The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1863-12-30
LOCAL NEWS.
xEw YORK AND rnE VICINITY.

iHhrhhASct so'ihrIhs-tSrhFhsrtSo MS
TOE, ~ ru,is Risr AM fsoosrsc. ~ the old
." Temperance societies pov In this city 10 the 80
james Roman Catholic Total Ahs''usnee bensht
society OF the City Of New York" For eighteen
YEAR u has been IN eri.tencc and has been presided
over durine that perod BY hr. John Metirath. Who
D" neen unanimousv e'ice'ed every year. The
eocieS hr'' commenced with fe~ individuals, who,
eeeins the misery and sorrow which surrounded the
nesrh"one o' those Who had siven thsmselve M 70
intoriossins drinh'' united together and formed
'ociety' rhey met went to their clergyman .nd on
thef Knees In the presence of God vowed 10 nhstan
'of ever from All Intoxicating drinh-and nobly did
'nc's poof men tser Their pledge. There we're other
s~ieues establbhed II 10 true but none the pledssef
which thsy {" Cs'soltos felt bind,ns They peacoved
thf the poor Catholic suffered mcst from thb ter'r.
f.tiou. and s the violation of pledge made toa
Clergyman 10 considered species cf sseriless they
inu'ted that s ~ho vshed n oin their ranks shon'd
hr't 20 IN Their pries' and on their hnces
the Irish people did to Father Matthew
tats that pledge A. none but Catholics .onid do
'hW, 'aholics only are msmberW, but any natonal-
ity is admitted. Tho sori'y soon uss TO be
fourishins BENEFIT Association their sick brethren
are attended to .hilo 'iet and dcespt funeral is
secured fm them st their dscsass. There ere nov
acme fcur hundred members belonging to II. and
their funds smount to come 1880. witch 10 out st
istSes, Recently, public meetings have been cp-nsd
on every second Sunday svsnsr. The exercises
consist OF siorinG Temperance song. and delivering
Addresses ursins temperance. Al frat hut Nv at
tended nov, It IL sstonishins to see the number ~
veil dressed people, male and female. who assemble
In the basement Of the Catholic school In Roosevelt
street on thoss evenings. and When q man walks up
to take the pledge, the applause he ssts, and the
warm greeting he receives are go eneouias that
others follow. and the svsrsse numbes saned to
the society per month 10 from twenty to thirty.
Somstims., but very rapy, man may break
his pledge For th, he Is brought before the Coun-
ell" 10 number fmsn sectod to hear and determine
ell eompsn!. II he expresses eontritos, and prom.
sss TO sui ID ssan,t ten alton in future he 10
back to hL priest. vho sdmonisbss him, and rsne-s
the pledge hut should he again brest II. IL will tshs
some time for MIN to be resdmittsd. II ever. Tho
amoupt Of good done n the 4th Ward ~ this Society
10 fyssd in the almost blank poiies returns which
reach the Tombs slmos, daily.
The merit on the list 10 the "Fathsr Matthew United
Benevolent Total Abstinence BsnsAt soeisty" Libs
lie prototype, the 'st. Jsnss," commenced with
hut fee msmbers. and eseountsred usst opposition.
Tvslvs years ago, . few usds.men aud lsborsrs-not
over . doIsn-mst In . msil room. sad agreed 70
form sn association. rhsy sdoptsd the pledge I'D
ministsrsd BY The srest Apostle Of Temperance
himsslf sont bis name. and commenced stseot
work room vss bred sestly in Tryon Row. and
vsshly Sunday mestinss we're held. RobeSt Viii
sop. of the originals. having good voice, sunS
several Temperance sonss at each mestina one OF
which. IN partieusf-" The Drushsrds Dream
Vas sure to bring dvs or sir up to tho
sse-Gavs dssk 70 sisn the pledge II tolls the sad
history Of druntafd, Who was in the habit Of spend
ing psnny In sros shop, and then returning In
hsastly state of intoIieston to his home and beat
ing hs ~ifc and children. A friend msets him sfter
hiI reformation, and wonders At The change ~hsn he
tell. HIM 1t vas oil ovins to dream lie thought he
ven, home one nisht, IS ususi. and va as,onsbed
to tnd several sirsnsers in the rcom, Who ali tedhim
that his wife ~a desd. and upbrsided him a. ths
cause The cad sight sobered him and he cried out IN
agony for his wife to come. she answered chr vas
there He svoks. sa~ her bending over him With
looh OF affection, mingled With souo~. The 10Y he
fell st IN ding her alive such that from that hour
he toresvore Liquor forever. soon the numbers Who
attended their meeting, became large that It ws
necessary 70 hnd more room. and Brookes spacious
As.embly Room, wer. selected; thence they ven. to
the Union AAsernbly Rooms, in Grand street,
but a. the entrance vas through . bar
room they had u resurn again to their old
quarters where they still remain ONrr On Sunday
evening" It is imp-sible to gam admit,sncs, and
man, 10 away disappoiutsd, ~ TINT tbsy will ,oou
have TO build hall Of their own which they intend
10 do IL the city will give them the isad The num-
bsr which sisn tbs pledge veetly has somstmos
reached % hish a. any and on one OCCASION nearly
hundred came forward And yes 10 sItrsordissry
sloqusuce 10 used Nov and then Q clcreymsA or
come noted Tsmpsrancs lecturer sives his AID
bu, the msu hu,iue,s 10 done by ths member. them.