Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-13
,,;sh Protestant Abstinence
Society Reform Spreads
Fast Through Ulster.
IT'S ORIGIN IN ARMAGH
First Anniversary of an Organization
Whose Banner, Like Fiery Cross,
Draws Multitudes.
Especial Dispatch)

markable stride In connection WIN
royement designed to improve the con
atoms OF the people than that Furnished
-. .,s irish Protestant Abstinence Union
It Is better known, the Catch My
PAP Society. whose first anniversary hai
.,., been celebrated In Armagh with sew
.-ai demonstrations
started in July of last year, the union
IA, now a membership OF 10000 and be-
,ors the end of the present year has come
Is expected that the nag Of total abs,i'
nance will be firmly planted In each OF the
,he, towns and cities Of the United King
dom. The origin OF the organization IS a
sl,sularly Interesting example OF how
,,.ningiy trivial incidents change the cur
rent OF mems lives and alter the social
customs OF the people
ORIGIN OF THE UNION
on July 10, 1899. the Rev. r. J. Patterson.
IL. b., a Presbyterian clergyman in the
city OF Armagh. happened to pass lamp
post around which stood SIX men. some Of
whom we're recovering from the effects
Of drinking bout the day before. one
OF the men suggested half in Jest to Mr..
Patterson that he should try and induce
his companions to take the pledge.
conversation followed. and the six men
promised to go TO the manse three days
later as the curfew rang and take the
pledge The men carried out their under
taking, signed the pledge, and the union
became an accomplished fact.
The idea OF the society was admirably
illustrated by Mr.. Patterson. who said
THE men who drink to excess are the
men who make the drink problem. Let
those who make the problem solve 1t.
let the drinkers take the pledge, and go
and get their pals to do the same. Let
the responsibility OF the reform OF the
drinkers be largely left on the shoulders
q the drinkers themselves. Let the
drinkers be inspired with the idea that
even they are their brothers keepers"
No fiery cross Of old travelled with
greater rapidity than did the idea through
out Ulster From end to end of the
province the union spread with amazing
speed sweeping into its net all sorts and
conditions Of men and women-the en-
poyer Of labor and the worker, the erst-
While temperance man who now took the
pledge as an example to his fellows. the
moderate drinker the secret drunkard
and the police court habitue
The phrase hopeless drunkard' holds
10 place in the lexicon Of the union, as It
S maintained, and the history OF the Z
movement seems to justify the contention,
that there is none so degraded but has at {
last spark of good IN him.
From Ulster the organization spread to 1
ether parts Of Ireland, and now branches
are TO be found south, east and west Then I
The Channel was crossed, and several OF {
the large Industrial entries in Scotland {
came under the influence OF the move I
ment branches being formed In Glasgow t
Edinburgh, Aberdeen. Paisley and other /
towns 2
CHURCHES WORK WITH IT.
feature Of the work Is that the union
has united all the Protestant churches Of
LELAND under its banner, and, to quote "
one Instance, the unique spectacle was vii
ns'ssd In Presbyterian church in Lon
donderry Of the Bishop OF the diocese, Dr.
VhadNick, occupying the pulpit AT a dem
oasiTat,on Of members The pledge of the
Union Is as follows For God and home
and native land. I promise, by Gods help,
70 abstain from all Intoxicating drinks and
beverages, and to do all that In me lies
10 promote the cause Of total abstinence
" getting others to Join the union"
Afte1 the pledge is taken the new MEM
otrs utter together the watchword OF the
1m'n, We VIII see this thing through"
ih' promise means In effect that the =
members viii not relax their missionary
e'o's uHtIl the whole community is leav- >.
sed no. only with the spirit OF the union !,
'l' also with It's practice. -
Fess'mists prophesied that with the ar :,
eva OF summer and tho holiday season r.,
sue ardor " the members would weaken N,
''u decay set in. Events have proved the o.
,'0'rafy' New members are still flowing n,
w. while with the system OF parades and n,
WA air demonstration the Imagination OF pI
y" People has been stirred and public
,pn'on formed by the tread of marching "a
iss
ar
'"e wonderful effect OF the movement OF
Suipiised even those VINO hoped most he
.o1' IT, In many cases hardened drunk sh
nave become the best pledge keepers 50
''' 'ne anxiety OF the quondam inebriate
'e''Fm his boon companion has stirred W
emotion OF the most phlegmstlc on
The Result Is that in every town W
are at least a score OF members az
VI the past deemed to be hopeless an
\, OF drink. are now living as respect X,
n. ''uHens Moreover. trade has re- iFi
r'e, Men are now paying their debts. Inc
=, are being better fed and clothed ,lr
No.. a higher standard OF living prevails IN
''ons the people. a.