The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-07
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.

The Catholic Total Abstinence Union
of America is striving to arouse
much-needed enthusiasm in temper
ance work among all classes and espe-
cially among the young. At the
fortieth annual convention held In Bos-
ton last August it commended the
practice of administering the total alb
stinence pledge to children at the time
of First Communion and Confirmation,
and recommended their formation into
societies. 1t was resolved, also, to
urge the introduction of temperance
teaching in Catholic schools in order
that their pupils may become familiar
lied with the current scientific knoWl-
edge regarding the dangers incident
to the use of alcoholic beverages.
! 1t is not the first time that these
points have been taken up at the an
nual convention; but it is well to
reiterate them in the hope that the
continued insistence in them may bear
fruit. Scarcely any one will deny
that it is good idea to give the
pledge to children at the time of First
Communion or Confirmation provided
the reasons for it be made known in
way that appeals to the child mind.
1t is not advisable to impose the obi
cation without previously instructing
the children in regard to it's necessity
and efficacy. Sufficient reasons should
be given to impress upon their minds
the value of the pledge as a safeguard
against the allurement of drink. The
organization of children's societies
would follow as matter of course and
would prove a blessing not only to the
members but to the community. The
work, however, must not cease at this
point The permanence of these So
cieties depends on keeping up the in
i terest of the members; and this can
be most readily accomplished by Civ
ing, from time to time, practical adj
vice and popular instruction on the
dangers of intemperance and on the
continued insistence on them may bear
trend of thought in the world of tenn
perance reform. A series of simple
talks on the fundamental notions un-
DERIVING the temperance movement
would do untold good to the rising
generation.
In line with this campaign is the
effort made by the Catholic Total Alb
stinence Union to stimulate the tenn
perance spirit among the students Of
seminaries and colleges, by offering
prizes for the best essays on subjects
connected with the drink problem in
r some of it's more important phases.
Two very successful competitions have
already been held; and this year an
other has been announced.
The subjects for this years con-
r test are: For seminarians: Is there
! any moral obligation for me, as a
seminarian and future priest, to take
part in the temperance movement?
For college Students: Is there any
moral obligation for me, as a college
,, student and future citizen, to take part
, in the temperance movement? In
!, each department three prizes are Of
fered. For seminarians, the first prize
is $4,000; the second, $4,000; the third,
!, $500. For collegians, the first prize
is $500; the second, $4,000; the
! third, $1,000. Are not these worth
! working for apart from the educational
value of the contest? The subjects
: ought to prove attractive to semin-
arians and collegians throughout
!. America; and an effort should be
made by our educational institutions
to cooperate with the G. T. A. u. in
: this attempt to enkindle enthusiasm
! for the study of such problems. The
: questions are important from the
= standpoint of the Christian and the
? citizen.
The contest closes May 1, 1911, and
= all essays must be in the National
e Headquarters, IS Eldridge Court, Chi
e cago, not later than that date. The
q contestants are required to sign as
u sumed names to their essays and tc
s send their real names and addresses
: in sealed envelopes bearing on the
y outside the assumed names. This will
, insure an impartial award by the
T. judges. The prize winners will be
e invited to attend the National Con
q vention to be held at Scranton, Pa.
q next August and read their papers tt
T. the delegates from all parts of the
e country.
a The year before last the second prize
= in the contest open to seminarians
D was awarded to a student of the st
u Paul Seminary and last year the frs
e prize went to the same young man
d The Northwest is well equipped will
Il educational institutions and brigh
d young men whose interest in the cause
j! Of sobriety will gather momentum
from this contest. Tt is to be hopet
G that many will enter the lists ant
- that, when the prizes are awarded
IL more than one name from this par
le of the Union will be found on tn,
Z bead-roll of honor.
lie
lie The Catholic Total Abstinenc,
is Union of America has less than rs ,00
,r members on it's roll after an existence
er of thirty-eight years. The Ponce
e. Total Abstinence Association of Ire
IT land, at it's annual meeting last montl
" in Dublin, had a membership o
If $4,000, although it has been in exist
20 ence not more than decade of years
t. This shows that the spirit of Fathe
Mathew again breathes over the land
II and Ireland may one day witnes
a scenes like those which marked tn
:. progress of the father of total abstir
a. ence nearly three-quarters of cent
~ I,Inw