NEW IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 38, 17 January 1874, Page 13

NEW IRELAND.

It 13 a somewhat strange fact that though Fitlier llithew vfa.3 a Catholic priest and friar, his character as a Christiin moral reformer has been even more highly appreciated by Protestants th in by Catholics. I quaitod Mr Gladstone's graceful testimony to his worth ; but the following passage from a public address by Dr Channiug, the celebrated American Unitari in minister, is probably ono of the most elegant panegyrics upon him that ever was spoken, a-id it as just as it is "eldcnent. ' After telling us how Ireland ha I so long been beyo-id' other countries, hopelessly crushed by intemperance, and how in the space of two or three yeirs this vice of ages had been almost rooted out of it by Father Mathew's 1 ibors, he said : " In a moral point of vi*w the Ireland of the past is L washed ; a new Ireland has started into life ; five millions ot her poo pie have taken the pledge of total abstinence, and instances of violating the plodge are very "very rare. History records no revolution like this. It is the grand event of the present diy. Father Alathew, tli3 leider of thic °reat revolution, ranks far above the hcroea an I sUted.mn of the Times. However, as Protestants, we may question the claims of departed saints here is a living minister, if lie miybc ju Iged by one work, who deserves to be canonised ; an 1 whose name deserves to be placed not far below the Apostles." I must confess that whe i I real such testimonies as this to the character of Fat'.er Mathew and his work, I felt it an honor of no ordinary kind, even hum mly speaking a3 a layman, to belong to a church which lias in modern times produced a priest, who in°the estimation even of his very enemies, deserves to be "canonised" as a saint, and to rank in the ca'en lar "not far from the Apostles." I would ask what other association claiming to b.J a church has ever produced such a moral reformer, in our day or for many a diy tefore ours ? I may be toli that Father Mathew's merits, and tho fruits of his labor have been greatly exaggerated ; but fie concurring testimonies in their favor forbid that conclusion. If it be said as it sometimes is, that the enthusiasm he awakened and the benefits he conferred on his fellow men, have been transient, and have long pas=ed away almost entirely, I think proof to thu contrary may be easdy adduced. Ireland is stdl foremost among tho advocates < of the Temperance cause, and the Catholic laity iv all parts of the United Kingdom, under the conduct of their bishops and priests, «re at thU hour making their influence felt collectively in tho grand eflort nowbeing put forth to induce the legislature to interfere its power for the more" effectual suppresion of intemperance. If Father Mithew's noble efforts have in part failed, it is because tho le^ulatur j havo bojn workm j in the opposite direction. The same re.narks apply to tiw colony. Even here the crusade against drink, begun by Father Mathew, is stifl carried on, however little interest the Catholic people collectively may show in it ; and h0 .. -ever forrailable the enemy against whom it is directed may yet be. Mr Fox, though no priost or even a Catholic, U a worthy successor to Father Mathew, and inherits not a little of his spirit and ability. I 'know well that the conduct of the C-itholic community iv this province in reference to the Temperance cause is watched and strongly commented on by our Protestant neighbour*.