The Irish standard., 1900-06-30

room or the ladies' corner OF the sa-
loon.
With senses dulled and passions in
famed she becomes the prey Of her
lecherous companion and in brief
period is an outcast and by-word.
The young man, having before him
life and all its grand opportunities, falls
a prey to the liquor habit, and what
falling off is there!
An habitue of the saloon, his degra-
dation is soon effected, his moral and
intellectual faculties are drowned deep
down by liquor, there remains hui
man being blighted by blasphemy, i'm
purity and neglect of religion.
What is to come to the world in bene-
fits by the presence of such man?
Married, he is sot, spendthrift;
gloom and misery is the lot of the wo-
man who bears his name and his COM
panionship.
Is he the father OF children? curse
comes upon the little ones, their nature
is tainted from the beginning, their lives
are cankered in the bud. Every year
increases the long list OF human sor-
rows, of lives mis-spent, OF God-given
powers worse than wasted.
Who that is lover OF his race can
note these growing evils, yet make no
effort to stem the tide OF iniquity?
The blare of trumpets strikes the
ear Of the world announcing publ C char
tiles for libraries, asylums, hospitals;
generous hearts are open to the cry Of
suffering; but here is man, here are
hundreds OF thousands OF them going
to their great account with Sustained
souls, dying the drunkard's death.
Surely, we cannot be called fanatics
nor should we be held unreasonable, if
we do our very best to prevent this
loss OF immortal souls.
True it is, there are other crimes de-
grading the human race; covetousness
and lust affect the world more, perhaps,
than gluttony whether in eating or
drinking.
These are, however, but various forms
OF selfishness; fallen human nature seek
ing satisfaction in the things of the
flesh and turning away from God who
is the author of all good.
Hence it is that in these latter days
Our holy mother the church is so rich
in devices to draw away her children
from surrounding temptations, so wisely
blessing in her councils the total absti-
nence movement; granting abundant in
dulgences through him who sits in the
chair Of Peter
The church enlightened and guided
by the Holy Spirit, takes no part in the
wild theories which have degraded many
so-called temperance associations; she
bids her children refrain from intoxi-
eating drinks through strong religious
motives; she identifies their self
restraint with the sufferings OF our Lord
and Master, and declares that we deny
ourselves in honor OF the Sacred Thirst
and Agony of our Blessed Savior.
Like a good mother she encourages
us to come frequently to the sacraments
OF Gods mercy and love-Penance and
the Holy Eucharist There we find for
givencss for the past, strength for the
future. Would that Catholics every
where might embrace these glorious op-
portunities, and what race of heroic
men we could present to the world!
Too often, alas! even those enrolled
in total abstinence societies forget these
life-giving sacramcnts, and hence either
fall into temptation, or grow cold and
lose the spirit OF their self-denial.
The holy sacramcnts must therefore
be given chief place in the practical
life of every total abstinence society.
Without them your society may -four
ish for a while and appear to do much
good, but the period of decay soon
comes, the membership dwindles and
fms is written on the grave-stone of the
once prosperous association.
Numerous enough are the societies
everywhere springing up to attract men
through worldly motives.
Insurance, benevolence, brotherly
love, nationality, patriotism are all rep
resented by societies, and are all
calling aloud in tI,e ctreetc wifi, ,,,,,cI,
appearance OF wisdom, to come and join
their ranks and be happy
The multiplication of such societies
has served to draw away from the total
abstinence ranks many members, and this
we regret. Hence, too, the necessity OF
total abstinence societies coming closer
and closer to the fostering care of the
church and partaking OF her strength
by means of the sacraments, is brought
forcibly home to us.
But total abstinence societies have
also their promises and their victories,
which might we'll win men to their
ranks.
Christ. our Lord, who said "Seek ye
first the Kingdom Of God and all these
other things shall be added unto you,"
has offered abundant fruits even in this
world to the children OF self-denial.
We can tell of the peace and happiness
brought to the homes of the total absti-
nent.