The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-08-29
From the Cleveland True Democrat.
Ai FATHER MATHEW.

| ieUpcIduCe, hHu WitnCSS niS uuinluiSIIi
ton of the pledge 10 his counIrymen.-
The scene was highly interesting. Tn
building in which we we're assembled b.
It's vast size, and unfinished state, toll
us the story Of the growth of Catholicisr
in our land, and the speed with whic
religions edifices are going up 10 ac.
commodaie the muliiiudes OF emigranif
Thanks 10 our civil and religious freedom
Catholics coming 10 a Pro,esian, land ar,
allowed even greater privileges OF WORSHIP
and instruction, than they ever possesset
in their own country!
The audience wero chiefly Irish, viii
a sprinklirg Of German and other Catho
tics, and a few Protestants, drawn in b,
curiosity and other motives. After the
performance of Mass by Bishop RApPE
Father MATHEW mounted an extempore
pulpit, and il, a slow, but distinct voice
delivered Temperance exbortation 81
some three quarters of an hour IN Length,
based upon the passage OF Scripture in
Luke l, Is: "For he shall be great in
The sight Of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink"
The people listened, though most o.
them were in standing position, with
great icn,ion and patience, and at The
close large crowds were pressing forward
10 knoel around the alter, and take the
pledge aud the GOD bless you" Of the
apostle ofTemperance.
Several thoughts were suggested by
this scene, and the history Of both the
speaker and his auditory. ii,
As we looked over the masses Of we'll
dressed and orderly Irishmen, we fell
proud OF our common human nature, and
its capacity to rise when you give 1t a
chance. Lately these poot people were,
ma ny Of them, in their native land the
victims of false social and political insii-
tutions, oppressed, famishrd brutatized,I
discouraged. But they have left the Egypt
Of their bondage, and entered the Ca
naan Of promise, and as the air Of a new
world has blown upon them, they are
found sitting "clolhed, aud their right
mind" and, by the aid of this good man,
sober. A wholly new and hopeful exis
lance has dawned upon them. The
clear eye, the manly and independent
brow, the personal dignity tol9 US already
lllat their nature had risen az their
improved.
The Irish element is valuable one
to compound in our national character.
Human nature will be aud do on the
general scale, we'll or i'll, as it is treated
we'll or i'll. The crowds at tie Ca
hcdral were witness 10 the truth Of
his axiom. Irishmen, Italians, Spaniards,
Turks, Negroes, all oppressed and dying
aces Of men only need the motives
which belong to humanity, aud a faii
ield of freedom, 10 spring TO life from
he dead. Compound one pill Of free
,ducalion, one pill Of free labor and
ocial cooperation, and one pill of free
elgion, and your patient is cured; not
n day or year, but he steadily con.
alesces and his eventual recovery is
ertain. G s W ,gaN Ed @ ISL |
In the Catholic religion, antiquated as
is, we see reform entering the field,
noral reform, and where that is the case
here will be life and progress.
Catholicism has uttered its bulls
gainst slavery and the slave trade.-
in the persons Of Fathers
MATHEW and CHIMAaUY, is raising up
Millions from the slouth Of drunkenness.
These are good works.
If Protestantism would hold its own,
Il win more, le. it do as much. Let il
OF, in The person Of some Of its greatest
reachers and doctors, prate of the
unintelligiblo jargon about the Higher
.aw," and fling contempt upon any of
le uprising and elemental ideas ofl
ociaI and spiliiual-reform. Better that
milestone were lied TO lis neck, and
lat il we're diowned in The depth Of the
"a, than it should identify itsolf withthe
asst iron conservatism Of the past. Ill
light as well advocate the Ptolemaic
stronomy or the alchemy Of the middle
ges, as thus prove false to lis grea, and
lorious mission to reform the morals
nd politics, as il has reformed the faith
fthe Christian nations, now in the van
uard Of humanity. ss 2a
Ia Father MATHEW we behold the
over of kindness. His benignant face-|
cams with this beautiful light fromf
';thin. What in HowARD and Fay Sled
ew life into the soul Of the r,osoner
nd in Dix into the chaos Of INSANITY. n
ather MATHEW awa.'xens. as wiibI
touch, ih.s inner and better
'elings Of the imebtia,e, and he once
lore feels himself man and a child of
Iod, tgRl z eY--Haa5s ,snilssl
Father MATHEA's historical fame
raws the crowds; his artificial pledge i
nd medal perpetuate and record the
ow Of the soul; his blessing as priest ,
dds the solemnity Of a sacrament (ihe
igh,h sacrament in might well be called
the church:) bntlis kindness, pure,
,hristian kindness, after all, ,ha, does
,e work. And by its glorious p,werI
his humble man, without any remarkable
,tellactua1 rita. m Ynnk. oy ofi,ca al