The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-17
From The Hartford Courant
FATHER MATTHEW AND THE IRISH
REFORM

The following extract of graphic letter from Dub
lin, published in Boston paper, gives an interesting
sketch of the great Temperance keormer ana OF the
enthusiasm that pervades the mass OF that people on
this subject In the progress of work remarkable
and unique the friends OF humanity and of Ireland in
particular have reason to be grateful and glad We
wish that there ardor in the work of rcfor-
nation in our own land-N. y. Observer.
But the most singular thing is the Temperance Re
volution and the wonder of the age is Father Mat
thew. have heard and seen him very satisfactorily,
and think that with his audience it the greatest
" spectacle" ever witnessed To-day sat very near
him, by means Of Father OReilly-and not only saw
the whole but took notes of all his sermon, which was
excellent He is good looking man, about 46-horid
face, curly black hair, and Roman nose-wth
good humored expression. He was ratf or late, owing
to the pressure of the people-but when he stepped
upon the platform every voice WIS hushed and all eyes
fixed on him. If he had been angel from heaven
he would not have commanded more attention. ! ne
saw anything like it before. The band Of music
played hymn during which he stood leaning the
altar looking the immense concourse without
seeming to feel any awkwardness any desire to
make display.
His dress white robe, with gold around the
neck and on the sreamers in front, and his whole APP
pearance was elegant and pleasing Some poor Grip
Piles who had been laid inside the railing, were knee
ing well they could and mutterng their prayers
to him, of which he took notice. A er the hymn
he stood out in 'front.' and delivered his text and
sermon without any books notes This sem
sble and suited to the audience who showed their APP
probation by frequent responses and prayers at the
end of the sentences This lasted half an hour dur
ing which time do not think there dry eye in
the whole assembly, and many were sobbing aloud |
could not tell why, except from the excitement. He
then retired, and the meeting adjourned to a large
open place called the Battery the outskirts of the
town Here on the rising ground he addressed them
more particularly the subject Of temperance, and
administered the pledge. The rush to take it al
most fearful that the one two hundred citizen
constables were obliged to lay about them with poles
to prevent being oyeTthrown and seriously
injured
Father O'Reily and some others near him constant
" shed at this sight which extraordinary
| indeed For a long distance around the hills were
covered with people dressed in their best clothes !;
(Which very good) the with their white
caps and bright red cloaks gave gay appearance TO
the whole But the most striking feature in the
was the sick they brought on carts and in lit
ters and laid almost every where upon the grass
some their friends lifting up their shoulders
that the sight of the Father might cure them; some
were too weak to hold up their heads and made a
CHASTITY appearance as they raised up to the light
some seemed in the last stage, and required all the
tention of their relations II a touching spectacle
TO see the eager anxiety of the mother and sisters and
to hear their prayers for their sons husbands and ia
theirs One carried back TO the times of the apos-
ties and could hardly realize that he not listening
to some inspired person.
After seeing the administering of the pledge, (Which
is kept much sacredy than in the United States
went around TO hear the conversation of the people
and to ascertain, if possible how they affected
found they talking Of the death of man in Dub
lin who had broken the pledge and run mad (Which
was correctly Of the DISCOURSE and the cures. II IL
/ indeed wonderful said country proprietor named
\ O'Ferren with whom | became acquainted, chow
these cures take place the only agement Father
Matthew has given these poor invalids is that he
will pray for them and yet they believe he by
his word or touch-and knew Of tive boys who were