The Irish standard., 1886-07-17
TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETIES.
Written for The Irish Standard by Rev.
i mes McGolrick.

| The active existence anu COl4Lluueu
growth of the Catholic Total Abstl-
nence societies of the Diocese OF ST.
| Paul afford proof ample OF the advan-
tages and blessings bestowed by them
npon the entire community. A cause
which can count over fifteen years OF
earnest labor, so fruitful Of good to its
members, should be considered safe
and stable, giving us reasonable
grounds for our faith in it, as well as
pledge of It's continuance in the future
In that time many societies OF fall
promise have arisen, lived their llttle
day and went out Of existence
Prophets of evil omen have many q
time announced like fate for the toSa
abstinence societies, but time has
proved the forecast vain, and convert
ed to better views many Of the prophets
Holy Church's wise restraints on the
evil passions Of men, by means OF last
and abstinence, reach to the very first
PRINCIPLES of total abstinence from IN
toxicating liquors; hence the blessings
of the Church on cause so we'll CAL
culated to prevent sin in all its tearfu'
phases, and more particularly the crime
of drunk enness. How TO do aWay with
drunkenness and the misecies IN It's
train has long been a question most
serious both in Church and State. lhe
frequent reception Of the sacraments
individual pledges, and various splrlV-
! ual influences to prevent iDtemperance
have had 10 slight assistance from the
| work Of the total abstinence socie5les:
| they have therefore been notably ap-
proved aud favored by the PienaIy
Council Of Baltimore, honored by the
blessing Of The Provincial Councils and
largely 1ndulgence<l by our Holy Father
Leo Kill, as we'll as by our late Holy
Father of glorious memory, Plus TX.
| How to further the growth of such i'm
portant aids TO temperance? how to
prevent the evils in the way or that
growth will be we'll worth our serious
consideration.
| AIDS rl, THE GROWTH or SOCIETIES
TO keep men iu total abstinence So
cieties it is not merely necessary that
they should meet from time to time,
but that the members be employed IN
various useful ways as collectors in
! the Church, as visitors to the sick, as
agents TO introduce strangers TO their
feIlaw-Caiholics, and thus make use OF
a. well organized body to prosecute
Catholic charities.
CHRlsTIAN DOCTRINE.
The members of temperance societies
whether amongst Father Mathew mex,
Crusaders, or Cadets, can materially as
sist the clergy of their parishes i'll the
teaching Of Catechism, keeping good
order during the Church services, and
even in the maintaining OF useful and
entertaining Libraries Of Catholic books
for general reading.
CHARACTER OF MEETINGS.
Tine mere routine work inseparab]e
from the management Of the societies
should be made as brief as possible,
and the larger portion of the time Of
meetings be given Jo addresses and
papers on useful subjects, such as the
Catholic History Of the United States,
General Catholic History, and on our
duties as citizens and Catholics. While
anusements ofte1, form large portion
of the young mems meetings, they must
never degenerate into foolish or un~
see1nly displays, but be always char
acterized 10y Christian nodestyi in songs
and recitations.
Amongst the causes Of the decline and
extinction OF many societies we rank
first the neglect of duty on the part of
officers. Their absence: carelessness in
carrying out the regular order Of the
exercises aud apparent apathy i'll con-
Quoting the work. The members meet
ing with frequent disappointments,
soon cease their attendance and finally
drop out from the societies altogether.
WANT OF AID FROM SPIRITUAL DI-
RECTORs.
Many societies large i'll numbers and
full of earnestness have gradually re-
laxe<l in their duties through lack OF
aid from the spiritual directors.
In country parishes the only time for
yhe meeting is Immediately after Mass,
and then the priest being frequently
ousily employed, the people anxious to
.eturn to their homes, the society meet
ng is passed over to the great detrA'
nent Of the cause of temperance. 10
,bviate this difficulty, special meetings
should be held, and an occasional notice
rom the altar given with cordial ap-
oroyal would help to keep the society
together.
Amongst the most destructive agencies
n societies, stands pre--eminently, poor
attendance at the regular spiritual du-
les of the society. The union Of the
members at the Holy Table fosters
Catholic unity and brings a spe-
,ial and direct blessing from Our
Lord Himself on those who are assem-