The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-30
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
CATHOLIC so6RIETY.

No apology is needed writes Rev.
nj. A. Landing, for taking up this great
work anew, for Drink has established
kingdom among Catholic people, which
nothing but united preserving effort
on the part of the priests and people
can overthrow" Incorporate use of
drink Is, in the words of the Council
OF Baltimore, "a perpetual incentive
to direst ruin and dragging number
less souls down to everlasting perdi-
ton" Hence" says Leo XIII, I'VE
esteem worthy of all commentator
the noble resolve of your pious as
sociations total abstinence societies)
by which they pledge themselves to
abstain totally from every kind of in
toxicating drink, nor can it at all be
doubted that this determination is
the proper and the truly efficacious
remedy for this very great evil, and
that SO much more strongly will all
be induced to put this bride upon
appetite, by how much the greater are
the dignity and influence of those who
give the example, These words of
Bishops and Pope should be sufficient
justification for any appeal in behalf
OF the cause of Catholic sobriety.
The foreWord of the Duquesne Uni
Versity Total Abstinence Society of
Pittsburg states the case of Catholic
total abstinence very correctly. "The
cause of total abstinence is holy and
righteous cause. 1t takes it's stand
against one of the greatest evils,
moral and social, of the day. It seeks
to redeem the fallen, and to save the
young and inexperienced It's means
are organization and the mighty
weapon of good example. It attracts
those who need it and those who do
not need it; the former, to save them;
the latter, to help save others. And
there is no banner under which Catho-
lie youth could more honorably be
enrolled than the banner of total alb
stlnence. The man who condemns
and decries such a cause either does
not know what he is attacking, or his
mouthings are not worth the atten-
ton of those who esteem honesty and
hate hypocrisy. 1t is not necessary to
be able to practice virtue, in order to
esteem it's worth; it does not make a
person appear any better, to himself
even, to condemn a cause that con-
demns his faults.
Considered as an antidote, an effec-
tual safeguard against the degrading
vice OF intemperance, the practice of
total abstinence is defended not only
by examples from Holy Writ, but also
on arguments based on common sense
and experience. It is the heroic form
of the virtue of temperance which may
be meritoriously practiced by those
who have never been addicted to
drunkenness. The determination to
renounce even the lawful use of strong
drink is especially commendab1e as a
means of self-preservation for young
men. More than any other class of
society, they are assailed by the temp
tation to excessive drinking; and by
unwise and INSCRIPTIONS friends, they
are often taught to regard drunken
ness as a pardonable weakness. I'm
doubtedly, then, it is wise act for
JOoh3 AA0A, 1I ILAO ia CSCAL W
erect strong barrier, wall of de-
tense, to protect himself from a most
dangerous and destructive vice. For it
will insure not only health of body and
soul, and immunity from insanity,
premature death, and perhaps eternal
misery; but also it will be a bulwark
for the preservation of countless i'm
mortals souls for all eternity"
There is no natural need for alco-
hOllc beverages; the overwhelming
majority of mankind have at all times
got along very well without them;
and all evidence goes to show that
their use is extremely dangerous and
injurious to man. All that ennobles
man is deteriorated by their use. And
if it was done away with, the work of
the priesthood would be much light
ened and their labor much more fruit
| full. The Church, and she, alone,
| through her priesthood can secure the
practice of that self-denial necessary to
control the appetite for stimulants.
Witness France, which, from being
one of the most sober countries while
under the control of the church has
become one of the least sober since
casting off that control; and the con-
sumption of alcoholic liquors has in
creased ten per cent in the last four
years with saloon for every 80 of
it's inhabitants. Drink is used simply
to crafty an appetite, total abstin-
ence is practiced to mortify it.
Though drink may never have direct
ly injured those who are asked to
combat it, their word and example
will inspire many a poor fellow effica-
ciously to will to free himself from
it's bondage or persevere in the prac-