The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-08-19
CATHOLIC TOTAL ABSTINENCE
UNION NET IN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK - SERMON BY
ARCHBISHOP KEANE.

The National Convention of the
Catholic Total Abstinence Union o.
America opened with Solemn Pontifi
cal Mass in st. Patrick's Church
Washington, D. c., on Wednesday
August 8. The celebrant of the Mass
was Right Reverend Bishop O'Connel
of Richmond, Va, and the sermon was
preached by the Most Reverend Arch
bishop Keane of Dubuque. A large
number of clergymen we're present al
the Mass, as well as delegates repre-
senting subordinate unions in the diff
ferent parts of the country.
After Mass the delegates assembled
at Mcmahon Hall on the Catholic
University grounds, for the business
sessions where addresses of welcome
were delivered by Hon. o. P. New
man, President of the District of Co
lumbia Commissioners, and Rev
George Dougherty, Vice Rector of the
University. The Very Reverend P. j
O'Callaghan, c. S. P, Rector of the
Apostolic Mission House, and Presi
dent of the Union, made a fitting re
Spouse. The Rev. P. Saurusaitis OF
Waterbury, Conn.,, President of the
Catholic Lithuanian Total Abstinence
Union of the United States, made a
brief address in which he outlined the
work being done for his people. Bish
OPP Canevin of Pittsburgh, also made
an address, after which the business
sessions were held. The reports OF
the officers gave a brief resume OF
what was accomplished during the
past year by the national organization
and the subordinate unions.
On Wednesday evening rally was
held in the new National Theatre
presided over by Judge DeLacy
Among the speakers were Bishop
Canevin of Pittsburgh, Hon. Josephus
Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, Father
O'Callaghan, and Hon. ]. w. Logue OF
Philadelphia.
The business sessions we're con-
tinued during Thursday and on Fri,
day the delegates and visitors made
a special trip to Mount Vernon.
Archbishop keane's Sermon.
The Most Reverend Archbishop
Keane took for the text of his sermon
Take heed to yourselves, lest per-
haps' your hearts be overcome by
surfeiting and drunkenness" He
spoke in part as follows:
You are assembled solemnly to ask
Gods blessing upon the work of a
very important convention. You will
survey the past, learn wisdom by ex-
perience and take courage from SPLEEN
did success, and will move into the
future with renewed enthusiasm and
courage.
1t is exceptionally fortunate that
you are holding your convention here
in the city of Washington, within the
Archdiocese of Baltimore. Here, in
July, 1S49, the greatest advocate OF
your cause was splendidly entertained
by President Taylor. He was given a
pass into the inner circle of the Sen.
ate, which had been accorded before
his day to only one man, Lafayette
He was honored in the House and lis
tened to the immortal words of Henry
Clay, who said: 1T is worthy of this
assembly to honor as we do man
who has affected great revolution
a revolution brought about without
blood, without tears and without
sorrow, and yet revolution which
affects the world for it's advantage as
few revolutions have" 1t was the
great, immoral Father Mathew who
gave to the cause which you represent
an undying impetus and sent it down
the years to bless the world by its
beneficence and it's great activity.
1t was within this Archdiocese Of
Baltimore and in the see city that
your organization was perfected, in
July, 1872. 1t went out with the bless
ing of great Archbishops to write q
new history and to carry with it into
every field of it's activity the blessing
of God. 1t went forth to make in
Vulnerable homes happy, to bring
peace to the fundamental sanctuaries
and to rehabilitate innumerable men
wounded in the prime of their lives.
You are gathered again in the Arch
diocese of Baltimore at the pressing
invitation of the great Cardinal. You
go forth again with the blessing and
encouragement of the great Bishop OF
Baltimore. You need such encourage
ment. You need such blessing. 1t is
a comfort to those engaged in a work
SO advantageous to those who are in.
f1uenced, SO full of merit for those who
are engaged in it-a work which calls
for every virtue of perseverance un-
der difficulties, of earnest prayer for
great cause.
We know, and so does every one
who studies the problem, that if every
man in America we're to become a
total abstainer, the most serious OF
our social problems would be solved
The most threatening menace to our
prosperity would be almost negligible
The foundations of our social life
would rest in security. Families
would experience prosperity and
homes would live in peace. This is
not rhetoric-it's cold, sad truth, that
our people are still too much given
to the use of intoxicants, and, as a
consequence, we have altogether toe
much crime, poverty, misery and sin
Some of it appears upon the surface
of our life every day. 1t obtrudes
itself upon our attention in every