Letters regarding a dispute over the editorship of the temperance publication, 'The Father Mathew Record', also known as 'The Irish Home Journal'. The file includes a letter from Brian O’Higgins to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OSFC, Provincial Minister, complaining about his dismissal as associate editor of the 'Record' by Fr. Joseph Fenlon OSFC who ‘desired to keep politics out of the Journal’. O’Higgins, a member of Sinn Féin, admits that he is ‘on what is known as “the run”’. With notes by Fr. Edwin regarding the proprietorship of the Journal, and the need to reserve the appointment of editor to the council of the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Ireland. Later, Fr. Joseph wrote to Fr. Edwin confirming his resignation from the Presidency of Father Mathew Hall and the temperance sodality. The file also includes a signed notice of a special meeting of the Hall Committee affirming that the ‘"Record" was started by Fr. Aloysius [Travers], President of the Hall … [and] that the Office of the Record was transferred to the Hall premises’. The committee members contended that the 'Record' magazine was the property of the committee ‘and that the Provincial Superiors acted without consideration of the circumstances when … they decided to take it over and have it conducted independently of the committee and its President’. (10 June 1920).
Statement of monies received by members of the Father Mathew Temperance Hall Committee. The statement includes entries for monies received per Fr. Columbus Maher OSFC from street collections, the sale of various cards and other sources.
Resolution of the Father Mathew Hall Committee admonishing a Mr. Nicolls who ‘has violated the custom of this committee by publishing what purports to be the details of our private deliberations’. The resolution also defends the rights of Fr. Columbus Maher OSFC as President of the Sacred Thirst Sodality and avers that Mr. Nicolls ‘was the only member who ever introduced politics here’.
Draft resolution forwarded by Fr. Angelus Healy OSFC, Vice-President, Father Mathew Hall. Fr. Angelus suggest that the resolution ‘asks two things … first to endorse the work of the Irish Temperance Association and secondly to appeal for further financial support to enable the Hall Committee to extend their temperance propaganda’. The resolution refers to efforts to curtail the sale of alcohol on Sundays. The report notes that ‘we have Sunday drinking not in the interest of the public but in the interest of the publican’.
Annual reports and statements of accounts of Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The booklets provide reports on annual general meetings, activities, speeches and events held in the Hall and provide annual accounts of receipts and expenditure. The 1901 report (pp 20-3) gives an account of a speech by Pádraig Pearse in the Hall on 2 March 1902 commending the giving of classes ‘for the study of our native language, and forms of self-culture amongst our members.’ He added ‘There is a certain bad old tradition that one cannot be a good Irishman unless he “takes a dhrop”. Now, I think you will all allow if there is one body in Ireland which is concerned more than another for the maintenance of genuine Irish traditions, that body is the Gaelic League … [and] in the ranks of no body in Ireland will you find proportionally so many total abstainers as in those of the Gaelic League’. Pearse suggested that there should be more cooperation between the Gaelic League and the temperance movement. In 1906, it was reported (p. 20) that ‘owing to several exceptional expenses, rendered necessary by the increase of membership and the extension of temperance work, we have not been able to reduce our indebtedness to the Bank’. The statement of accounts noted that £1,405 6s 5d was owed to the National Bank by December 1906. The front covers of the booklets have ink drawings of the Hall fronting onto Church Street.
Rules of Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The rules note that the annual subscription is 6s. It is also stated that ‘members are expected to promote the general comfort of their fellow members and to cultivate all the social virtues in their relations with one another. Members ought not to have their hats on when using the rooms’.
Bound volume containing a register of members of Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The listing is divided into male and female. The list includes entries relating to dues for subscription payments and membership fees. Later entries also supply addresses of registered members.
Blank contract form for the hiring of Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The contract specifies the conditions under which the Hall Committee will permit the use of the Hall for performances. One of the conditions specifies that ‘under no circumstances whatsoever … [shall] any person be allowed to remain in the Hall who in the opinion of the committee … is under the influence of drink or in any way disorderly’.
Letter from John W. Moran, photographer, 14 Lower Gloucester Street, Dublin, to C. Hepworth, Father Mathew Hall, Church Street, asking for the ‘balance due for photo groups on or before the 5th Feb. as I am much pressed for cash at the present time’.
