Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-12-21
TEMPER NCE.

TEMpERA ANCE.
Not long since the subject Of intem-
perance was discussed by the Conroca-
ton of Canterbury; and n meeting of
the Convocaton Temperance Commit
tee was held this month preparatory to
the assembling of Convocation, to con-
slider the subject again and agree to a
report. The Archbishop of Canterbury
in his late Charge, thought the matter
worthy of being introduced intoagrave,
Church paper. And the London Times
is not behind Archbishops and Convo-
cations; but asks in late issue a
mong all the writer's, all the takers, all
the preachers, all the workers, all the
names we see daily blazoned on the roll
of English fame are none that will set
about to abate this nuisance and scan
dal-our national drunkenness 2
All these are good omens. Already
Parliament has legislated and forbids
the opening of drinking houses beyond
certain hours; much to the disgust OF
the drinkers, who are holding meetings
in opposition,
We have several times called attcn-
ton to new laws which some Of the
States Of the Union have enacted, tend
ING in some degree to putting a stop to
our present (virtually) unlicensed meth
cd OF selling liquor The effect in one
county in Ohio, for example has heen
most remarkable. Noble county is with
out any drinking place. BY the enforce
ment of the .4dmr liquor law, the saloons
were closed two years ago. Since that
time we learn that not a felony has been
committed, no criminal has been impris-
oned, and the expenses of criminalproS-
ecutions have been only nominal. e.,
the grand jury and its incidents. Not
glass of liquor has been publicly sold
in that county for two years and drunk
enness is rarely witnessed. Any one
seen intoxicated is promptly fined five
dollars and costs The liquor-shops dare
not reopen, for the majority of the peo-
pie favor the enforce ment OF the law,
and its penalties are so severe that not
even the wealthiest liquor-sellers can
muster the courageto brave itsseverltles.
If such has been the good effect In
one county, why may not something OF
the kind be done in Virginia a few
weeks ago the Judge of the Corporation
Court of Alexandria decided that what
was known as its Sunday law could not
be enforced We take for granted there
fore that the law was defective. But
certainly it is in the power Of the citizens
of Alexandria, ,to require their City Coun-
ell to bass such a law as is constitution
tional, and which can be enforced. We
feel confident if the license for the sale
of intoxicating drink, was taken away
from any person convicted OF dlsobeylng
the law, never more to be renewed TO
that person, there would be no difficulty
in enforcing the law. We hope there
fore the citizens OF Alexandria will r.
quire the passage of law, forbidding
the sale of liquor on Sundays. They
can begin in this way whether they will
allow its sale in their corporation limits
ut all
1t is a real pleasure to know what
the Roman Catholics are doing in tins
Country. 1t is high time the Christian
Church was awake and doing more than
it does to prevent this growingandmost
terrible evil. and at least initiate the Ro-
manists in their endeayors to destroy
intemperance. ,, ,,
The Philadelphia Catholic Hraid
says:-"Among the most effective move
ments of the Catholic Church in this
country today may be mentioned the
Temperance movement. The rapidlty
with which the cause of temperance is
spreading among our people is indeed
gratifying subject for contemplation: In
one parish alone there is society which
has four hundred members, and which
has succeeded in destroying four or five
rum mills in the immediate neighbor-
hood of the church to which it is attach
ed, and this is not the only case on re-
cord
The Catholics of the United States
have resolved to unite in a body and
throw off the disgrace which many OF
their unfortunate fellow Christians IN
moment of thoughtlessness. bring upon
their religion. Good example is the
most convincing OF teachers, and our
Irish Catholics, old and young, male and
female, are now organizing Temperance
societies established upon that pure 6y
Catholic basis which brings the grocfs
of the Sacrnmenfs to the assistance OF
poor, weak, human resolution.
Female aspirants for uatrimouy should
not forget that ''leap yea" has only two