The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-06-20
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
WARNING AGAINST INTEMPER-
ANcE.

Not only Christ's life and doctrine,
but the sound sense of mankind de-
mands that sincere aversion for any
vice shall be shown by the conspicu-
GUS practice of the contrary virtue.
Do you not see the need of thus max
ing war on intemperance? Do you
not know how widespread an evil it is?
| What family without it's drunkard, or
at least some one who is in danger of
falling into drinking habits? What
neighborhood is without its plague
spot, the saloon? What community
without its steady stream of horror,
crime and misery due to drunkenness?
The pathway which leads from the sa-
loon to the poorhouse, from the sa-
loon to the Jail, from the saloon to
the insane asylum, is well trod and is
strewn with unnumbered wrecks of
humanity Therefore, every family
should have it's member or members
who are conspicuous for the practice
of total abstinence. Every neighbor-
hood should have it's band of valiant
men and women who by their pledge
protest publicly against the vice of
drunkenness. Every community
should have it's organized permanent,
energetic crusade against the saloon.
Courageous men and women are
everywhere needed to protest against
drunkenness and to labor to suppress
it. If you love happy home practice
| total abstinence, for it is the most
eficaciOus means of showing your de-
hesitation of the family's deadliest foe
If you love the people of God, take
the pledge; for drunkenness is the
worst enemy the true faith has this
day to contend against. If you have
the good of society at heart, touch
not the intoxicating glass; for most
of the evils we have to deplore in
our social and political life are the
progeny of this prolific mother-vice-
intemperance.
| Every element of Christianity in a
good man or woman sharpens their
anxiety for the welfare of their breth-
rem The drunkard is my brother; he
needs good example to reform; I have
made up my mind to give it to him.
eve know that we have passed from
death to life, because we love the
brethren" Il. st. John ill.,, 14.) may
be too poor to give money for the
reform of drunkards, but / can give
what is more precious-good example.
The family that cannot benefit by hav-
| ing total abstainer among it's mem
bers is hard to find. The parish that
is not greatly helped by total alb
stinence society is hard to find. 1t is
good to be total abstainer. ct is
good not to eat flesh, and to drink
wine, or anything whereby thy brother
is offended, or scandalized, or made
| weak" (Romans xiv, 21.)
1t is not sinful perhaps, for me to
drink moderately, but for the drunk
ard to do so is deadly peril. If he is
going to be saved, he must totally
abstain, task often as difficult as
martyrdom. | will help him to do it
by keeping him company in total alb
| stinence. Every one of us needs a
friend, patient, edifying, loving. Heav-
emily Wisdom says, ''Woe to him that
is alone" (Eccles. w., 1O.) When
struggling with any overpowering pas
oIOu, pOOI udLuI0 lOOhS lOT d
comrade. The heart cries out in dan
ger or in weakness, Help mel"
Every drunkard in his sober moments
cries out, Help met" !, for one, am
going to answer that cry. l am deter
mined that no drunkard shall relapse
for want of my help. If he is driven
by necessity to take the pledge, l
am driven by charity to keep him
company in it. "The charity of Christ
urges u.s." Gil. Cor. ", 40
Scorned and despised, the drunkard
needs friend to share his compulsory,
abstinence l am that friend, 1 will
pick him from the slough of despond.
will cleanse him and strengthen
him; ] will speak tender words of en-
couragement to him. l will be the
drunkard's Good Samaritan. But
some one might protest, 81 do not
need to abstain!" Yes, do, for what
my brother needs I need; and if any
man needs help, then the help he
needs is the help / need to give him.
Father Elliott
|