The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-05-27
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
HOW TO ORGANIZE A CATHOLIC
TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.
Temperance societies should not be
organized merely for men. If the
parish Total Abstinence society is
merely for men, there ought to be a
st. Veronica League for women, and
the best women of the parish should
be members of 1t. The temperance
cause is woman's cause, especially,
because women throughout the land
are too often the innocent sufferers
from the intemperance of others.
Whether they suffer or not, their zeal
and generosity should inspire them to
do missionary and educational work,
which is so much needed in furthering
the cause of temperance.
1t is of paramount Importance that
boys and girls should BIZ saved from
the sins of drunkenness and all that
drunkenness means Organize the boys
into Cadet Companies, and the girls
into Sodalities. Rev. Jam mes M. Rear
don, President of the Diocesan Union
of St. Paul, Mimi, advocated two
years ago the establishment of So
dality of the Blessed Sacrament for
boys and girls Organize the children
after their first Communion into such
SodaIities. Most of the Bishops give
the Total Abstinence pledge at the
time of Confirmation Here, again,
would be an opportunity for estab-
fishing Sodality of the Blessed Sac
rament. If our boys and girls fire.
quented the Holy Sacrament of the
Altar, they would realize how incom-
patible is the hunger and thirst after
righteousness with the appetite for
alcoholic drinks. Their pure hearts
will gladly prompt them to pledge
themselves to total abstinence in
honor of the Sacred Thirst of their
Crucified Lord.
1t is an easy matter to organize
temperance societies. The following
suggestions may be of service:
l. The consent of the pastor must
first be obtained.
2. Then meeting should be called
at an early date. and an invitation
extended from the altar to all mem
bers of the congregation to attend the
meeting.
3. 1t would be we'll to distribute
circulars at all the Masses the Sun
day before the meeting.
4. When the meeting takes place,
let some one explain the object for
which it is called and invite the people
assembled to join the society.
Tho
down the names, ages and residences
of all who desire to join. Entrance
fee may be paid at subsequent meet
ing.
6. When all who desire to Join
have been enrolled the pledge should
be administered at once to them.
z. A committee consisting of the
temporary Chairman and Secretary
and three other persons should be
appointed to draft a Constitution and
, Bylaws for the society, after con-
sultation with the pastor.
; 8. When the meeting adjourns, it
, should agree to reconvene at the call
of the Chairman.
, 8. When society is permanently
: organized, the Secretary or President
should write to National Headquar-
tiers, IS Eldredge Court, Chicago.
They will at once take steps to have
it enrolled in the Union.
If there be a Diocesan or State
Union in the Diocese or State where
the society is organized, the society
must first enter that Union, and ad-
mission to the Diocesan or State Union
entities the society to immediate adj
mission to the National Union. BY
writing to National Headquarters they
will furnish whatever information
they may require.
"'The Catholic Total Abstinence
Union,' and The Confraternity of the
Sacred Thirst are societies which we
recognize as worthy of much praise.
They are actuated by spirit truly
Catholic, trusting as they do, not so
much to the native f1rmness of their
own will as to the grace obtained by
prayer and the reception of the sac.
raments. Moreover, as is we'll known,
the head of the Universal Church, the
Vicar of Christ on earth, has repeat
eddy bestowed upon them his apos-
tolic blessing and spiritually enriched
; them with the indulgences of the
Church. We also bestow on these
societies the marks of our good will,
and in order that they may continue
to flourish more and more, we COM
mend them to the fatherly care or all
our clergy; the priests should not
only strive to increase their member.
ship, but also guide them in the path
of Catholic virtue. NO. 262, Decree
of Third Plenary Council of Baltimore.
C T. A " AdDOcnte