St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-13
So Long Has the Father
Mathew Society Waged
It's War.
Its Twenty-Second Anniver-
sary Fifty Celebrated By
a Bar quet.
Archbishop ireland Reviews
the Organization Of the
Cause.
Other Toasts Responded to
: By Prominent Speakers :
~. 80 Present.

"
+ ~ $50. Present.
The Father Mathew Total Abstinence
society celebrated its twenty-second an
adversary last evening at the Windsor
hotel by a grand banquet, at which a
large number of prominent ladies and
gentlemen identified with the temper
ance cause were present.
The president of the society, James
Dillon. was supported on his right by
His Grace Archbishop Ireland, County
Attorney t. d. O'Brien, John O'Brien,
OF Saltwater, and Oh his left by Rev.
Fathers Hebron and COrcoran. The
archbishop having asked the divine
blessing an elegant repast was served,
and at its conclusion the president arose
and in the name of the Father Mathew
society rendered a hearty welcome to
those present, and trusted that all pres
ent would be spared to take part in
many future celebrations.
The ArchbishOp,s Address.
Archbishop Ireland, who on rising
was received with great enthusiasm,
proposed the toast of "The Day We
Celebrate" in the following terms:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men: The day we celebrate is memora-
bic in the history of the Northwest. and
is rich in its inspiration. A few of the
remember Jan. 10, 1869. We were
younger then. and physically stronger,
but not as wise as we are to-day. We
now live from the many lessons we have
gathered during the past twenty
two years. [ remember well
previous to that day in 1869
that an old settler came to my
house and knocked at the door. When
he entered he said: 'CannOt we have
a total abstinence society in st. Paul?
Here is petition which we have pre-
pared"
''Where was it gotten up" l asked.
and the reply was: Gin saloon OIL
Minnesota street. but we have gone too
far and want you to help US"
L announced the following Sunday
from the pulpit of the cathedral that a
meeting would be held for the purpose
of establishing temperance society. l
went to the meeting with some fear. for
/ did not then realize the
depth of the feeling. l gave the
pledge that afternoon to 10. and had
the great honor of being the first to
take the pledge OH that memorable day,
Jan. 10, 1869. Loud applause. The
society grew, and we soon had to move
from the old school house into larger
quarters, until we moved into the base
ment of the old cathedral, where we
have lived for twenty-five years. Many
statements were made that the society
would hot flourish, but the day soon
came when we weathered the storm.
The young men among us do not know
of the trials we Went through. l see
around me men who met Sunday after
Sunday and discussed the best means of
Fighting King Alcohol
step out of tile society, but new faces
came in, and we have flourished.s Spe-
cial honor is due to the old veterane
who have guarded the principles OF the
Father Mathew society. We have kept
the society in life and yigor, and will
keep it as long as a dozen men whom
can name will band together. Total alb
stainers have better chance of living,
and so the old veterans will. hope, re-
main for many years. We hope to live
and keep up the society; but, when we
pass away, posterity will keep up the
good work and celebrate, | trust. the
centennial in 1869. We shall not be
present, but we. will look down
from heaven upon the workers of
that year. We have sent out
our children far and wide to establish
temperance societies, which are our off
spring. They never would have been
formed had not the Father Mathew So
ciety been established. The best tie NJ
pc rance societies are those over which
the Father Mathew society has eXer-
cised all influence. How much has
been done in twenty-five years! To-
day there are thousands and thousands
in Minnesota and elsewhere who are
sober and respected because of
Mathew society. have seen
prosperity due to total abstinence prac-
tees. [ speak from the bottom of my
heart in saluting the Father Mathew
society tonight. You are couquerors
of self, and the lack of the control of
self is the root of all evils. 1t is very
hard to say no to anything in which
ones appetite is enlisted, and the great
est men have fallen from their positions
because they lacked Self-cOntrol. To
lay down the glass and say no is great
victory, and the man who can say no to
the glass of whisky or beer is a hero,
| for he can say no to anything. Loud
applause.
| | would to God that hundreds of thou
sands belonged to your society, for the
| world would be better and happier We
| should hear less of the social questions.
for total abstinence will cure all evils,
as the cause of poverty and social crime
is drink. hear on all sides the cry con-
stantly, Drink has done it. If l go to
the jails or attend murdererS on the
scaffold and ask them the cause Of their
! downfall, the answer is drink. The
| tears distilled from human eyes, the
poverty of the world is caused by drink.
| We know it, and yet L ask myself why
do not men say I'VE will put stop to
| this traff1c?''
Our Legislators will pass laws for the
| punishment of crime, but extend the
| agis of recognition over the saloons
and allow them to flourish. Why is this,
I ask? 1t is because of the lack of self
control, for no man will talk against
whisky who touches it. 1t is only the
men who hate it who can decry it.
Heroes are few, and my heart warns
to them when | meet them, and I am
happier far to sit at the banqueting
table of the Father Mathew society than
at the table of kings and princes. Loud
applause.] Be not discouraged, for il
only one man is left to raise the banner
of temperance great good will be
done. We are doing good, and life is
given for that purpose. You are truly
living, for you are doing good. and hope
and pray we shall sit at table many
times at our beloved anniversary. The
tenth of January each year will be g
memorable day, for we shall never for
get the day we celebrate"
Other Toasts.
T. d. O'Brien, in responding to the
toast of 1.-The City of st. Paul." said il
| was proper that at such celebration the