The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-10-11
THE TOTAL ABSTINENCE
MOVEMENT.

Friday, October 10, was the one
hundred and twenty-third ami
versary of the birth Of the Rever-
end Theobald Mathew, known the
world over as the founder and
most noted apostle Of the Catholic
total abstinence movement OF
which the total abstinence socie-
ties Of the past three-quarters of
century are the outcome. Since
his day the movement has been a
benefcent SQUIRE Of moral strength
to our Catholic people in their eff
forts to combat the allurements Of
Intoxicating drink and to save
their homes and communities from
the ravages Of the demon of in
temperance.
Little did Father Mathew dream
how momentous a step he was
taking when, on April 10, 1888,
he signed the total abstinence
pledge and launched a crusade for
sobriety and right living which, in
few years, attained to such pro-
portions as to make it's influence
felt not only in his ancestral land,
but throughout the British Isles
and America as well.
Father Mathew was not unfa-
miliar with the ravages caused by
an uncomfortable appetite for
drink among the people of Cork,
where his priestly lot was cast.
He tried every means in his power
to rescue them from this century
old slavery, but his efforts were
rewarded only by the most mea-
ger success. At length the sugges-
ton was made to him that he try
the efficacy of total abstinence as
a means of lettering the condition
he deplored. At first he. recoiled
from the thought of making use
of such an unheard-of means, but
prayerful consideration Of the
situation forced him to the con
clusion that heroic measures were
necessary, and the inscribing OF
his name at the head of the char.
ter roll of total abstainers at that
ever-memorable meeting in Cork
convinced the advocates of this
new remedy that their cause had
gained a champion who would
thenceforth never count the cost
in personal labor or sacrifice when
there was question of rescuing q
soul from the slavery of drink.
Subsequent events show how
well founded was their conclusion
During the eighteen years that
interviewed between the signing OF
the pledge and his death, Father
Mathew devoted himself to the
work of promulgating the prin
ciple of personal total abstinence
from intoxicating drinks as &
means of rescuing individuals and
liberating society from this de
grading servitude. The success
/ which accompanied his efforts
wherever he raised the standard
of the new crusade, is sufficient
evidence of the fact that persona
total abstinence based on religion,
motives is the only infallible cure
for the evils of intemperance. Mil
lions of followers in the Old World
and in the New accepted his mes
sage, followed his example, ant
llabored to bring their friends
within the overwhelming circle o.
his followers.
i Since the day when the Catho
lies of the United States felt tn,
inspiration of his personal pres
ence and contagious enthusiasm
the cause of total abstinence ha.
never wanted advocates upo1
i American soil. Although organ
| lied work did not come into beine
| for more than score of year,
i after Father Mathew left thes,
i shores, the fire which he enkindleC
never died out. Here and there
| few societies were established
! hourished for q time. and finally
III 1k uTs - il