The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-01-27
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE IN
ENGLAND.

Are we Catholics doing all we might
do in the crusade against the Drink
Evil and in the promotion of temper
ance? asks the Rt. Rev. Bishop Casar-
telli of Stafford, England, in recent
appeal for the promotion of the tenn
perance cause.
An uneasy feeling has existed for
some time that, since the great days
of Cardinal Manning and Father Nu-
gent, our energies have slackened, al
most dangerously, in this important
work.
It is true that, judging by statistics,
the nation of late years is really be-
coming more sober; but is the change
sufficiently great to justify a relaxa-
ton of our efforts?
Are the evils of drink not still gi-
gantic? If less in evidence in the
streets and in the police courts is
there not still terrible amount of
more secret excess in drink may, i'm
some directions is the evil perhaps
| not growing? Is not a large proper
ton of crime and misery of other
kinds still the unholy fruit of the
drink habit?
In other words, is crusade against
this great enemy not still needed?
What is the feeling of the Catholic
Bishops of England is quite clear from
the resolution they passed unanimous
ly at their meeting in Westminster in
Low Week, 1908, viz: ITO study the
question of the institution of sonn
form of Temperance Association in
three grades: (a) for children and
young people under twenty-one years
Of age; (b) between meals; Co for
life"
At the corresponding meeting In 1910
the Archbishop (now CardinaD sub
mitted the draft of Catholic Tenn
perance Guild" and in Low Week of
1911 this scheme was fully and finally
approved, and it was agreed that in
each diocese, as far as possible, an
organization should be created to pro-
mote the Guild
i The Catholic Crusade.
In our diocese such an organization
already exists for the past few years
under the name of THE Catholic Cru
| SADIE for the Promotion of Temper
ance' and under the special patronage
of st. John the Baptist.
This is an Association which ought
to be more widely and better known in
the diocese. 1t already exists in some
parishes, but it ought to cover the
diocese as a network. There can be
no doubt that it is much needed. And
l think Federationists might help a
good deal in promoting so good a
work.
Meantime Catholics at large might
take more general interest in vari-
GUS public movements in aid of tenn
perance 1t is true, you cannot make
a man sober by Act of Parliament" as
is often objected, but you certainly can
by legislation immensely diminish the
facilities of excessive drinking and
the temptation of drink. 1t is these
temptations that are the most fruit
full cause of falls. We might whole
heartedly support such interests as
/ the Sunday Closing movement. But
above all, legislation about public
houses needs badly to be supplement
ted by drastic reforms about clubs
"a far more dangerous source of
temptation than ever licensed houses.
The drink abuse in some of these
clubs is very great. | rejoice that we
Catholics have done away with the
drink license at bazaars; and l sim
cerely trust we shall never again see
intoxicants advertised as prizes at
raffles or prize-drawings!