St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-09
HAS DONE A NOBLE WORK.
A Sermon by Bishop Ireland on the
Father Mathew Society.
AFTER NINETEEN YEARS.
Some Timely Remarks at the Cathedral
%. on the Cause Of Temper
ance.

spoke substantially as follows: We
are told that we can find texts for SER
mons from stones and running brooks,
and believe we can find text in the
announcement | make that tomorrow
evening we will celebrate the nineteenth
anniversary of the Father Mathew
Temperance society. / presume you all
know something of the Father Mathew
society. 1t is a quiet, modest associa-
ton. and does not like to be talked of
very much, except when good is to be
accomplished by so doing, and then,
with all due modesty, it lends
There are not many of you who have
not heard of this society. Many OF the
venerable faces l see before me have, at
one time or another, enrolled their
names on the books OF the society, even
if afterwards they have allowed their
names to drop from the records. There
are many of you who have more joy in
you hearts and dollars in your pockets,
because nineteen years ago the Father
Mathew society was established in the
cathedral parish. 1t is long time
since, on certain Sunday, had my
self the honor to speak to the cOngrega-
ton and say that we would form a
Father Mathew Temperance society in
enty were enrolled. and since that day,
like other associations, it has had its
difficulties and cOntiictS-itS opponents
and enemies as well as its friends and
admirers But it has lived on, and
to-day it bids fair TO survive be-
You'd the days when you and L will
have gone to our reward. We will be
pardoned, then, looking back with de-
light and pleasure over this period of
nineteen years. This society has ac-
complished great good greater, indeed,
than l can describe. 1t has done good
right here in st. Paul. You have all
remarked it frequently. l know that
happy homes have been built up, pow
erty has disappeared, wives and
mothers have had joyous days. and
children have grown up respecting
their parents because Of the work done
by the Father Mathew society, directly
and indirectly. | have only to appeal
to the general verdict. Is it not true
that the CathO les have been, in the
eyes OF their fellOw-citiZens, lifted high
indeed, because of their temperance
principles and practices? We were open
TO criticism long ago, and we were all
the more immersed i'll misfortune be-
cause
WE WOULD NOT ALLOW
dlll OIlt W lcll us VIC WcIC SiCh. we
rather caressed the defect. And as peo-
pie walked down the street their eyes
perceived great many names of
Catholics pasted over the grOg shops,
and Catholics going in and out of them.
AS a rule we were criticised, and the
misfortune was we were not criticised
enough. The proper way to cure sore
is to open it up. Looking over the list
Of those who have applied for liquor
licenses, was pleased to find but few
names Of members of the cathedral
, congregation or your friends of other
Congregations. Who of us will not
notice that fact with delight and return
thanks to Almighty God? We have
gained the respect of our fellow citizens
for our love of law and our obedience
to order, and none, however prejudiced,
will refuse to say that the best citizens
and the most hopeful supporters OF law
and order are Catholics. All this is
pleasing, indeed, and would not be
telling you the truth of my
sentiments, as 1 go through the
City and country, if | did not say that
my heart throbbed with pride on hear
ing the encOniumS bestowed on CathO-
lies. 1t has always been source of the
greatest happiness to me that the lines
of my ministerial duties have
been cast among a people who delight
to do honor to their church and their
country. A great deal, thank God, has
been accomplished, and surely there is
no Catholic among us who would wish
to see the record of these nineteen years
blotted out and forgotten. This tenn
perance work has been progressing
with wonderful rapidity throughout the
whole country. 1t is looked upon to-day
as a great Catholic movement, and
Catholics consider it more or less one of
the most hopeful works for the saliva
ton Of souls in which they can enlist.
We are certainly pleased that Leo XIII.
has, in marked words, recognized the
social good done by temperance socie
tieS,an that he SO strongly recommends
and generously bleSSes them.
But still, my brethren, while congrat-
ulating ourselves on what has been
enjoyment of victories won, and believe
there is nothing more to be accom-
pliShed. If we read the deeds of the
great cOnquer0rs we will find that their
miSfOrtuneS came after the
FIRST FLUSH OF VICTORY.
There is a great deal to be done right
here in our city. There are yet Catho-
lie homes in which tears are shed be-
cause of fathers or mothers who drink.
There are yet some among us going
down rapidly into the abyss, poor, even
in these days of wonderful prosperity,
because they are the slaves of drink,
and know not how to husband their dol
lars and dimes. There are vet young
lifting the poison to their lips, bringing
darkness to their intellects and vice to
their hearts. A few days ago the names
of two young men whom l had not
heard of for fifteen years were men
| toned in my presence and | was asked
| how | thought they had turned out. |
remembered them in my school days.
''This One," L said, "was bright, in
telligent, pious, and knelt in our
| sanctuary; the other was jolly fellow,
good, OF course, but not so good as the
other" The answer came: 1.-The one
you esteem so highly has not dollar to
his name. His wife and family are
| living in want. The other is worth his
ALL" How is this? The old story.
7 Your bright boy drank. the other took
the pledge. Are there not many cases
Eiof this kind transporting around us?
/ Can l not pick out those who few
lqgearS ago had not the WhereWith to pay
| for their breakfasts, but who took the
|5pledge, and in consequence to-day
nan point you out their houses and lots?
lpThe gOod-hearted fellows who loved
Estheir whisky and beer have in the mean
/ time gone to ruin. This failing gives
Hus all the more pain because there is no
jneasOn for its occurrence. A quarter of
q century ago there might have been
some excuse for it. but to-day, when the
beneficent effects of temperance are so
| palpable and so great number stand
in their noble manhood, there is none.
| Is there not danger that those who have
I9Eeaped the benefit will not guard
against the evil of the future?
|oV THE OLD SOCIETY
is not as flourishing as in the past, the
old hall is not as crowded. Pm all
right, thank Heaven" they say. Hay-