The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-07-14
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE
WHO is AT FAULT?

An earnest effort is being made to
educate our Catholic children against
the use of alcoholic drinks. They are
solemnly pledged at the time of their
confirmation, and much temperance
teaching is impaired to them during
their school hours. In many parishes
the boys are formed into Cadet or
CARNATIONS, and are given many in
centives to preserve them in their
pledge and keep them from the
dangers and temptations of drink. And
even the parents are willing to CO.
operate in way in having their chill
dren total abstainers.
The Culprits.
But herein lies oftentimes the glar-
ing fault. For how contradictory in
a father and mother to impose total
abstinence on the child, or to permit
it to be imposed, whilst they are rails
ing the beer glass to their own lips.
The father works hard, and he requires
a stimulant; the mother is weary after
the day of household duties, and justi-
fies the presence of the beer glass or
the nip of stronger liquor during the
hours of the evening. But the child
must not attempt to put up a reason
| for himself Liquor is source of
strength to the parents, but poison to
him. He has taken the pledge, and is
required to keep it. And in their
shortsighted policy that pledge which
he made at the altar rail will carry
him safely on to the years of man
hood. There is no need of a normal
restraint on their part at the home;
there is no need of good example from
the father and the mother. The child
| does not require that; he can live
in the presence of temptation, and
never be tempted.
The Result.
| What is the consequence of such
false philosophy? There can be only
one consequence. In the eyes of the
child, the parents stand for all that is
good and true. They are for him
infallible guides who can do no wrong
He looks to them to shape and guide
his moral life, as in infancy he looked
to them to direct his tottering steps,
prayer. Their acts are the molds out
of which his acts are made. AS they
do, so shall he do. AS they give him
the example, he has an absolute right
to follow. They are his guides, his
teachers. He must learn the lesson,
not from the principles which have
been taught him elsewhere, but from
~ he ico
of his confirmation, stand for nothing,
i'm the face of their conduct. The
craving for that which he has seen
them enjoy will come to him, and he
will follow in their steps, perhaps not
at the home fireside, but with COM
lpanions in whom the same craving
has been cultivated.
+ He has taken his first step in the
path of danger, encouraged by the
example of parents who have always
regarded themselves as moderate in
their drinking, and perhaps are sim
cere and truthful in this regard, but
who have never paused to consider
the effect on the mind and appetite Of
the boy. What will the end be? How
far will he go? To the precipice? To
be lost forever, disgrace to parents,
1 a blot on the name of manhood, a.
leper in society? Upon whom shall
the blame rest? If in days of darkness
there comes from his lips the curse of
despair, upon whom will that curse
fall? Upon the father and the mother,
they who by their conduct broke down
the sacred barrier of total abstinence
behind which he had placed himself
in the days of his boyhood.
Catholic Temperance Advocate.