The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-04-19
From the ". o. Crescent.
Father Mathew,

aisles and spacious galleries by thousands
of our citizens, eager to behold and listen
TO the great Apostle of Temperance, Faith
er Mathew, who arrived in the city on
Saturday last. After high mass, the wor-
thy Father was presented to the people by
the Rev. Mr.. Mullon, the Pastor of St.
Patrick's. A great sensation was produ-
ced by the appearance of this celebrated
man, whose unceasing labors in the great
cause to which he has devoted his life
have been the admiration of the world.
Father Mathew although broken in con-
stitution by fourteen years of devotion to
his countrymen, shows no feebleness in
his manner; his face possesses the charac-
teristics Of good man; mild and placid
look is stamped upon it, and there beams
forth those philanthropic qualities which
have been SO apparent in his career. The
lithographic portrait which we have OBJ
served for sale is a very good likeness of
this eminent divine, although gray hairs
have added years to the face.
The Reverend Father stated that his
i'll health prevented his addressing his au-
dience in the manner that he could wish,
but he would say few words. At first a
troublesome cough interrupted the speak
er, but soon, warming with his subject, ali
debility for the moment was forgotten, and
he proceeded with stirring appeal to his
countrymen, exhorting them to good works.
He drew picture of Ireland in the olden
time, when st. Patrick bore aloft the sign
of redemption, and believing followers
listened to his wondrous oratory. He re-
verted to the fact that Intoxicating drinks
were unknown at that primitive period;
the disciples of St. Patrick were saint-like
in their lives, and had transmitted pure
faith and spotless name to their descend
ants. How requisite then was it that
Irishmen should be true TO their religion
and true to themselves; that they should
maintain that character which their FORE
fathers enjoyed; and in whatever country
they were cast, that they should, by the
purity of their lives, reflect honor upon the
holy church to which they so generally
belonged. He referred to this country
as one of progress, in religion as well as
every thing else, and how could Catholics
expect their faith to extend if they cast
opprobrium upon it by their acts! Ireland
was more of Catholic country than any
other; although a number Of that church
came from countries on the Continent, yet
the mass emigrated from his own land
they built the churches and supported the
clergy, and therefore it was to Irishmen
that the Americans looked for examples oi
the Catholic religion.
After further Jealous appeals upon this
subject, arousing the national pride of his
countrymen, the good father spoke Of the
prominent position of Ireland, her suffer
ings, and the manifold prosecutions receiv.
ed by that unfortunate isle. The whole
world had sympathised with her, and
when the dreadful famine gnawed at hel
vitals, even the Turk-the Grand Seigneul
sent thousand pounds towards her re.
lief He alluded, also, in an appropriate
manner, to the ships freighted with pro
visions from the United States, which bore
to the starving multitude the means of life
The narrowing descriptions of dreadful
SCIENCES during the famine, affected mum
Der of the audience to tears. Then came
a brighter picture-the progress of the
Temperance reform in Ireland; and here
the speaker dwelt with much enthusiasm
upon his favorite subject. For fourteen
years he had labored in the cause; crowd:
Of men. women and children had gather
ed wherever he appointed to addres.
them: the roads were darkened with the
host of applicants to take the pledge, who
without solicitation, thronged forward t
receive it at his hands.
He had never known that pledge to b
broken; the holy bond once made, hac
been kept sacred; and during his travels
in this land, he had met men to whom
when boys, he had administered ths
! pledge! He found them walking in the
dignity Of Temperance; they had yielded
, not to the tempter, but maintained a higl
reputation among their fellow-men. H,
called upon his countrymen to come for
t ward and blot out the only stain upon thei
escutcheon; he had crossed the sea ant
braved its dangers to do them good; h
CuIlle W O1eI tlCil lllo hullluiS dlus Sli
. couraged by the effects of his ministry il
Ireland. He would now say-"Physicial
heal thyself;" they owed it to the land o
r their birth-to their sanity ancestors
: their social position-to the religion whicl
r they professed.
! The Father here ended; we have give
: but brief synopsis of his remarks, whic
r were listened to with profound attention
n A sea of upturned faces were before him
!. yer not sound, hardly rustling garmen
j; disturbed the impressive address.
n The Rev. Mr.. Mullon made some ar
i. propriate remarks, and adiured his pal
S ishioners to come forward and receive th
e pledge.
It Father Mathew presented himself a
r the foot of the altar to perform this inter
esting ceremony, and then came seen
Y whicn must have touched every heart be
/ meath that vaulted roof. The old an
:. young pressed forward to take the pledge
Y father and son, mother and daughter joine
h the Temperance troop. Wives claspe
S their hands with uncomfortable Joy as thei
husbands advanced in the ranks, and teal
of rapture flowed freely when they bt