The Irish standard., 1902-10-11


had consented to hoist their banner.
\ The meeting was held. 1t was only
poorly attended Father Mathew took
the chair. He made Il short opening
ers to take the pledge, concluding by
saying: Il will be the first to sign
my name to the book which is OH the
table and l hope we shall soon have
it full" He then approached the ta
bic, saying: Here gees in the nane of
5 God" and signed "Rev. TlleJbuld
Mathew, G. G., Cove Street. No. L.
( That night 10th of April, 1888, sixty
names We're enrolled us the beginning.
From that day the success Of the
movement WAS assured. The name OF
Father Mathew who had during his
25 years am3ng them wCn the hearts
and the confidence of the people by
his whole souled devotion to their i'll
terests, was IL magnet that attracted
all Cork to the cause If Total Absti
nence. What was before ridiculed as
the craze OF Il few fanatics was now
regarded as IL useful. Practical line
OF conduct, calculated to benefit peo-
pie both in this world and in the next.
The disappearance of poverty and the
better condition Of those who joined
the movement were an incentive to
others to join and tEo3r Whu felt its
beneficial effect joined the promoters
in proclainling before the world at
public meetings the immense boon
that had been conferred on them.
Large public meetings were held
twice Il week and all the old band Of
temperance men lent Il wiling aid to
support tho new impulse that was
given to their doctrine. They spoke
eloquently and effectively, but FatlrT
Matthew was the central figure, round
which gathered the new aud fast i'll
creasln.s ARMY of tectutnlers. He WAS
tlra soul that gave breath and anina
ton to that vast body. Within three
months after Father Mathew signed
the book the rolls included 2o.oOO
names and i'll less than nilc IN nths
l56OOO. 1t should be remembered that
among these were included MANY
others besides Catholics
The fame of Father Mathew ana
his new revolution was b,lzzcd abroad
and from I'LL parts of the c.unuy i'll
yitatOnS came pouring in upon him
to go and administer the plc,IA''. lis
first tour was 10 Limerick, which he
visited in December, 1880, !: year ant,
Cork The scene in Limerick WAS
most soul-stirring. The day before H.
was expected to arrive I'LL the roads
that led to the city were black with
crowds of people from the whole coull-
try ard from adjoining counties ana
from the province of Connaught. The
thrOulS WAS so great that TIN. bishops
and priests, together with the civic
authorities, were puzzled to know how
they could find shelter for the night.
The public rooms We're thrown open
to them. But had the city been ten
times the size it could not afford Or
dinary shelter to them. Provisions
rose to famine prices.
From this large crowd Father Math-
ew on mis- arrival received an ovation
IL rnt.nivnl
That seething multitude in it's :llXi-
ETY. to approach him could not be kept
within any bounds. So strong WAS the
rush that cavalry, which had been
drafted in to keep order, were swept
away before it, and !, number of p,O-
pie were recipitated into the Shann II.
Fortunately, however, all were res
cued During four days Father Math
ew preached and administered the
pledge to 100000 persons.
I, 1t is unnecessary to follow him
through ireland ON his mission, but
suffice 1t to say THAT everywhere the
same enthusiasm was displayed that
greeted him in Limerick. lie tray
eled over the island, and everywhere
administered the pledge to willing
crowds Even in Ulster his approach
was welcomed by THE Protestant cle-
meht of the population which turned
out to do him honor and to bow to
the influence of his pledge.
The effect of his preaching was not
confined 10 Ireland alone. Glasgow
and many of the great crnters of Eng
land, such as London, Liverpool. Maui
chester, Leeds, York. etc, benefited by
his visits, and large nNlltilutles there
took the pledge. In fact wherever he
Went, numbers Cf Protcstants besicyHl
him to administer II to them.
But dark days were before Father
Mathew and Ireland. When his work
was in the full blan. OF success. the
famine, like a dark spectre. ovcr-shnu-
owed the land, and tie people who
had by their temperance been raised
q to a state of comparative comfort.
were paralyZeu by tic twG-foId evil
II Of the famine and the plague. The
population of the country was thinncu,
and some of those that remained to
drown despair and stitle the pangs Of
thef present privatiols. began to in
6111 t,N tiNo,,1 {ks 1N,. l,.,f