Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-12
GRAND SERMON
Delegates 10 inc ToiaI Abstinence Convention Addressed by
 Bishop CaHeviD.
MANY ARE PRESENT

|
 national convention of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America
 was in the Hyperion theater at 8
 o'clock this morning. It was a brief
 session, as the delegates formed a
 procession and marched to St Johns
 church, where pontifical high mass
 was celebrated. Right Rev Michael
 Tierney, bishop of Hartford, pontifi-
 cated, with Rev Father Coffey of Si
 Louis and Rev Father Hannigan of
 Philadelphia as deacons of honor;
 Rev Father W. J. Shanley of DaE- | bury, high priest; Rev Father P. NJ. l McClean of Milford, deacon; Rev Father M. A. Sullivan of Hartford, sub-deacon, and Rev J. G. Murray | of Hartford, master of ceremonies. Within the altar rail were Bishop
 Canevin of Pittsburg and full two | score of priests who are delegates to l the convention. The congregation
 included fully 1,50O members of the | union.
 The sermon was preached by
 Bishop CaneVin, who spoke in words
 Of highest praise of the aims and
 work aof the organization. ..
 Bishop Caneyin said in part: In
 every age the Catholic church has organized certain bodies. or societies for the accomplishment of some im-
 portant work. In the early cen
 turies Christian schools were found-
 ed and the monastic orders arose.
 Then came the crusaders. Then the
 modern religious communities ap-
 peared one after another, each hav-
 ing its own special purpose and
 methods. In later days the society
 of St Vincent de Paul and many
 other societies that I could name
 have been founded among the laity
 under the guidance of the church,
 to uphold justice, defend the truth,
 protect, virtue, instruct the ignorant, alleviate suffering and suppress vice.
 In our own day, the church mourns
 over the scandalous and devastating
 work of intemperance which openly
 and aggressively defies the laws of
 God and assails the peace and we'll
 being of society. The havoc which
 drunkenness works against large
 numbers of our people is dreadful to
 contemplate, marring in their souls sthe graoes and power of religion; sac rificing to sensuality and brutal ex- cess not only their reason but their
 morality, their property, the honor
 of their children. their health, their souls and the hopes of eternity. To
 drunkenness we may refer, as to its
 baneful cause. two-thirds of the crime by which the country is dis graced and much of the poverty from
 which it suffers. Of all sources of crime and distress among the poor intemperance stands out the unap- proachable chief. It robs the innocen: and helpless children of education, clothing and food. It degrades man.
 hood, and reduces honest labor to
 pauperism. It bribes voters, pol lutes poll ics, debases citizenship and endangers free government. To op- pose this brutalizing vice openly. publicly by concerted action in the noble mission of the Catholic Total
 Abstinence union of America. It
 represents an organization of more than 100000 Catholics pledged to total abstinence. Roman pontiffs have approved and blessed this un~ ion. Plus TX raised his hand in
 benedietion over It's foundations;
 Leo XIII declared its methods were an efficacious remedy for the evils of intemperance; Plus x renews and increases the blessings of spiritual favors of his predecessors. and urges the lai,y and the clergy of the United States io encourage by word and example the work and princi- ples of Catholic temperance work by the total abstinence societies. The fundamental principle of Catholic
 temperance work are religious rath- CT than political. As a union We do no. attempt to make all men total abstainers by legal enactments. To- tai abstinence Is not universal law which binds all men under the pain of sin; but the church encourages and applauds those Christians who in this age of selfish and pagan in- dulgence and consual materialism abstain from intoxicating liquors from religious motives that they may help restrain the masses with in the bounds Of temperance and remedy the national sin of drunk en- ness. Our direct aim is to prevent or lessen evil. Our primary object Is to suppress vice and prevent sin. It Is no; an easy work. It is an a;> tack aimed a; mighty giants Of hu- man sensuality and avarice Tn. material interests and the .selfshnes= of thousands of wealthy and power ful liquor dealers as well as the de- prayed appetite and prejudices of hundreds are arrayed agains the 1 efforts of the church to overcome the evils of intemperance.
 As temperance guides man in jus tiee and truth and raises him in the and moral order so the | rice of intemperance degrades man. 1 1iunts his faculties. darkens his In. enfeebles his will. de- l hases the aspirations. unbridles i the passions. destroys the moral sense and robs man of his manhood. It Is the sin of drunken I 1ess which the church condemns.
 The drunkard shall not enter the l xiugi0n Of heaven Excess ia drink ng destroys the image of God in man. | ruins the order of nature ss well < Is the order of grace This is the ! ne sin which almost becomes a DOT 4 ion Of mans self. enters into bis 'lcOd- into his kcdy. determines the rery haEors If his nature and makes
 ke virtues seen roueriess Ia tae sis-