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Newspaper cuttings compiled by Fr. Paul Neary OFM Cap. (d. 20 June 1939) relating to the life and temperance campaign of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. The majority of the cuttings and publications are from 1890 and relate to the commemorations of the centenary of the birth of Fr. Mathew. An alphabetical index to the newspaper clippings is extant at the front of the volume. The volume includes cuttings from the 'Belfast Morning News', 'Catholic Times', 'Daily Graphic', 'Evening Telegraph', 'Cork Examiner', 'Freeman’s Journal', 'Northern Whig' (Belfast), 'Temperance Record' (London), 'Weekly Herald', and 'Women’s Penny Papers'. The volume also includes illustrations of Father Mathew Memorial Hall, Church Street, Dublin, temperance demonstrations in Cork and Dublin, notable events and places associated with the life and work of Fr. Mathew, and the Father Mathew statue on Sackville Street, Dublin. Printed matter inserted in the volume includes flyers for the Grand National Celebration in honour of Father Mathew held in Cork, 8-10 Oct. 1890 (p. 101), the Rule book of the female branch of the Father Mathew Sacred Thirst Sodality (p. 149), and pastoral letters published by various Irish bishops marking the Father Mathew centenary (pp 163-70).

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

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

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.

A pledge medal of the Dublin Total Abstinence Association dating to 1840. 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 has a cruciform text of the pledge and reads: ‘I have voluntarily promised in the presence of the Revd. Dr. Spratt to abstain from all spiritous liquors and intoxicating drinks except used medicinally and then by order of a medical man and the discountenance of all the vices and practices of intemperance and also to attend to my religious duties’. The outer-rim inscription reads ‘The Dublin Total Abstinence Pledge The Very Revd. Dr. Spratt Patron 1840’. The maker of the medal 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’.

A decorative silver trowel commemorating the laying of the top-stone of the Father Mathew Statue on Sackville (O’Connell) Street, Dublin, on 13 Oct. 1890. The inscription on the trowel reads:
‘The Father Mathew Centenary / Presented to the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of Dublin on the occasion of the laying of the top stone of the pedestal of statue to the Great Apostle of Temperance Rev. Theobald Mathew. Signed on behalf of the Committee / Charles A. Cameron FRCSI, Archibald J. Nicolls LLB, George Noble Plunkett, Henry Wigham. Hon. Secs., Central Committee, Mansion House, Dublin, 13th Oct. 1890’. The silver is hallmarked.

Correspondence file relating to Christopher J. Brady who along with Michael J. Molloy and Liam Ó Briain, compositors, were responsible for printing the 1916 Proclamation. The Proclamation was composed in Liberty Hall, the headquarters of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. Liberty Hall was also the location of the printing press, an antiquated Wharfdale Double Crown, used to print Connolly’s ‘The Worker’s Republic’ newspaper. Brady used this press to print the Proclamation on Sunday, 23 April 1916. The file includes a photographic print of Christopher J. Brady and letters mainly regarding requests that he authenticate original copies of the Proclamation. One of the letters (17 June 1934) is from Nellie Gifford-Donnelly to Brady requesting that he and Michael J. Molloy and Liam Ó Briain visit Dr. Kathleen Lynn to authenticate and sign a copy of the 1916 Proclamation in her possession. Both Gifford-Donnelly and Kathleen Lynn were committed nationalists and feminists who had participated in the Rising. Gifford-Donnelly was later instrumental in securing historical documents and objects associated with the Easter Rising. The Proclamation signed by Brady is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland.

A letter from Jack B. Yeats to Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. regarding a tribute article for the late Abbey Theatre actor, F.J. McCormick (1890-1947). Yeats refers to McCormick as ‘a very great actor’ but indicates that he will be unable to contribute to a tribute to be published in the 1948 edition of the ‘Annual’.