Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-07
THE NATIONAL THIRST
What Temperance Societies in
ireland Are Doing.
CHANGE IN PRIESTLY HABIT
Sure the Wakes Are All Dry, and
St. Patrick's Day, Too"
LABOR PARTY IS TEMPERATE
The Whisky of the Days Gone By
Is Giving Way to Beer
in Ireland.
LABOR PARTY IS TEMPERATE
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
! Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald
CORK. July 2S.-In Dublin a few weeks
| ago We passed the statue of Father
| Mathew. young man in the garb of a
Capuchn monk. with a rope for a girdle
and rosary hanging at his side. priest
who sat beside me on the top of the tram
told me of another monk who is making
a sensation in the temperance cause. He
| is known as Father Aloysius a Fran
ciscan attached to a monastery on Church
street in Dublin. My friend says he is
quite as eloquent as Father Mathew. but
| lacks the winning personal qualities by
which the latter persuaded two millions
and a half of the Irish people to sign a
pledge for total abstinence. Father
| Aloysius is going about ireland making
| temperance speeches and organizing tenn
perance societies. and is devoting his en-
| tire time to the work
w. N. Wfgham. secretary of the general
council of the Irish Association for the
| Prevention of Intemperance. also speaks
| in most enthusiastic terms of the work
| Father .Aloysius is doing and also of the
| influence exercised by an organization
called The Father Mathew Roman Cath
| olic Union Of Total Abstaining Priests
People are addicted to very long titles
over here.
Irish Temperance Association.
The organization of which Mr.. Wigham
is secretary is composed Of delegates from
nearly all of the many temperance So
cieties in Ireland-Roman Catholic,
Church of Ireland. Non-conformist and
Independent. There are many mutual
benefit societies among workingmen
rin ion 10
of women and children. For the purpose
of cooperation and economy and to avoid
friction and duplication of labor this CEN
trail organization has been formed and
contributing society. The general council
meets three times a year. has a complete
organization. sends lecturers into the field
issues literature. makes Investigations and
has committees to look after legislation
that concerns the liquor traffic.
The special work of the council is to Sc
cure temperance legislation and the en-
forcement of laws that are already on the
statute books especially the Sunday clos
ing act and the law which forbids the
sale of liquor to minors. Other objects
are to encourage the formation of tenn
perance clubs throughout the country, to
organize opposition to applications for
licenses. to promote meetings. to educate
the people as to the evils of the liquor
traffic and to create public sentiment
against 1t. 1t also has committees to en-
courage the establishment of restau-
rants at which liquor is not sold. to en-
courage healthy recreation and to pro-
vide local amusements that will keep
the men out of the public houses.
Prominent People Are Officers.
The president of the council is A. NJ.
Sullivan, a Roman Catholic barrister;
the secretary is Mr.. Wigham. a Quaker;
the vice presidents include all of the
Dow rof hnli oil 81. 80
Ireland archbishops and several bishops
of both denominations: the president of
the Methodist conference, the president
of Maynooth College (ROman Catholic)
the provost of Trinity College. the mod
orator of the Presbyterian general as
sembly, several earls and other members
Of the nobility. John E. Redmond and
William Redmond. leaders of the Irish
party in parliament, and several other
gentlemen of equal prominence and in
fiuence.
1.-The Church of Ireland has very
strong organization: said Mr.. Wigham
but, of course. 1t is not so strong or
so extensive as that of the Roman Catho-
lies. because they constitute at least
three-fourths of the population of Ire
land. The Presbyterians and Methodsts
are also we'll organized and have a tenn
perance society in every parish and con-
nected With every chapel Our central
organization is supported by them ALL
and is entirely non-sectarian. as you will
perceive upon examining our list of Of
ficers.
Work Is Done by Religious Societies.
Nearly all the temperance work in Ire
land is done by religious organizations,
and, whatever may be the differences of
the UNCONVENTIONAL leaders over theology
and other matters. they are united and
harmonious in their opposition to the lq-
uor~ traffic. l should say that the infiu
ence of Maynooth College is greater than
that Of any other institution. The tenn
perance sentiment under the influence of
President Mannix is very strong there,
and the students have a society called
The Pioneers the members of which
take a pledge that they will abstain from
all Intoxicating liquors during their entire
life. No man can join The Pioneers un-
til after two years OF probation. In order
that he may take the vows with his eyes
wide open and with plenty of reflection
More than two-thirds of the priests that
come out of that institution are Pho
neerS.'
Change in Priestly Habits.
There has been decided change in the
habits of the priesthood of Ireland during
the last generation or two. Formerly it
was not considered improper and. indeed,
II was customary. for priest to set out a
bottle and glass for the refreshment of
all visitors of importance. His parishion-
ers would feel very much mortified If
they could not offer similar hospitality to
the priest when he came to see them. It
was common for a priest to have wine
and whisky on his table and to lnger with
the rest Of the guests at dinner party
when the ladies had left the dining room
But that is the exception nowadays. Those
customs are obsolete. and most of the
priests would as soon think of offering a
dose of poison to a parishioner as to
hand him a bottle of liquor. The old-fash-
toned rollicKing parson has entirely dis
appeared from both the Roman Catholic
Church and the Church of Ireland. and
the priesthood is at present composed AL
most entirely of earnest, devout men who
abstain entirely from liquor, and try to
promote habits of temperance among their
parishioners.
No Liquor at Wakes or st. Patrick's
Day.
A majority of the bishops have forbid
den the use of liquor at wakes and will
not allow anything stronger than tea on
Of