The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-12-31
SECOND FATHER MATHEW.
Another Effective Irish Preacher of
Total Abstinence.

very Rev. Father Hays, an Irish
priest, who, as an apostle of temper
ahce, is hailed i'll Great Britain and
ireland as a worthy successor to
rather Mathew and Cardinal Man
nlng has started ON tour which. it
is said, will embrace a visit to the
United States. For the past ten years
Father Hays mas been engaged in ac-
| lively preaching total abstinence
| through the British Isles, and so zeal
ously has ne labored that he finds
himself like Father Mathew, broken
| down in health, vet contented because
his self-sacrifice has brought so much
! good to others. Pope Leo XIII called
Rather Hays a true apostle and
PluX y has bestowed upon him the
! Apostolic Benediction and given him
the highest comhIendation. He has
! spoken in almost every town and city
in Ireland, England, Scotland and
! Wales. Everywhere he has been
greeted by large audiences, and has
been escorted from railroad stations by
/ professions, while cheering spectators
lined the streets. Leading men in
church and state have FASTENED to do
/ him honor, and recognize him as a
benefactor Of the church and of his
fellow men. Thousands have, through
his influence, enlisted under the ban
creeds have united in the cause.
Catholich churches in which he has
spoken have been crowded not only
by those Of the household of faith but
by many non-Catholics. His text is
usually Isaiah LXIII, Cease not to lift
up thy voice and TO show my people
their weaknesses and the House of
David their sins" He then shows
that the national sin of the people is
n nd no iC oil
special scOurge of the church, many
of whose members neglect Mass and
the sacraments in consequence of
over-indulgence i'll intoXicants. After
an eloquent exposition of the dangers
of drink, he points to total abstinence
as the only sure remedy, and at the
close of the discourse asks the con-
gregation to repeat the pledge with
him. In many instances entire con-
gregations nave Gone so, and in but
few instances were there many pres
ent who failad to take the pledge.
The day following the sermon to
the adults of he parish and neighbor-
hood he visits the schools, where he
addresses the children, and enrolls
hundreds at L time in the army of to-
tai abstinence.
The most remarkable of the gather |
ings addressed by him were those |
We're held in large public halls, and |
were eminently successful. On the |
platform Were ministers of all denomin-
ations and The audiences were likewise
made up of people of all creeds, the
movement having done much to break
down the barriers of prejudice which
have made non-Catholics look with
suspicion on the church. On such &C.
casionS Father Hays was listened to
with the closest attention. He would
speak to- his hearers as children of the
One Heavenly Father and as brothers
and sisters of each other. As long as
One human Ueing was the slave of the
drink demon, the influence of word and
example was due to him by his brothers
and sisters, in order to encourage and
strengthen him. The object of the
movement was to save the souls and
bodies Of men for Christ's sake, and
n this all Christians could unite.
1t was not unusual at the close OF
such meetings to have vicar of the
Established Church Of England to make
motion for a vote of thanks, and to
lave it seconded by Non-ConfoImist
Protestant minister
Father Hays is expected to return to
Ireland by July ]. Whether he will be
leard on the platform in this country
5 not yet known, but inquiries are be- {
ng made by officers of the Catholic
Total Abstin ence Union of America.