The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-06
FATHER MATHEW.


Some of the facts mentioned in the fol-
lowing extract from Mr.. Lewis Tappan's
speech at Brooklyn, will doubtless be new 10
most readers -
Father Maihew.-I met a man who
knew Father Mathew in Cork, and who
was temperance man and an aboltionist.
He told me that Father Mathew was pas.
Tor of Catholic church in Cork. He ap.
pears 10 be good man. There was a man
named William Martin residing in his
neighborhood. who got him 10 read some of
the temperance papers. and subsequently to
take the pledge. He then commenced
preaching tt importance and getting the men,
bers of his flock to take the pledge-which
increased 10 other individuals, and in
short time it required all his time to admin
lister the pledge. He went to Limerick, a
short distance from Cork, for the purpose
of administering the pledge, expecting to
find about 500 people there. instead Of which
200, 200 had collected all anxious to have
the pledge administered TO them. Father
Mathew was overpowered with the excess
of his happy emotions. He said it was the
Lords doing. and there was no greater
proof of ii than his having selected such a
humble individual as himself for the task
His Bishop went TO him soon afterwards
and demonstrated at his departing from the
legitimate course Of his religious duties. He
said don't you see that the plblicans in the
country do more TO sustain our religion than
any others. "Yes," was the reply OF Fa>
Their Mathew, 81 do; and know also that
your brother is one of the largest distillers
in this country" Father Mathew aware
that he would be the subject of clerical GEN.
sure, and perhaps removal,wrote to the Pope
OF Rome, and got commission sent back
TO him as Vicar Apostolic, which took him
out of the hands OF The bishops in Great
Britain aud Ireland. The Pope said 10
him, "you look TO me and | will look TO
you" so that we have to commend the Pope
for one good thing at any rate. Father
Mathew now travels free whenever he choos.
es TO 60, as no one thinks of charging him
anything. He has been charged with par
simony in taking a shilling each for medals,
but he is not ameDable TO the censure, as
the amount is not more than the cost. He
is independent as 10 the pecuniary circum-
Stances, as he enjoys f900 year which he
inherited from his father. and which for
single man, as from his situation he neces.
essariiy is, furnishes an abundance for his
support.
| saw Father Mathew at Liverpool, and a
little party was made up for him to dine
with US. Dinner was waiting, but he could
not como, because he said if he did, twelve
hundred persons wouh go away without ia
king the pledge. We went up to the Cath
ole Chapel and saw number of men and
boys crying out and selling Father Mathews
Temperance sermon of the last Sunday
On coming 10 where Father Mathew was,
we found him administering the pledge TO
sixty and hundred persons at time. His
mode of doing so was TO make them kneeI
down and repeat the pledge as he pro-
nounced it. He took hold of both my hands.
and said he was always glad to see any one
from the United States. and asked me as TO
Mr.. Delevan and others. In 1915, gave
the first pledge ~ favor of Temperance, but
thought on this occasion | might as well re-
new it, and applied to Father Mathew to
that effect. He said he would administer it
TO me alone. and did so, al the same time CIV
me his medal.
The hair of Father Mathew is little gray.
He told me he was about fifty four years of
age. He wears long sur,out which comes
about half way between his knees and an.
kles, and old fashioned boots over bis pam
falcons. He shakes hands with so many
that his hands usually show the effects of ii.
He is no way particular, kissing the faces
of the little children which the mothers hold
up 10 him, whether clean or dirty. lie adj
ministers The pledge to large number at
once. He then gives them what he calls the
sign OF the cross, which is little dab in the
forehead, and it is incredible how fast he
gets through with them, completing proba.
bly, thirty in minute. By request, then
addressed the people-iold them my mater
nal ancestors belonged 10 Ireland. Hurrah
for Ireland, was the loud applause. then
told them that if Father Mathew would
come 10 New York, so 900 Irishmcn would
assemble with him in the Park 10 take the
pledge. Hurrah for New York, was the re.
ply. And thus they continued greeting in
good humored manner what | advanced.
49, IT, .r.o,, p,,Jro, ..ll,, ,c a.. -.