The Irish standard., 1910-08-27
TOTAL ABSTINENCE,

delivered a striking address on the eff
fects of drunkenness. In his opinion
the vice of drink is at the very head
of those habits which work moral and
physical ruin. He deplored the almost
unbearable condition of wife and
mother who is condemned by no fault
of her own to a life of squalor and
misery. He is not surprised that those
who are constantly coming In contact
with drunkenness and the evils which
follow in it's course become impas-
stoned cr;,nks. And yet this extreme
is to be deplored as much as intemper-
ance itself. for from it no good can
result. To quote the Archbishop on
this point:
"rhey who by bitter experience have
seen what drink can do and what
drunkenness has done, have often. let
it be openly acknowledged, been driv-
Ell into rage and we'll nigh fanatical
hatred, and indeed were it not for that
sacred influence of Christ's wonderful
law which the Catholic Church under
stands and teaches we should find in
dealing with this awful vice only two
points of view--the one denouncing as
utterly and absolutely evil in itself as
a very devil of iniuuity, strong drink,
under whatever form it may exist, and
on the other hand the mere compla-
cency of those who consider that ev-
erythng is good in life, and that each
man must be allowed to follow his in
clnations in the pursuit of pleasure.
And, indeed, if we observe we'll we shall
find that outside the influence of the
Church of Christ, men divide them
selves into one or other of these two
camps. namely Manachaism, which
condemns wine as an invention of the
devil and therefore brands with a curse
every one who manufactures it or deals
with 1t or touches it at ALL and Epi-
the gods, and which revels in it's cups
as If wreathed in garlands of religious
joy.
THESE two extremely opposite views
are held by those who are ignorant
alike of the divine scheme Of creation
and it's purpose. and the great moral
law Of Christ's Church. They are as
facile as they are deceptive and ut
terly false; and 1t is no wonder, there
fore. that neither the one nor the 9TH
or of these false principles has ever
wrought anything but mischief in their
attempted solution of this great ques-
ton of intemperance."
No one who has seen the awful mis-
cry and debauchery that drunkenness
brings on can condone intemperanc..
And yet the poor wretch who will give
his last cent for drink while his FAM
lily must go without food is rather 10
be pitied than despised. He is the
slave of a demon whose power over
him no one can Judge who has not ex-
perienced his condition. His habit
cannot be corrected in a day, no mat
ter how strongly he is reminded of the
evil of his ways. Even after he has
set his mind to overcome his plight he
may fall and perhaps fall many times.
But that does not mean that he can
never triumph over himself. Rash, in
temperate methods will not win hin,
from his vice. He must be dealt with
firmly but kindly.
Those who would promote the cause
of temperance can profit by the Arch
bishops advice to the members of the
Total Abstinence Union:
Teach and practice moderation al
ways-that is a virtue necessary for
all. Counsel total abstinence as much.
as far and as often as you can. Show
the dangers which undoubtedly lie even
in moderate drinking. and enjoin as
you must. upon those to whom drink
is an occasion Of sin, the moral neces-
sity of sustaining altogether from in
toxicating drink. Aim at the most YOU
can get, but at the same time be care
full not to place as command and a
precept what Is only Christian coun-
sci. Denounce sin where it exists, but
do not confound temptation with sin.
Work as hard as you can to reclaim the