The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-10-10

Infinite seed. 49,. "a woodman
who hewed towards the light.
Father Mathew began his ca
reer as a reformer on April TO-
1888, when he was the first to
affix his signature to the roll of
pledged total abstainers who took
this step at the memorable meet
ing held in Cove Street, Cork,
where his priestly life was passed
in humble ministrations. During
the following eighteen years-he
died on December s, 1856-he was
the recognized leader of new
crusade which enrolled millions of
people beneath the banner Of total
abstinence. During the two years
spent in the United States-from
1849 to 1851-Father Mathew
added half a million names to the
muster roll of his disciples.
The total abstinence movement
inaugurated by Father Mathew
has borne fruit during the three
score years which have elapsed
since he laid aside the mantle of
his apostleship. The cause did
not die with him. The good it
has accomplished is seen in the
marked changes which have taken
place during these years in the
drinking customs Of society-a
change for which large share
of credit must be given to the
hundreds Of thousands who, in
private and public life, have worn
"the white flower of a blameless
life" in this regard and have
given an example to others which
has not been unproductive Of last
ing benefit. The world is better
because Of the noble work done by
this lowly Capuchin F'riar.
Today, sad to say, organized
activity along total abstinence
lines has lost nearly all it's pris-
tine fervor and enthusiasm.
Here and there few societies
continue more or less active in
the work, but it can scarcely be
denied that the memory Of Fa-
Their Mathew and Of his work for
humanity are gradually fading
from the minds Of the present
generation as the leaders, once
active in the cause, are being
gathered one by one to their
forefathers. This does not mean
that there is no need in our day
and generation Of a crusade
against the drink traffic. The evil
caused by this traffic, both to the
individual and to society, is as
great today as it ever was, though,
perhaps, it manifests itself less
than formerly in the crude and
brutal drinking customs so prev
alent half a century ago. To
drink must be attributed a large
portion of the physical, moral, So
cial and industrial evils Of the
present day. To remedy this de-
plorable state Of affairs, to loosen
the grip which the drink has on
the race, we need a revival Of
activity and enthusiasm in the
field Of total abstinence. But the
methods to be employed must be
different from those of the long
ago. They must take cognizance
Of present day needs and be adapt
ed to the conditions that now OBJ
tain in this country. The move
ment must be made more scientific
than it was in the days of Father
Mathew. The emotional appeal
will no longer do the work, even
when backed by the personal mag
netism of Father Mathew. We
need new leaders, Peter the
hermit to preach a new crusade
and enthuse. the public, a Father
Mathew to cOnsecrate himself I'M
reservedly to the new work, and
a Napoleon to organize the scat
tered forces into a new army and
lead it on to victories over self
and selfshness more glorious
than any yet recorded on the
pages Of history.