The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-01-21
since, these words delivered with all the
force of the sincerest conviction:


II never met in the street ragged
child asking me for charity in the name
of God that l do not think see the in
FAINT Jesus with outstretched hands, and
hear the petition for human mercy en-
anating from the lips of Divinity
When it was known that FIR. Mathew
had established temperance society,
many who only laughed at William Mar
tin were induced by FIR. Mathews ex-
ample, and his persuasive arguments to
enroll themselves as members, and under
his guidance the society began to pro-
gress at a truly marvellous rate. In
three months after the date of the first
meeting the number of persons enrolled
was 25,000 in five months it was 131, 900
and in December, 1888, it was 10000.
Limerick, which had so often played a
distinguished part in the history of Ire
land, was the first of the towns to invite
Fir. Mathew to visit it for the purpose of
administering the pledge. Thousands
fiocked to the city from the neighboring
counties, and the concourse of people
was so great that the public rooms had
to be thrown open at night in order to
afford them shelter from the inclemency
of the weather (for it was midwifery,
and food rose to famine prices.
Four days FIR. Mathew continued to
administer the pledge, and it was cal
culated that no fewer than 100000 took
it. From that time the movement be-
came truly national, embracing every
! part Of the country. In the same month
| of December, 1889, he visited the city of
Waterford, where his efforts were at
tended by like success. In March,
1S49, he visited Dublin, where he was
! welcomed by Archbishop Murray, who
| ever afterward entertained for him
warm friendship. That that excellent
probation upon his work must have been
very gratifying to Fr Mathew. But
| what must have been his feelings when
F; he received an invitation from the
| president and the professors to visit
| Maynooth College, then as now, the
greatest of our ecclesiastical colleges?
| During his visit to Maynooth several of
| the professors and $50 of the students
| took the pledge. The short speech he
addressed to the students when he visit
ed Carlow College is preserved and is,
| no doubt, a repetition of the words he
used at Maynooth.
| In 1910, when the temperance move
ment was already advancing by rapid
strides O'Connell commenced the agi-
tation for the repeal of the act of union
knowing that the temperance movement
I could render him the most valuable aid,
he encouraged it in every way, and sub
sequently, though we'll stricken in years,
took the temperance pledge himself. FIR.
Mathew, though thoroughly sympathiz-
ing with the people and desiring to see
! their grievances redressed, wisely en-
deavored to keep the two movements
apart AS to the rank and file of his
followers, this was impossible; but he
| always observed a strict neutrality him
SELF He honored OConnell as the eman-
cipator of the Catholics the able and
fearless champion of his country; and
O'Connell, looking upon FIR. Mathew as
the moral regenerator of his country
men, regarded him with profound rever-
ence. To his observance of strict neu-
| trality in politics was due the success of
his visit to the north. The Orangemen,
recognizing in the "Popish priest" a
friend and benefactor, gave him a cor
| dial welcome and their leaders extended
| to him more than a courteous hospital
ity. Such was the success of the teln-
perance movement throughout Ireland
that in the space of four years the con-
sumption of whisky fell from more than
1000 600 gallons to about half that
quantity and crime of all kinds dimin-
ished in the same proportion.
It was natural to expect that FIR.
aMthew should receive hearty support
from the leaders of public opinion in
Ireland, who saw the marvellous change
he had wrought among the people. But
appreciation of his labors was not con-
fined to his own countrymen. Thacke-
ray, who met him in Cork, bears witness
in his Irish Sketch Book" to the bene-
flcence of his work and the rare charm
of his manner. Even the cynical Carlyle
who happened to come upon him as he
was administering the pledge, could not
listen to him unmoved. II almost cried
to listen to him. he said, "and could
not but lift my broad brim at the end,
when he called for Gods blessing on the
VOW these poor wretches had taken"
Eminent citizens of the United States
were not less enthusiastic in appreciat-
| ing FIR. Mathews 1abors in the cause of
humanity. DR.. Charming. then dis
tinguished minister of Boston, speaking
of the temperance movement in Ireland.
| said:
History records no revolution like
this; it is the grand event of the day.
FIR. Mathew, the leader of this moral
revolution, ranks far a.-ove the heroes
and statesmen of the times. However,
as Protestants, we may question the
claims of departed sainys, here is Iiv-
ing minister, who, if he may be Judged
from his works, deserves to be canonized,
| bo o1o bo