The Irish standard., 1897-10-16
HIS BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY.
Good Priest, Known as the Irish
Apostle of Temperance.
WAS A NATIVE OF TIPPERARY.
The Work He Accomplished Among
His Own Countrymen.

Last Sunday, Oct. 10, was the 107th
anniversary of the birth Of Father
Theobald Mathew, the great apostle OF
temperance, In view Of the celebrations
held in his honor in the principal cit
les of the country, the Chicago New
World gives the following interesting
sketch of the leading events Of his USE
full life, with some reflections on the
peculiar merits of the sanity priest,
whose memory is honored and revered
in all parts of the world:
Certainly Theobald Mathew was
great man, and his greatness was
achieved in sphere OF activity. that OF
priestly labors, which ranks above all
others. His greatness is founded in the
hearts of people, not in the admira-
ton of worldly critics, in the good he
did for many thousands Of his country
men, not in the panegyrics of those who
revere only the triumphs of science,
art and letters. Father Mathew will
be remembered, and that, too with fer
vid veneration, when many high
placed parsonage of his time will have
been nearly or quite forgotten. He was
been called "the great Irish apostle Of
temperance and assuredly that is a
most noble title, one that will long out
last the memory OF knightly dignities
and decorations. Rev. Theobald Math-
ew was born in Tipperary, near the
hallowed rock of Cashel, October 10,
1890. His parents were respected and
in rather comfortable circumstances.
At an early age he manifested strong
inclination towards the religious state
of life, and his education was Of the
kind usually given to young men who
aspire to holy orders. When II he
entered the lower course Of Maynooth,
stitution. Previously he he'd acquired
the rudiments while in Kilkenny, and it
was then that he conceived an inn
mense liking for the rule of the Ca
to fixed desire to become one OF
them. To Dublin he went from May
nooth, and he pursued his ecclesiastical
studies under Very Rev. Celestine Cor
coran. He was diligent and very sue
cessful without being what is common
1y called brilliant. In 1914, at Easter
tide, he was ordained priest. Subse-
quently he stayed short time in Kill
kenny, going thence to Cork, to the
church OF his order in that city. The
young priest showed remarkable en-
ergy in the performance of pastoral
duties, administering to both the spir-
itual and temporal needs (the latter as
far as lay in his power) of large,
and for the most part, very poor con-
gregation. His first display of social
zeal was in regard to Christian educa-
ton. He established good schools for
children of both sexes, in the conduct
OF which industrial training of meth
odical kind bore prominent part and
supplementary, he founded numerous
societies for the cultivation of piety,
learning and social amenities All this
attracted considerable attention, and in
short time, when the reverentfal friar
proved himself truly eloquent preach
er, praise came to him from every side.
and with it celebrity such as few
priests attain at the same age. Con-
cerning his appearance at that period
one who often listened to him has said:
Father Mathew has the advantage Of
possessing a finely-formed, middle-sized
person of exquisite symmetry; the head
OF admirable contour, and from which
finished model of the antique might be
cast; the countenance, its complexion
rather shallow and inclined to pale
ness; eyes CT dark lustre, beaming with
internal peace and rich in concentrated
sensibility, rather than speaking or
kindling with superabundant fire;
the line. Of his mouth harmonizing so
completely with his nose and chin, is
OF peculiar grace, the brow open, pale,
broad and polished, bears upon it the
Impress not merely Of dignified thought
but of nobility itself" The extant por-
traits Of the priest give Ills reason to
believe that this description is neither
ideal nor exaggerated. Several years
went on, the Jealous Capuchin continu-
ing his grand though closely limited
parochial work. At length the time ar
rived when he was to engage in a
sclf-appointed mission that would have
scarcely any limits, and would have all
Ireland for its field. and indeed, Great