The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-04-12

/" stirred the hearts of the popula-
ton in the cause of temperance as
thoroughly as Peter the Hermit
might have stirred the hearts of
a people to a crusade. F"
Nor was it only among the peo-
pie of Ireland that he wrought
such a marvellous change for the
better. He was equally successful
throughout the British Isles and
in those portions of the United
States which he visited during his
tour which ended in 1851. His
visit laid the foundation for the
Catholic Total Abstinence move
ment in America, for, although no
general plan of campaign was
mapped out until the founding of
the National Union in 1872, total
abstinence societies were organ
lied in many dioceses throughout
the country, and much good was
accomplished thereby prior to the
opening of the Civil War when
other and 'graver questions than
that of temperance began to oc-
cupy the public mind.
The impetus given to Catholic
Total Abstinence in America by
the establishment of the National
Union suficed to keep up interest
in it for nearly quarter of cen
fury. Then the enthusiasm waned
as one by one the original leaders
either passed away or ceased to
take an active interest in the
cause. In the meantime, however
a great change for the better had
taken place in the attitude of the
public towards the liquor traffic
The drinking customs of society
that prevailed even a quarter Of q
century ago are no longer in
vogue. and the bottle has been
banished from the business and
professional world wherever men
realize the necessity of a clear
brain and steady nerve as pre-.
requisites to material success anC
prosperity; and even the socia
glass is no longer urged with as
much insistence as in other days
A truer and more scientific under
standing Of the injurious action Of
even moderate quantities of alco
hOl on the system has led tC
greater sobriety among all classes
Of people; and for this changed
attitude a large measure of credit
must be given to the example anC
influence and teaching Of Catholic
total abstainers. If the work is
not nowadays carried on as Wig
orously as formerly it is due to the
fact that it's advocates fattel
themselves that the need is not sc
great. Whether this be true OF
not, it cannot be denied that socia
and industrial conditions have un
dergone great change; and the
old methods of temperance work
are no longer as valuable as they
formerly were. The liquor traffic
is still an evil that calls inces
sanity for abatement, and the rem
edy must be adapted to the needs
of the time. A more scientific
treatment of the question is de
manded in order that results ever
approaching those obtained by
Father Mathew and his followers
may be secured.
Father Mathew has one great
claim upon our affectionate re
membrance. He demonstrated the
immense possibilities inherent il
the total abstinence movement az
a means of counteracting the evi
effects of intemperance on the in
dividual and thus affording {
rational solution of the liquor
problem. For that his memory
should be held in benedictiol
among us, and the story of hi
successful crusade in behalf O.
personal sobriety should be KEEP
before the minds of the risins
generation in order that it may b,
an incentive to them to walk il
his footsteps.