Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-07-29
Catch My-Pal :
4 Tremendous Nickname.

Some movements are better known
by their nieknames than by the FORM
al titles attributed to them by their
organizers. 1t is good augury fer
the success of any reform when the
public attaches to il pet name. 1T al
least implies interest, little admira-
ton and sometimes no small affec-
ton for the cause In Ireland just
now we have a remarkable example Of
this. The most popular movement
that has stirred the Emerald Isle in
years is known wholly by nick
name.
The formal designation Of the"Cateh-
My-PaIp orgaL ization Is the somewhat
prosaic title, protestant Total Absti-
hence Union" But 1t must needs be a
formal occasion indeed when that title
is heard.
The movement began in very sim
pie way. On the evening of the 18th
ofJuly, 1909 Rev. r. j. Patterson,
pastor in Armagh, was corning home
when he noticed a small group Of men
louuging around lamp post. He hade
one Of them "good-night," and in re-
spouse TO the salutatlon the man made
some sighting remark about his COM
panions and their weakness fer drink.
Mr.. Patterson stopped, asked the man
If he really meant what he said, spoke
to the others, took them round to his
manse, and in the dining room that
night the society was born.
These six men went away pedg-
ed TO turn up again in the sam e
place on succeeding evening, each
with another man who wanted to give
up the drink. Prompt to the moment
they all arrived, bringing tdeir boon
companions. They prayed together,
and al pledged them elves TO go out
and get Others to join with them.
Since that night the movement has
steadily grown until now there are
over 10000 members. The incidents
told in the various meetings are some
times very thrilling. Men who had
never been sober for a week at a time
since they remember have been stanch
tsetotalers and aggressive temperance
workers for the last six months. The
men who drink have proved them
selves best suited to persuade their
comrades to join them in this new cru.
SADIE.
Other temperance movements have
been apparently run too much by
total abstainers, and those who needed
most TO be reached could not be APP
preached by men of that type. They
resented all interference with their
personal liberty from men who had
apparently never understood the So
called friendly ties developed round
the social glass.
All great institutions, as some one
has said, are out the lengthening sha.
dow of some unique personality. This
truth is at Lcs apparent in this in
stance. Mr.. Patterson is man in a
class by himself. lie combines in q
marked degree devoutness and humor,
sanity and enthus 'asm, simplicity ana
eloquence. He can attract men and
set them TO work. How he has been
a1le 10 do SO much in SO short time
ii is difficult 10 understand
The distinctive feature of the union
is of course the fundamental principle
of each one pledging himself to get an
other, There is nothing new about
such principle, but somehow 1t has
never been applied III connection with
temperance in Just the same way or
with the same benetcent results. The
men who have stopped drinking need
something TO occupy Their attention
and excite their interest. Nothing
seems so fitting to do this as trying to
persuade some other man 10 leave lq-
uor and JOIN the society.
Some Irish towns of 5000 or 1000
inhabitants have besn SO influenced
by the movement that almost all the
men who tippled have AIKEN the pledge
and left the public houses without Gus
toners. Over the whole prov ince of
Ulster has been noted the great de.
crease of crime, so that the Judges at