Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-03-08
LETTER

AND
MANDEMENT
OF MGR. PAUL BRUCHESI,
(Continued)
The church will do her part. the best and
most efficient part, BY using the supernatur.
al teachings. remedies and assistance which
she has received from heaven and which II
is her mission to dispense to men.
Private initiative will display ito zeal In
number of instances, either by example, a.
postleship, lectures on the dangers Of alco =
holism, anti alcoholic teaching In the schools
or elsewhere.
The civil authorities know what measures
to adopt in order to fight that plague and
avert it's terrible results, Their dispositions
are known to us, they will not hesitate in
the face of duty. Limitation IN the number
of hotels, restaurants. saloons and all retail
liquor shops; sufficiently high taxes on such
establishments, license taxes and sale taxes;
efficient REPRESSION of all transgressions, e.
pecially the sale OF liquors on Sunday and to
minors; and aboye all, absolute refusal of a
license 10 persons not having perfect rep
utation Of responsibility and honesty; such
are, dearly beloved brethren, the principal
preventive and repressive measures which 1t
would be desirable to see in force everywhere
in the country municipalities as we'll - In
the cities. They already exist, to large ex.
tent at least, in our laws.
But, dearly beloved brethrcn,s thinker
has said with much appropriateness Legal
az we'll as tax remedies will remain power.
srlessto stop the evil Of intempersncc and
tue plague Of alcoholism, il they are not sup
ported by moral and religious remedies. 1t
is not sufficient that the drnker should find
II more difficult 10 satisfy his passion; he will
overcome such obstacles, and he will deprive
himself of everything rather than give up
drinking. He must be brought on to ha'ea
desire to amend
We will close with this and sum up. The
will therefore Is what must be acted upon
| first of all. How can this be donel BY the
| two iirst means which We have mentioned:
consideration of the disastrous effects Of al
coholism in the individual, consideration OF
It's disasl rous effects In the family and in so.
ciety. But we will reach that end much
more surely by meaus OF considerations OF y
religious nature, the teaching Of the truths
of the gospel, the awakening of christian
feeling, the preaching of penance and morti'
ication, the stimulant Of good example. so
many things which the temperance missions
and the holy league against alcoholism are
going to permanently establish In each par.
ISL of our diocese.
After invoking the holy name of God and
consulting our venerable brethren. the can
ons of our cathedral, we have decided upon
the following regulations:
The clergy shall be the Arst 10 set an
example of the temperance which they must
preach. Consequently, in the presby'erirs
and religious communities, on the occas on
of pastoral visits, Of gatherings for retreats
and missions, OF visits from priests or my.
men, before or after meals, no alcoholic liq-
uors shall he taken.
Q We request all families to do the same
thing; to entirely give up the deplorabe habit
of Offering and of taking spurious liquors
such as brandy, gin. rhum, whiskey, etc, on
the occasion Of gatherings, soires, dinners,
visits, and especially the visits and festivities
of New Years Day. Let all kinds Of slco-
hol disappear from our homes; let US use It
only In cases Of necessity and upon the doc,
tors orders. Pastors will not forget to Of
ten refer to that subject wh,n giving advice
to their parishioneers.
3 We implore young men and fathers OF
family not to enter saloons and bar rooms
except for serious reasons; not ~ drink there
intoxicating liquors, and especially to give
up the alas too common practice OF treating
We would feel happy to see all honest mtn
league together against that social disorder
which brings so many evils both to the fam
lily and to individuals We particularly en-
treat the citizens who form the leading class.
co and the members of The libei oil professions
to preach by example in this respect.
4 We request the priests, the principals
of colleges and teachers in general to often
refer to intempelance, in the class rooms,
and to adopt all possible means to inspire
tile pupils with horro, for that vice.
s We order that in all the parishes work
be commenced a, once to establish temper
ance leagues or societies. among the child.
rem from the year Of their fist communion
up to the age of eighteeh years; among
young men; 8 among the heads of famili"s.
1T. Johu the Baptist shall be the patron Of
those leagues the members of which must
! pledge themselves not to use spurious liquors
except in case of sickness and Of real need.
These societies already exist in some parish
es and do the greatest amount of good. Their
rules and regulations. as we'll Ne the spiritual
fayors secured for them will he made known
in the near future. We simply mention for
tue present what is most essential and what
should call for the efforts and zeal Of all. OF
the people as well as of the clergy
We particularly entrust the preaching
of temperance 10 the Reverend Franciscan
Fathers whom We hereby appoint apostles OF
that great work in our diocese. The pastors
will invite them to come and preach TO their
Pensioners at such dates rs will seem 10 them
most savorabe, but will not wait until they
come, to establish the societies we have re.
ferrrd to. Each pastor must commence to