have alcoholic wards and see the misery and degra- dation caused by drink Notice the maniacs in the cells trying in every way possible to end their existence. They are in almost the same condition as the patients at Middletown. The only difference is that one is insane because of some unfortunate circum- stance, but the other has been placed in that state by himself, because of the excessive use of liquor" He re- lated the agonies of some of the men he had attended while dying from tremens and told of one man in a ward in New York who tried to con- init suicide by chewing glass.
 Father Flynn dwelt briefly upon the manner in which a drunkard treats his family and what effect his presence has on the community at large. You all know the way that drunkard maltreats the woman whom he swore to love and obey. And the children are entirely forgotten by the man who has become a victim of drink. They are allowed to exist in their filth and squalor while he uses every cent he can obtain to satiate his thirst. At all times society must keep an armed force of men in the streets to take care of these drunk ards, and penal institutions must be in readiness to receive them. Read the police court columns in your daily papers and you will see the number of crimes that can be attributed to sa- loon brawls."
 Father Flynn then went on and stated that the whole country is aroused over this national evil and the prohibition wave that is going over the country Is evidence of the fact. He declared that more than 33,000,000 of the S0,000,000 people of this country were now living in communities where the sale of intoxi. eating liquors is prohibited. He re- ferred to Kentucky which at one time was synonymous with liquor but which is now a dry state. You all know when congress passed the law prohibiting the saleof alcoholic bev- erages in the restaurants of the capi- tai. And this was all the more re- markable when it will be remembered that not a member of congress had been elected as prohibitionist. Al though this prohibition movement IS praiseworthy 1t is not enough" said the speaker. You could make laws until the crack of doom but there are some who would break them. You will notice that between a prohibition state and the adjoining border there is always a big amount of trafiic, chiefly liquor traffic. The Creator made laws thousands of years ago but they were broken just the same as laws are broken to-day. But total abstinence will do what prohibition will not" At this point Father Flynn severely attacked the custom of treating. That accursed prac- tice." he said "'is the cause of half the drunkenness in community. Men who do not care to drink are dragged, as it were. into saloons and asked to drink by men who have no other way of showing their hospital ity."
 The speaker informed the mem bers of the abstinence societies that abstaining from drink should be means of making them men of char acter. When people realize that you are total abstainers, they will nay much more attention to your state ments, will watch more closely your actions and note your general be- havior as they will expect much from you when they realize that you are acting with reason. Consequently cultivate charity, brotherly love chastity and other virtues which must certainly be expected from temper ate men. Strive to be temperate In all things and you will be blessing to your parents. to the community and mankind in general"
 Previous to the lecture "As Long As The World Rolls On" was render ed by Miss Gertrude Reid. For an encore she gave The Last Rose of Summer" Both songs were we'll sung. George White contributed Farewell" a tenor solo and was fol- lowed by Miss Edith Myers who sang scaIyarv'' and "For All Fternitv''