The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-13
CofaI >Tbsfnente and
Ron=caDoNt missions


, between the teachings of the church
| and the immOralitIeS of individuals; We
can draw the line between what she
| commands and what her members do;
we can see the nobility, the purity the
| sObriety which she inculcates manifest
ed in lives which are perhaps little
needed by those outside her fold. But
nOn-CathOMcs judge her by the public
standing Of her members in the COM
munity. They judge her by the names
| above saloons, by the names in the rec
Ords Of police courts. by the names that
! figure in the histories of crime reported
in our daily pa1ers.
So it IS our duty, not only by
our teaching. to present the Catho-
lie church IS she is, but also by
our lives. If we would be her true
missionaries, we must show her to the
world as the church of the purest
morality; we must show her in all her
truth, her beauty, and her glory; We
must show her as she is, the Church
of Jesus Christ, the church made for
man, the bulwark of the true interests
of human society, the defender of the
sacredneSs of the marriage tie, the
protector of the holy rights of child
hood the church of purity of temper
ance, and, when conditions demand it,
the church of total abstinence.
When those outside of the church be
come acquainted with her stand upon
this matter of intemperance they
listen with a reader ear to her voice
When, for instance, they learn that
Pope Leo Kill, in view of the cOndi-
tons existing in our land, has recon-
mended total abstinence to his spiritual
children, they realize that the Catholic
Church is alive to the moral interests
OF humanity. When they come to know
that the highest ecclesiastical author
1ty in America, the Plenary Council Of
Baltimore, has recommended the pFac-
uce to clergy and laity, they under
stand that the Bishops of the Catholic
Church in this country have taken an
unequivOcal stand upon the drink
question. Morality and religion are
closely allied. Every moral problem
has its bearing upon religious progress.
Ii non-Catholics are thus led to under
stand that the Catholic Church, far
from putting any obstacle in the way
OF total abstinence. is always ready TO
support and to further it. they will be
led also to listen more willingly to
what she has To say on other matters.
An instance in point came to our
knowledge lately. During a Catholic
mission gOOdly portion of a Protest
ant congregation attended some of the
sermons. One night they listened to-
sermon on total abstinence. With
what result? They talked of it among
themselves. and as a consequence,
during the non-CathOlic mission which
followed, about half of that congrega-
ton attended regularly. We feel that
like results can be brought about on q
larger scale, as the practice of total
abstinence becomes more widespread
among our people.
When, therefore, some Catholics ask:
Why should we become total abstain
ers, and fail to find sufficient motives
IN the reasons ordinarily presented?
here is motive worthy of the ae-
of ALL We love our country.
We pray for the conversion of our fell
low-citizens to the Catholic religion.
In the success which has attended the
work thus far we see visions of greater
triumphs. We hone that one day
America viii be Catholic To bring
about this result is an extraordinary
Its ACCOMPLISHMENT re-
1ureS the use of extraordinary means.
IOtal abstinence is an extraordinary
means; but if in the least it can help
along such a glorious work, and who
'an doubt it, is there any Catholic who
VIII hesitate at the sacrifice, To some
extent the drink evil is as a mist hiding
he truth of Christ's religion. The
sooner this mist is raised and the pure
atmosphere of sObriety prevails. the
sooner will the beauty of Catholic
ruth be seen. We need Catholic mem
Ind women to take the strongest stand
possible against the evil of intemper-
lnce. The stronger our stand. the
quicker will the evil and it's attendant
lraWback to religion disappear and the
tucker will be realized our prayer for
ne conversion of our country. when
America shall be the first Catholic
lation of the world and the brightest
'em in the crown of Catholic glory.