The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-10-05
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE
OUGHT TO BE ABsTAINERs.

There are millions who ought to be
total abstainers for grave private
reasons:
First, the drunkard must give up
drinking entirely. You cannot con-
vert a drunkard with elastic "modera-
tion"-you cannot convert a drunkard
with that Occasional little glass"
You cannot convert a drunkard with
beer. He will return sooner or later
to stronger stuff.
Second, children must not drink I'M
til their perfect maturity.
Third, mothers who have baby
beneath or near the heart must not
drink.
Fourth, workmen and officials in
responsible positions must not drink,
for the sake of their own and for the
sake of public safety.
Fifth, whoever is affected with
heart, lung, or kidney troubles must
give up the use of Intoxicating drinks.
Sixth, whoever is inclined to
drunkenness, whether by inheritance
or by an acquired habit must give up
drinking, to prevent the last con-
sequences, especially if he has a weak
character and through his social posi-
ton must be much in company. 1t is
easier not to drink at all than to say
always at the right time: Il have
enough" ~'
Seventh and finally, the apostle Of
temperance, the leader and older
brother of the weaker brethren"
ought to be, for the sake of the weaker
brother, a total abstainer himself.
The weaker brother lives perhaps in
an alcoholic surrounding. 1t is too
easy for him to drink and too hard
not to drink. The apostle of total
abstinence helps with his example anu
his words to create a nonalcoholic sur
rounding and makes it easier for the
| weaker brother not to drink but to en-
joy his life without alcohol.
AS modern alcoholism is an organ
| lied power, we need in the warfare
against the great destroyer an Or
ganiZed power too.
We have all over the world, as well
as in the United States, an organized
army Of total abstainers, a real Saliva
ton Army. For Catholics it is the
Catholic Total Abstinence Union of
America, with headquarters at Dan
bury, Conn. (Secretary at present,
Mr.. Thos. McCloskey). They have
also splendid organ, the Catholic
Temperance Advocate, which supplies
the soldier of Christ with the weapon
and ammunition of solid arguments.
| This Catholic abstinence movement is
approved and blessed by the sovereign
Pontiffs and the Bishops and endorsed
by the councils of Baltimore.
We appeal to our sodalities, CONTRA
| ternities and Catholic societies where
we have the. strongest storage bat
teries of Christian charity and apOs-
tolic zeal to help to destroy the great
destroyer.
They will not only have the merit
of a practical modification and share
in the rich Indulgence granted for
total abstinence but they will be real
patriots, not wasting their health and
wealth, but insuring their name and
shame and preserving their vigor and
virtue in the war for our natural and
supernatural existence.
They will be the glory of the Church
and show that rum and Rome do not
go together, and the words of Daniel
the prophet will be fulfilled in them:
"They that are learned shall shine as
the brightness Of the armament; and
they that instruct many to justice, as
stars for all eternity" dan. II: 3D.
-C0tholc Temperance Advocate.