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An original total abstinence pledge card of [signature faded] dated 18 Nov. 1852. The certificate is signed by Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC.

An original total abstinence pledge card of Thomas Kent dated 12 Apr. 1838. The card is signed by Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC.

Author: Fr. Matthew Flynn OFM Cap. (1915-1978)
Publisher: Dublin: Catholic Truth Society of Ireland, 7-8 Lower Abbey Street
Language: English

Face (front): Centre: Man and woman on pedestal on which two children are seated. The adults carry a shield surmounted by a cross, with an angel above. The upper part of the shield has a lamb bearing a banner. The man bears a banner with the words ‘sobriety’. The woman bears a banner with the words ‘Domestic Comfort’. Outer-edge inscription reads: ‘In hoc signo vinces’.
Obverse: Cruciform text of pledge. Outer edge inscription reads: ‘Total Abstinence Society, The Very Rev. T. Mathew, President’. Inner rim inscription reads ‘Founded 10 April 1838’.

One of the medals is engraved on the rim with the inscription ‘P.P. Daly took the Total Abstinence Pledge May 20th 1840’. This medal was found in an envelope with a note by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. The note reads ‘This medal was in the hands of a jeweller in Cork, who had purchased it with the intention of smelting it. Fr. Angelus with permission of the Fr. Provincial bought it for £7 0s 0d the amount the jeweller had paid for it’. With two paper reproductions of the medals.

Total Abstinence Society of Ireland Medal
c.1840-1850
Diameter: 4.5 cm
Pewter Medal in Glass
Physical Description:
• Face (front): In relief, Fr. Mathew addresses kneeling crowd. Outer rim inscription reads: ‘May God bless you and grant you grace and strength to keep your promise’.
Obverse: Cruciform formula of pledge: ‘I / Promise / by the / Help of / God/ to abstain from all / intoxicating drinks / except used medicinally / and to discountenance the / cause and practice / of / intemperance’. Outer edge inscription reads: ‘The Very Rev. T. Mathew, President / The Total Abstinence Society of Ireland’.
The medal has fragments of a green ribbon and pin attached.

Total Abstinence Society of Ireland Medal
c.1840-1850
Diameter: 4.5 cm
Pewter Medal in Glass
Physical Description:
• Face (front): In relief, Fr. Mathew addresses kneeling crowd. Outer rim inscription reads: ‘May God bless you and grant you grace and strength to keep your promise’.
Obverse: Cruciform formula of pledge: ‘I / Promise / by the / Help of / God/ to abstain from all / intoxicating drinks / except used medicinally / and to discountenance the / cause and practice / of / intemperance’. Outer edge inscription reads: ‘The Very Rev. T. Mathew, President / The Total Abstinence Society of Ireland’.
The medal has fragments of a green ribbon and pin attached.

Total Abstinence Society of Ireland Medals
c.1840-1850
Diameter: 4.3 cm
Thirteen Pewter Medals
Physical Description:
• Face (front): Centre: Man and woman on pedestal on which two children are seated. The adults carry a shield surmounted by a cross, with an angel (or in some cases two angels) above. The upper part of the shield has a lamb bearing a banner. The man bears a banner with the words ‘sobriety’. The woman bears a banner with the words ‘Domestic Comfort’. Outer-edge inscription reads: ‘Total Abstinence Society of Ireland’.
Obverse: Cruciform text of pledge: ‘I / Promise / by the / Help of / God/ to abstain from all / intoxicating drinks / except used medicinally / and to discountenance the / cause and practice / of / intemperance’. Outer edge inscription reads: ‘The Very Rev. Mathew, President, Total Abstinence Society’.
One of the medals was found in an envelope from John O’Neill, Musical Instrument Manufacturer, 140 Capel Street, Dublin. An annotation on the envelope reads ‘Fr. Mathew Temperance Medal / given to Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. / by an old woman in Kells, County Meath’.