Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-05
CATHOLICS IN
CHICAGO FOR
WAR ON LIQUOR
THOUSANDS OF DELEGATES ARE.
ATTENDING ANNUAL coNVEN-
TloN OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE
UNION.

Chicago, Aug. 4.-The greatest pub
liquor ever held under Chicago
auspices in Chicago was begun last
night at the Auditorium theater, where
a reception Of delegates marked the
opening of the thirty-ninth national
convention of the Catholic Total
Abstinence union. More than 1000
delegates arrived yesterday.
From Rockford, Peoria, Kankakee,
Beloit, Milwaukee and Kenosha many
persons came yesterday morning,
while in the afternoon and evening
delegates from New York, Buffalo,
Pittsburg, Detroit, Denver, Dubuque,
st. Paul and Minneapolis flowed into
the hotels or sought the homes Of
friends.
The gathering in Chicago this week
is one Of the most notable that has
ever taken place in the cause of tenn
perance. 1t Is believed that the edu-
cational value of this convention will
be felt in all parts of the country, for,
although these conventions are annual
affairs and have continued so for thir-
ty-nine years, there never has been a.
time when enthusiasm for temperance
and total abstinence has been raised to
higher pitch than the present, ac~
cording to the belief of the national
officers of the union.
Members of Catholic societies in all
parts of the city are taking an in
teresr in the convention and declare
that this is the eve of a great revival
for the a-gaperance cause in the city.
Father GsCalIashan Greets Many.
The Rev. P. J. O'Callaghan, pastor
of st. Mary's church, Wabash ave-
nue. and Harmon place, and president
of the G. T. A. u. of Illinois, met many
delegates at trains and extended a well
come to them from the Catholics of
Chicago and the state union Of Illi-
nois.
ut is ten years since our national
union has met in Chicago" he said
yesterday. During this time our To-
cal union has had its days Of prosper
ity and its days of adversity 1t is a.
most strange fact, but 1t is fact, as
true in Illinois as it is true in many
places, that special efforts to promote
the virtue of temperance are being
fought.
'NThe temperance issue excites
animosities in the hearts of those who
esteem themselves Christians as often
and as bitterly as 1t does. in the
hearts of the wicked. That the under
world should hate Christ and His
cause is not strange. but that Catholics
should be in sympathetic accord with
that world which is saturated with
alcohol and SO often allied with crime
and uncleanness Is a marvel.
| Cause Supported by Three Popes.
'It is not to be wondered at that
| Christians have asked, of what spirit
are such as these?' If you had been
of the world, the world would love its
| own We are glad not to be the pa
tron saints of the liquor interests.
Those interests are not identical with
| Christ's interests or the church's in
terests. Our cause has received from
it's beginning the appreciation of three
popes and the highest commendation
of the church of God.
! "With confidence, therefore, we have
stood fast and loyal up to this day. In
spite Of difficulties we have grown in
strength during the last few years, and
feel that this convention in Chicago
will arouse the enthusiasm of all Cath
olics who love righteousness and hate
| iniquity.
I'VE believe the convention will
start the greatest wave of interest in
the temperance cause that Chicago
has ever seen.
I'VE hope the benefit Of our meeting
here may be mutual and that all who
4 come may take away rich abundance
| of that blessing which we believe
their presence will impart.
"At all events, it is good for us to
! be here and it is no small matter for
1 every one of us to be able to say, I
have fought the good fight; l have
kept the faith"