The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-01-17
FATHER O'TOOLE'S SERMON
To men.

Declaring that q cursing man or
a drinking man will never advance
hfnself much either in this world or
in this worlds goods, Rev. Father
John O'Toole, rector of st. Johns
the Evangelist II. c. church, deliver
ed a strong sermon, Sunday night,
before the members of the Holy
Name of Jesus Society and large
congregation.
Taking as his text these words of
st. Peter as found in the Fourth
chapter of the Act of the Apostles:
For there is no other name under
Heaven given to men whereby they
may be saved" Father O'Toole spoke
in part as follows:
How often have you heard men
curse by the Holy Name of Jesus! o,
you'll hear it on the street, you'll
hear it in the store, in the factory, on
the train. viii you tell me one
place where you won't hear any curs-
ing? You won't hear any cursing in
the church. Likely enough you
won't hear any cursing in your own
parlor where there are ladies and
gentlemen present. In the church,
they have some respect for the
priest and the place. In the parlor
where ladies are present they
wouldn't think of cursing.
How is it they stop 1t then? How
is it men only curse among men?
Will you tell me? Men curse among
men principally because they know
men also curse. How often did you
see men taken before a Justice and
told siXty-seven cents is the fine i'm
posed on the man who curses? How
many men are brought before a JUS
tice OF the Peace and told ten curses
cost $6.70? How many times do we
make an effort to prevent men from
cursing!
81 was riding in crowded passen-
ger coach, one day, from Wellsboro
to Stokesdale Junction. Two lum-
bermen were cursing loud and long.
The conductor came along. He
couldn't help hearing it. No pas
senger said a word. Every now and
then some one rebuked them by
shaking his head Not a person in
the whole car said a word to the
conductor. When the conductor
came to take my ticket, l said Does
the Book of Rules permit cursing in
a coach where there are ladies and
gentlemen He didn't answer me.
| repeated the question: Does the
permit such cursing in a carp He
never said a word. A few minutes
later | saw the men leave the car
and go into the smoking car. Why
didn't some one else do it?
"A dirty heart has a dirty tongue,
and God save us from a dirty ton
que. A filthy-tongued man is about
the best walking representative Sa-
Co =,
will never forgive God for driving
him out of Heaven. Lucifer has in
telligence, and he'll use it every
time against God. Satan says I
can't put my hand on God Himself.
I'll put my hands on Gods efIigies'-
every soul is an image of God.
Can you forget some dirty foul
story you heard long ago? Can
you? And what's worse the dirty,
filthy tales that you hear will be
with you until your last breath. It's
reminder of Satan's attack on the
soul the image of God.
I'VE should always try to suppress
cursing in others and foul stories. A
foul story sticks better than our
prayers, because the Devil is always
on the job.
Men will sometimes say I curse
when I'm full Don't get full! You
are accountable for your actions.
| Choice is an act of the will, and
will determines our whole destiny
Choice determines the act. Now
acts form a habit Habits mould
the character. And character shapes
the life.
Another man will say I only
curse when l get tight Don't get
tight! You can't hold any position
if it's known you are a drinking
man. 1t is just as we'll for you to
know it now as later. You'll never
succeed in life if you are a cursing
man or a drinking man. Never!
DO you suppose God is going to bless
cursing or a drinking man?
Some will say, I've tried to stoI
cursing, but l can't That's a COW.
ardly excuse. You can with a fixed
purpose, an indomitable desire, g
desire to conquer. Where on earth
is there any power to prevent you
Say with Gods help, I'll succeed!
You can, if you keep persistently al
it. What if it takes all your life,
time to do it? It's better to succeed
at the close of life than not to sue
ceed at all"
The st. Johns Society of the Holy
Name of Jesus has a membership o.
250 men. 1t meets on the second
Sunday of each month. It's Officers
are: President, Martin Caufield; sec
retary, j. f. Spelman; chaplain
Rev Father John O'Toole; director
John Carroll; musical director, Geo
Schwenker.