The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-04
SALOON DENOUNCED
BY REV. FIR. MckENNA
Subject Handled Without Reserve at st.
Monica's Church Last Evening
Before Large Audience.

Rev. p NJ McKenna last night deliv-
cred forcibe sermon on the topic of
temperance at st. Monica's church. The
church was taxed TO its utmost, there
being a large attendance of members
from other religious bodies. 1t has been
the custom of the pastor for the past
few years to preach a prediction ser
mon on the subject of temperance, and
Father Mckenna took the occasion last
night to make clear the position that
the Catholic church takes in the liquor
traffic The sermon was stirring APP
peal to the sobriety of the congregation
that held the closest attention of the
people for about an hour. Several phases
of the issue TO be voted upon by the
citizens of this city were discussed.
The text for the sermon was taken
from the first epistle of st. Peter and
the fifth chapters: "Be sober and be Wig
liant, because your adversary, the devil
as roaring lion, walketh about, seek
ing whom he may devour" There are
two giant evils that have existed
throughout all time, from the very his
tory of mankind, which bring ruin on
the race, and these are excess in the use
is human passion. Father Mckenna then
quoted learned mans graphic description
of the origin of alcohol. The inventor
was arch fiend OF all civilized peoples Of
all times, the champion devil infinitely
worse than the devil OF hell
In discussing the position the Catholic
church takes in the liquor traffic, Father
McKenna said: II is irony OF fate for
one to believe that the Catholic church
is not opposed to the liquor traffic. lie
read DEGREES from the Baltimore council
and the dominion council regarding the
subject. These DEGREES condemned the
sale of intoxicating drinks and earnestly
directed its pastors to eXh0rt their par
ishioners to cooperate with them in
abolishng this deplorable evil, the fGun-
dation of all other evils. A decree was
once assayed to be adopted that all
drnnkards should be eXcommtnicated
lie quoted St Paul: No drunkard shall
possess the kingdom OF God" A mem
Der Of the church dying to-day in an
condition is deprived of his
last spiritual rites and burial rites.
Father McKenna believes that the at
titudc Of the church is not understood
and that Il Is misrepresented, as there
is no church SO active in working for the
OF this evil as the Catholic
church.
Tie dollar sign is placed by people in
their eagerness in reaching out for prof
its, above the soul said Rev McKenna
in speaking concerning the property
owner who rents his property to people
that conduct dives. The people of Barre
know OF the degrading examples Of de-
oauchery and drunken rcvelry that the
children were forced to face during the |
last year OF license in this city, the home /
with the drunkards wife, yaliantly I
to keep her children in the |
paths OF righteousness, the eursing and 4
by which the womea were
to walk on the back streets |
With these demoralzing influences in
mind, he said, it is the duty of every I
true Christian to cast no vote to 1
eliminate the liquor traffic. II the city I
totes to sell rum. eyery citizen voting (
'or it is held responsible before Cod .
'or all evil occurring in the city during
he wear of its sale.