The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-08-16
MEN WHO TAKE
THE PLEDGE
Pledges as Vouchers For Employ
ment-Eficacy of Pledge.

FleuSeS as vouchers Eor Employ
ment-Efficacy of a Pledge.
The pledge is a fine thing; but don't
take it too often or you'll forget, per-
haps, that you've ever taken it at all.
JUST bear in mind that one good strong
pledge we'll kept is worth a hundred
broken pledges"
The above remark, the recent public
utterance of Roman Catholic clergy
man, was made for the benefit OF
young mems temperance society when
had degenerated into an athletic CLUB
Rivalry with brother societies had de-
veloped professionalism, and this IN
turn had fostered certain forms OF VIC
torous jubiation quite out of joint
with temperance principles.
The idea seemed to prevail that the
only thing a member had to do after
infringing the society's pledge was to
go to a priest and renew it. This sim
pie formality would place the member
again in good standing.
Many men visit priest for the pur-
pose of taking the pledge who never
think of joining a temperance organlza-
ton. No special type of humanity
seems to prevail among the pledge
takers unless possibly middle-aged Ia
boring men, from 35 to so, who have
families to support.
Professional men. such as lawyers,
doctors and professors, are rarely
known to take the pledge. Store clerks,
bartenders, compositors and skilled me-
chanics of every description may be
frequently seen among the applicants
Often it happens that a man presents
Catholic
but still insists upon taking the pledge
from Catholic priest. The solemnity
of putting himself upon his knees and
repeating the words: Il faithfully
promise, with the assistance of Gods
grace, to firmly abstain from intoxi-
eating drink for one year." is after all
serious matter.
Generally year limit is set, but any
term may be named. AS rule,
priests object to giving the pledge for
more than a years time, having learn
ed from experience that three and five
year pledges generally go to pieces
within month.
Sometimes an applicant will present
himself who is already deep in liquor
and men on the verge of delirium ire
mems are proverbially very penitent
and full of good resolves, ready even
to take the pledge for the rest of their
lifetime. In such a case the priest
usually advises the unfortunate fellow
to go home and take a good sleep. to
sober up. go to confession on the fol-
lowing Saturday, and then take the
pledge.
Many applicants present themselves
for the pledge merely in order to get
back to work after being discharged
or suspended on account of drink. An
employer will frequently exact the
pledge as a sort of voucher for the
mans good intentions
Cards are specially prepared to serve
as certificates for such cases. and these
are duly signed by the clergyman. In
some localities these certificates are
made out in the form of promises which
the applicant signs and the clergyman
certifies to; this signed promise is de-
livered to the boss and a coupon to
correspond to it is retained by the
priest la
1t often happens that man who can
not be induced to take the pledge for a
year will consent readily enough to
take it until Christmas. Another favor
lite date for the expiration of pledge
is March II, St. Patrick's day, al
though there are many who will name
the Fourth of july
Christmas does not by any means in
tend in advance to start drinking upon
that day. He merely foresees that he
will meet a great many friends at
Christmas, and he foreseeS also the
consequent interchange of good many
GREETINGS. Rather than run the risk of
breaking his pledge, he seems to pre-
fer to have it finish its own course and
expire legitimately and honorably
Very few of the old-tiners are now
alive TO boast of having taken the
pledge from Father Mathew-''the real
pledge" as it used to be called, on ac-
count of its long formula and it's strin-
gent wording. Nowadays the form is
simple and brief. and perhaps to some
1t does not mean as much.
The clergy regard the pledge as but
an earnest or serious good intention,
with no inherent or sacramental grace
attached thereto. It's value comes from
the individuals own self-reliant force
of character or from what Roman
Catholic theologians designate ex opere
operantis.
Whether the rank and file of pledge
takers coincide with such a view may
indeed be questioned Instances recur
frequently enough to show that many
who take the pledge seem to regard it
as possessed OF special inherent effica-
cy and think that it gets in it's good
work Irrespective of effort upon the part
of the individual
A priest who was recently conversing
upon this subject narrates that not long
ago man living in his parish came to
the priests house to take the pledge
The next day the clergyman walking
down town met his parishioner stag
gering woefully along the street.
why, Thomas, what does this
mean?" he exclaimed. Weren't you
UP at my house yesterday to take the
pledge?"
II was, your reverence"
And why are you today in this con-
dition?''
Il don't know unless it be that when
You gave me the pledge you forgot to
put the power in it."-New York Sun.
SUMMER AT THE sEAsHoRE.