The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-08-01
TEMPERANCE
CRUSADE
RESOLUTIONS OF TOTAL ABSTI-
NENCE UNION OF ILLINOIS.
THE SALOON CONDEMNED

olics to Work and Vote for It's Ex-
tinction Wherever Possible to Do So.
At the meeting of the Catholic Total
Abstinence Union of Illinois held re-
Gently, there was adopted the series of
resolutions following, which is presag-
ing the action of the National Society
to be held in Chicago August a, S, E.
Commenting on this convention the
Commoner says:
"The Catholic Church is the largest
denomination, and it means a great deal
for temperance when its leaders are en-
listed in the crusade for temperance.
The union is right in emphasizing the
Christians duty to make his influence
count on the right side The question
is not whether Christian can drink
in moderation without injury to him
self. but whether his appetite is strong
er than his love for his brother. If the
social glass leads weaker brother to
ruin. the Christian can find more pleas
ure in abstinence than in indulgence.
Every denomination ought to have its
total abstinence society and all should
unite to save the rising generation from
the curse of drink.
The resolutions follow:
'Whereas, We believe the Catholic
Total Abstinence Union of America is
one of the greatest, if not the greatest,
factor on this continent in making for
better homes, more exemplary citizens,
more holy and devoted Catholics, we
again pledge ourselves with all the zeal
and energy at our command to con-
tinue with renewed vigor our fight
against the terrible vice of intemper-
ance until we succeed in convincing
Catholic people that membership in our
total abstinence movement is synony-
nous with good citizenship and prac-
teal Catholicity
'Whereas, Our movement is blessed
by the holy fathers, Pope Plus TX,
Pope Leo XIII, and Pope Plus K, and
has been heartily commended by the
archbishops and bishops of America,
we confidently expect the cordial APP.
proval and sincere cooperation of the
loyal and faithful members of our holy
mother church, particularly those who
are abstainers from principle rather
than from necessity; and.
Whereas, The great majority OF
men who are today the backbone of the
total abstinence movement have been
total abstainers from boyhood or from
early manhood, we believe the best and
purest of our Catholic people should
affiliate with our splendid society, if
for no other purpose than as protest
against intemperance and as hope
their example may serve to encourage
others who perhaps may need the adj
vice and encouragement of stronger
and more determined associates.
BE it, therefore, resolved:
4. That we rejoice in the fact that
so many of our good Catholics are re
Gently embracing the opportunity God
has given them to lessen the evil of
intemperance and to remove from our
midst the greatest and most prolific
source Of scandal with which the Cath
olic Church in this country is afflicted
q. That we gladly welcome to our
support the new total abstinence society
known as The Father Mathew League,
and sincerely hope it will grow and
flourish all over the land until it be-
comes great power for good in its
chosen field.
"a Thar We sincerely congratulate
those devoted bishops and priests who
have so earnestly labored with US dur
ing the last year, and sincerely trust
that they may continue to lend us their
powerful influence, to the end that tenn
perance societies may be instituted in
every parish in the State of Illinois.
"a. That while we deplore the loss
our cause has sustained by the removal
from the midst of US of that splendid
champion of sobriety and good judg-
ment, Bishop Muldoon, still we rejoice
at his justly merited promotion and
confidently hope that he will not relax
his splendid efforts in behalf of our
cause in his new field of labor
s.. That we again denounce with all
the force and power at our command
the shameful and degrading practices
of those Catholic societies which per
nit under their auspices Saturday night
dances and Sunday picnics, at which IN
toxicating liquors are sold, and as
Catholics who have the honor of oui
holy Church at heart, we call upor
these. societies to prevent in future such
disgraceful practices so prolific O
scandal and so fraught with danger tc
the youth and manhood of our Church
and Nation.