The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-08
Big; Celebration Is
Planned by Father
Mathew Society.
MEMORIES OF HIS VISIT.
Beneficial Results Wrought
Here by the Great
Apostle.

Within few weeks half century
will have passed out of the calendar
since Father Theobald Mathew, the
apostle of temperance, visited Wor-
cester and gave the greatest impetus
to the cause Of total abstinence ever felt
in this city. The Father Mathew So
ciety for nearly year has been plan
ming to celebrate this event on a large
scale, They purpose to make it mem
orabfe and in every way worthy of the
founder OF the organization.
There are a few men still living in
this city that received the pledge from
the hands Of Father Mathew himself,
and they prize the distinction far moro
than the material things of life.
From the records of the society, and
from the lips of old members, The Spy
reporter gathered the other day much
interesting data CONCERNING the visit
OF Father Mathew to Worcester as we'll
as facts IN the history of the organlza-
ton which, from small ACORN, has
grown into the splendid Qak that IS
now the pride of The IFish Cathoffc CIT
liens Of Worcester
It is without doubt the leading Irish
CethoAe society " the 6ff%, ana within,
its meplbership are some Substantial
property owners.
II Is one Of their most treasured menu
cries, too, that at all Zines whEh tire
COUNTRY needed men the Father Ma
thew Sooiets was aawaps among the
fret to furnish its Quota The first
man TO fall at Roanoke Island during
the war OF the rebellion was Michael
Brosnihan, member of the erganiza-
tion.
When Father Mathew came to this
country III 1S49, the year of the gold ex4
element, certain Worcester men, re-
gardless Of creed or nationality, got
together and decided to invite the great
temperance preacher to Worcester. or
this committee of arrangements, Mayor
Henry Chaplin was the chairman. At
that time Father Mathew was an old
man. with the weight of 60 years upon
has sbouldRTs. The condition of his
health, TOO, was not of the best. He,
was partly paralyzed on one side, and
was often unable to keep his engage.
ments to make publicaaddresses The
invitation 70 come to Worcester, how
ever, was Of the most gratifying nature
to him, REPRESENTING, as 1t did, the wish
es Of the leading citizens, without re-
gard to religion or nationality. EIe ac-
ceptsd it, ana came here Oct. 20, 1S49.
He stopped at the American house, and
was waited upon BY the committee,
which tolq him that the city hall was
crowded to the doors by people anxious
to SEQ him.
Father Mathew explained to the com
nlittee the condition of his health, and
it was evident that he was as nTtich
disappointed as the committee or the
people at the hall would be when they
learned that he could not make an ad-
dress. The committee went back to
81 or nh f1aav ~
out that the great preacher was not to
be with them, they were distressed and
disappointed. Mayor Chaplin Informed
them that Father Mathew had pronis-
ed to say mass at ST. Johns church
and administer the pledge to all that
came He would be at the city hail
the following day to give the pledge to
eli who wished for it. 1t Is sald that
at least 400 took advantage of this OPP
portunity.
OF the original committee that wait
ed upon Father Mathew with Mayor
CHAPLIN not one is living today The
last Of them to pass away was Albert
Curtis, the philanthropist.
Before the advent of Father Mathew
there were number Of attempts made
to organize Catholic temperance soci-
eties In this city. The best Of these eff
forts was made in 1910, when an or
SanlzaLlOn was erected, with Rev.
James Fitton, president, James Dunn,
president, and Henry Murray Sc.
cretary. This did not last long, but it'll
proved an admirable entering wedge
for the work of Father Mathew.
Within few weeks of the time that
Father Mathew was in Worcester, a
meeting was called for the purpose of
effecting an organization. This was
Nov. T. 1S49, and the place of meeting
was Fenwick Hall. There were 80 sign
ers and Of these several are still living.
The first president was Rev. M. w. Glib
son, who held office for only a few
months. He was succeeded by John
O'SulEivan who held the Office up to
the time Of his death, eight years later.
At FIRST the society met in the basement
of st. Johns church but in 1873 house
and lotion Temple street was purchased
and this continued the home of the So
ciety until 1888.
The first stone on its present home,
corner Of Green and Harrison streets,
was laid by Peter Kenney in August,
1888. All admirable feature of the So
ciety is its sick and death benefit laws.
In this way thousands Of dollars has
been paid out. Father Mathew hall is
valued at $4,000. The finances of the
society &re in good condition.
THE SENATOR.