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Show SECOND FATHER MATHEW. Another Effective Irish Preacher of Total Abstinence. Very Rev. Father Hays, an Irish priest, who, as an apostle of temperance, temper-ance, is hailed in Great Britain and Ireland as a worthy successor to iather Math.v and Cardinal Manning Man-ning has started on a tour which, it is said, will embrace a visit to the United States. For the past ten years Father Hays has been engaged in actively ac-tively preiching total abstinence through the British Isles, and so zealously zeal-ously has he labored that he finds himself like Father Mathew, broken down in health, yet contented because his self-sacrifice has brought so much good to others. Pope Lea XIII called Father Hays 'a true apostle," and Piux X has bestowed upon him the Apostolic Benediction and given him the highest commendation. He has spoken in almost every town and city in Ireland, England. Scotland and Wales. Everywhere he has been greeted by Targe audiences, and has been escorted from railroad stations by processions, while cheering spectators lined the streets. Leading men in church and state have hastened to do him honor, and recognize him as a benefactor of the church and of his fellow men. Thousands have, through his influence, enlisted under the ban- jitfr oi ioiai aoscincnce, ana men oi an creeds have united in the cause. Catholich churches in which he has spoken have been crowded . not only by those of the hovsehold of faith, but by many non-Catholics. . His text is usually Isaiah LXIII, "Cease not to lift up thy voice and to show my people their weaknesses and the House of David their sins." He then shows that the national sin of the people is intemperance, and that it is also the special scourge of the church, many of whose members neglect Mass and the sacraments in consequence of over-indulgence in intoxicants. After an eloquent exposition of the dangers of drink, he points to total abstinence as the only sure remedy, and at the close of the discourse asks the congregation con-gregation to repeat the pledge with him. In many instances entire congregations con-gregations have done so, and in but few instances vere there many present pres-ent who fail?d to take the pledge. , The day following the sermon to the adults of he parish and neighborhood neighbor-hood he visits the schools, where he addresses the j'nildren, and enrolls hundreds at a time in the army of total to-tal abstinence. The most remarkable of the gatherings gather-ings addressed by him were those known as "citizens' meetings." These were held in large public halls, and were eminently successful. On the platform were ministers of all denominations denomin-ations and the oudiences were likewise made up of people of all creeds, the movement having done much to break down the barriers of prejudice which have made non-Catholics look with suspicion on the church. On such occasions oc-casions Father Hays was listened to with the closest attention. He would speak to-his hearers as children of the One Heavenly Father and as brothers and sisters of each other. As leng aa one human being was the slave of the I drink demon, the influence of word and I example was due to him by his brothers ' and sisters, in order to encourage and strengthen him. The cbject of the movement was to save the souls and bodies of men for Christ's sake, and in this all Christians could unite, j It was not unusual at the close of I such meetings to have a vicar of the Established Church of England to make a motion for a vote, of thanks." and to have it seconded by a Non-Conformist Protestant minister. Father Hays is expected to return to Ireland by July 1. Whether he will be heard on the platform in this country Is not yet known, but inquiries are being be-ing made by officers of the Catholic Total Absthunce Union of America. |