The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-02-18
FEBRUARY Is, 1879.


,IbrlNU. FLDAUAh1 10, l61y.
Father Matthew and the Quaker.
--9 Eesgis
There lived in Cork ! very eccsntri,
Quaker who WA popularity known az "Billy
Martin" He. kept provision store in Pa
trick street, close to St. Patrick 3 bridge.
de WAS q fanatic CD the subject of teetotai-
ism, and made desperate efforts to get up
nseetings for tts advocacy. But, good and
benevoleDe man though he was, he failed /;
TOT, though his mission was ia It's essence
= wise and wholesome one, he did mot
kn0w how 70 bit the instinct Of the people.
xos Billy was something Of wag, enough
Quaker, aud tie Irish like man who can
make good joke. A person came into his
would take q rise Ito quote the local
'phfase, out Of Martha. But ho counted
without hiS host.
asked. $50 $500 =
..Assuredly yes, friend, = was the reply.
How much Wilt costi"
! Half-crown.n
Singing the silver coin on the counter.
Hand me the yard Of meat"
Billy quietly and c6ollH pat the money
into the till. Then, ssoOpina down, he
produced three pigs fest, and laid them
before this noyelcustomer, saying, There,
friend, thon didst want yard ct meat, and
thou knowest that three feet make . yard"
Ing tracks 80 inst 40 he could, leaving the
witty Qaaker time TO get into quiet COR
ner and sausl ut his lsisure.
-MartiH'a ad1EAien for Father Matthew
was unboanaeSk Here pected the rood
mans virtues, AID noted thcewcnderfnl in
hnence which be exercised over the people,
And the thought came to him that, if this
priest could be induced to join the temper
anee movement, vast good might be done.
So Billy clapped on his broad -leafed Quaker
hat, and marched away to Blackamoor
Lane, where he fouEd his reverence at
home. He opened the ball at once, as was
his fashion.
"Friend Theobald," he d-(remember
that do not profess to record his exact
words at this date)--" thou hast the gift
OF controlling the people. The demon of
intemperence prevails among them. Think
what good thou couldst do for the safety of
souls and bodies, if thou wouldst use thy
power to preach the good cause of temper
ance among them"
Father Matthew shook his head. A long
discussion followed. But finally the good
priest said he did not think preaching total
abstinence at public meetings was his mis-
sion he had other functions to discharge,
and he must decline his friends invitation.
So the interview ended.
But friend Martin was not repulsed. He
to the charge again and again. |
The honest enthusiast thoroughly UNDER |
stood the immense power which the noble |
priest could WELD over the people, and he 7
was resolved that it should be utilized for |
The cause which he idolized.
Again and again he came to the prdBby- |
cry in that obscure lane, and, again and I
again did he make his appeal there. It was /
he arch-demon of intemperance still why |
honld not the Father come out and exor-
Use him
The matter was clenched this time.
Daniel O'Conneli induced numbers of the /
'eo1ie, in his repeal movement, to make .
ort of pledge against Intoxicating drinks
or one year. This was strong point for
BILLY.
"Wilt join us, friend Theobald 2" he
Headed. THE time has come; do not
brink back fromthe call that is upon thee"
"Well," said Father Matthew, starting
p. "In Gods, name, here goes. am
nth you in this. cause henceforth."
Tue good Quaker was delighted. The
riest of Blackamoor Lane went off to q
emperance meeting. Bot he did not dream
That mighty task he had before him. He
title thought that from that hour he should
Q the one great temperance champion, the
,an on whom, as leader of this extraordi-
airy movement, the eyes of the world
hould be fixed.
Having gone so far, he could not turn
ack. Henceforth Father Matthew devoted
imself altogether to the total abstinence h
Movement, and what was feeble Aicfrertng
limmer before, now become o blaze Of trf- /
mph. Popular enthusiasm was excited on Z
g behalf and sAie worthy priests progress !
ecsme frfumphal march. The people I
ocked around him everywhere in thou
ands. The civilized world looked on in
The yvfofa f1snnulaff0f of Ire-
ind seemed resolved to becom6 nation Of
eetotalers. The brewers and sdistilleEsI
Dok fright, their receipts fell sway sadiy,
nd indeed, Father Matthew'S own 6rO-
hacs Charlie Aicanakrs Tinnernry dfetillaR.
Tas make utterly bankrupt. But these
on9iderati9ns d5a nat inausnee tho t9s