The sub-series contains an important collection of original temperance society medals. Most of the medals in the collection are associated with Fr. Mathew’s campaign but some relate to temperance activities before and after him. The Cork Total Abstinence Society’s medals were important because they served as important reminders of the pledge, and also as miniature temperance catechisms for the many illiterates who took the pledge. Fr. Mathew’s medals were large and inscribed with familiar religious symbolism. Most were of pewter, although some silver and gold medals were also available for particularly distinguished members. Generally, one side had the words of the pledge within a shining cross, together with Fr. Mathew’s name and the Society’s founding date (10 April 1838). The reverse depicted a well-dressed man, carrying a banner, ‘prosperity’, and a woman, ‘domestic comfort’, stood next to a lamb, surmounted by a cross and an angel. This scene was overlaid by the Latin phrase, In hoc signo vinces (‘by this sign shall you conquer’).
A copy report of a temperance procession held in Cork at Easter in 1842. The report provides a list of temperance societies and bands which marched on this occasion. The report may have been transcribed from a newspaper report published during the Father Mathew centenary celebrations in 1890. The report also has a copy of the ‘Centenary Ode’ composed for Fr. Mathew by Eugene Davis which was recited by Fr. Michael O’Flynn, CC, Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Church, during the commemorations.
A collection of Total Abstinence Society medals collected by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. and other Capuchin friars. Most of the medals were sent to Fr. Angelus who duly recorded their provenance and source. The collection includes: • Silver medal ‘presented to Fr. Angelus by Miss Gibson, Ballyglass, County Mayo. It belonged to her grandfather, who had taken the pledge from Fr. Mathew. He was a convert, but she is of the opinion he had taken the Pledge whilst he was a Protestant’. • Silver cross of the Youghal Roman Catholic Total Abstinence Society founded by the Rev. John Foley on 1 May 1839. The obverse has the text of the pledge with the Latin phrase ‘In hoc signo vinces’. Two examples of the cross are extant. Fr. Angelus notes that one of the crosses was donated by Miss Gibson of County Mayo. • Silver medal of the Total Abstinence Society of the Sacred Thirst. The medal has a red ribbon and pin attachment. With annotated envelope by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. • Silver medal of the Total Abstinence Society of Ireland. The medal is engraved on the rim ‘Presented to L.S. Gore Jones by The Rev. T. Mathew’. The medal was given to Fr. Angelus by Rev. Laurence Kelly CC, St. Michan’s Church, North Anne Street, Dublin. • Pewter medal of the Dublin Total Abstinence League founded in 1872. The inscription on the obverse reads ‘For / Glory to God / for example to man / safety / I promise with the Divine / Assistance to abstain / from all intoxicating / drinks and to / discountenance / the / liquor traffic’. The front has a side-profile view of Fr. Mathew. Fr. Angelus notes that the maker was Woodhouse, Dublin. • Pewter medal of the Total Abstinence Pledge. The front (face) shows the Good Shepherd. The outer-rim inscription reads ‘I have found the sheep that was lost Luke Chap. 15 v. 6’. The obverse: Cruciform text of pledge. The outer-rim inscription reads ‘The Dublin Total Abstinence Pledge The Very Revd. Dr. Spratt Patron 1840’. Fr. Angelus notes that the maker was J. Taylor.
A collection of Total Abstinence Society medals collected by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. and other Capuchin friars. • Silver medal of the Metropolitan Total Abstinence Society. The front (face) shows St. Michael with the winds and the inscription ‘Who is like God’. The obverse: Cruciform text of pledge. The outer-rim inscription reads ‘The Metropolitan Total Abstinence Society The Rev. A. O’Connell President. Inner rim reads ’26 Nov. 1839’. • Pewter medal of the Total Abstinence Society. Fr. Angelus notes that the medal is extremely worn and defaced. • Silver medal of the Total Abstinence Society of Ireland. Fr. Angelus notes that the maker was Woodhouse of Dublin. • Silver medal of the Total Abstinence Society of Ireland. Fr. Angelus notes that the maker was Jones of Dublin. A green ribbon is attached to the medal. An annotation on the covering envelope reads ‘Presented to Fr. Angelus by Miss Tobin, 13 Killarney Street, Dublin’. • Pewter medal of the Cork Total Abstinence Society. An annotation on the covering envelope reads ‘Presented to Fr. Angelus by Mr. Cosgrave’. The medal is very worn and defaced. • Pewter medal of St. Mary’s Temperance Society, Kilkenny. The medal is very worn and defaced. For more information on St. Mary’s Temperance Society see the 'Journal of the American Temperance Union', Vols. 1-4 (1837) at p. 190. It is noted that St. Mary’s Temperance Society has 1,300 members with 100 to 200 members meeting on the evening of the Sabbath under the spiritual direction of the Rev. J. P. O’Reilly. The medal was probably made by Isaac Parkes (b.c.1791-1870). See: http://www.libraryireland.com/irishartists/isaac-parkes.php • Pewter medal of the Cork Total Abstinence Society. A note attached to the medal reads ‘Lent by M.A. Rogan, 55 St. Patrick’s Road, Drumcondra’. The medal is very worn and defaced. • Silver temperance medal. A note in the covering envelope reads ‘Presented by Mr. W. O’Herlihy, 61 Gurranabraher Avenue, Cork, apparently inherited from his grandfather, a married daughter gave it to me. Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap., 13 April 1982’. The medal is very worn and defaced.
Two metal dies used to strike Total Abstinence Pledge medals. The dies are large metallic pieces that were used to medal a coin, one per each side. The dies have an inverse version of the image to be struck on the medal. One side shows a profile-view of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. The obverse has the cruciform text of pledge. The maker’s stamp on the dies reads ‘G. Cook, 21 Regent Row, Birmingham’.
