The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-16

tacle to alright the most stolid Veter-
an. Political favors personal popular
ity playing the prodigal, paying e4ec-
ton debts with foul smelling bribery
cash, balancing temperance men on one
arm and saloon interests on the other,
would he minor evils in the corruption
engendered by a helter-skelter rush ana
chase for public preferment. AS ma
ton we are a society-lOving people. In
a country where titles are ignored, this
peculiar characteristic is our political
salvation.
I am called upon to answer to the
toast THE National union" numerical
ly the largest Catholic society on the
continent, and in response would add
the congratulations of $4,000 fellow
abstainsrs to the Joy and gIadness
which mark the fiftieth year Of the
foundation of the Father Mathew So
ciety.
The pagans of old vensrated the foun-
tains and springs whence flowed the
stream and river which nourished the
fields and supported life. If we seek
the fountain head of the National union
we shall find it in the labors and efforts
of the patron of your society. Fifty
years ago there came to the shores of
America the great apostle Of temper
ance, sowing here and there the seeds
of total abstinence. Could he look down
tonight upon this scene, how happy he
would be in behoding how full of fruit
ton were the hopes he INDUCED on his
mission to America.
That mission was twofold, to spread
the blessings of total abstinence and to
make his countrymen worthy Of the OPP
portunities afforded them in this land
of freedom. In his address at Cork he
says: II go to afford myself the pleas
ure and consolation Of beholding my
eXiled countrymen, not as here linger-
ing through life of protracted starv-
alton and constant misery, but in the
midst of prosperity, enjoying the re-
Enumeration of their industry and all
the blessings that~plenty and domestic
happiness confer" He left Ireland for
his tender soul was distressed with the
sight of suffering and restitution he
distress was to feel it and contribute
to it's relief. He came not to reform
America, but to seek out the stray
sheep Of his own poor Ireland and make
them worthy the land that had re-
ceived them with open arms to the en-
joynhent of all its advantages. How
we'll he succeeded, the rising blessings
of grateful thousands of their descend
ants attest. Worcester does not stand
ALONE III SpGahhlB MS GulOS4. 1ldUE So
ciety in the union is q living memo
rial of his lofty noble and pure devo-
ton. Let us not be unmindful of the
source of his success. Il promise with
divine assistance" runs the pledge he
administered to Catholic and Protest
ant. From that first day, that hour
that very moment he set out on the
long crusade which terminated only
with the close Of his life, I'm Gods
name" was his motto. Heaven had
given him to his country, not as a
meteor burning great for q while and
then expiring, but as a flaming torch
illumining the years of Ireland's des-
tiny.
Nothing that is great and good can
wholly die. Father Mathew lives in his
example and will live in the influence
that his life and labors, his self -devo-
ton and principles now exercise and
will exercise for the betterment of hu-
fnanity. AS long as Irish hearts feel
affectionate gratitude and Irish tongues
pay just tribute to extol the virtue of
Ireland's benefactor, his fame is secure
Who among the benefactors of the Irish
people shall claim to take precedence
of FIR. Mathew? No man ever served a
cause with less selfish less mercenary
motives than him to whose memory we
offer these proofs of our respect. A
true patriot, he devoted himself, his
life, his hopes to the spiritual, material
and social advancement of his fellow
men. His self-devotion was eloquent.
His actions spoke volumes where words
were lacking. Look upon his portrait.
Are not high purposes, firm resolve, a
dauntless spirit in those features, In
spring trust and admiration not I'M
mixed with love. The kindly eye, lips
formed to move the minds of men to
conviction by the mysterious and sub
tie power of speech. What lesson shall
those lips teach? Lessons of sobriety.
honesty, respect, every virtue which
goes to make up the good citizen, the
worthy parent, the sincere and earnest
Catholic.
Clarence f. Carroll, superintendent of
schools, made an earnest address. He
was believer in total abstinence. Some
of the saddest experiences came to him
and the overseers of the poor because
of the evils wrought by drink. 1t broke
up homes and deprived little children
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