Item 65: Note and Signature from Theobald Mathew, 1844 August 6
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 65
Dates
- Created: 1844 August 6
Creator
- Mathew, Theobald, 1790-1856 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Note/signature
Condition Note:
Good: yellowing; four rips/stains on the back of the document as if it was glued to something and later removed; ink is in good condition
Measurements:
2 ⅜ in. x 3 ⅝ in.
Description:
The following is a note and signature from Mathew, Theobald, 1790-1856, written August 6th, 1844. Mathew, Theobald, 1790-1856 was an Irish Catholic Priest that led a reform movement of teetotalism, which is a total abstinence from alcohol, save for medical use. The movement gained such popularity that at one point, more than half of all adults in Ireland had aligned themselves to his cause. He went on to repeat his success in England. Crime rates dropped drastically during this period in teetotalist-dense areas. Mathew moved onto the US and attempted to further the teetotalist movement, but the abolition of US slaves overshadowed his efforts. Most of his US colleagues were involved with or against abolitionism, so Mathew decided to not take sides, which upset many abolitionists including Frederick Douglass, who had joined the teetotalist movement one year after this note was dated. This note is referencing the Book of Acts, specifically Chapter 24, Verse 25, where Paul the Apostle has been brought before Antonius Felix to be judged upon. Paul had been accused of “profaning a temple” and was captured by Roman soldiers, but Claudius Lysias, the commander, rescued Paul and brought him before Felix so that he could pass judgment. Having no evidence, Felix avoided giving a sentence and instead took Paul into custody, whereupon he asked to learn about the Lord. Paul “reasoned of righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come”, which frightened Felix, who sent him away. Father Mathew likely used this verse to convince more Catholics to subscribe to Teetotalism, because the verse suggests that self-control (temperance) is as important as righteousness and divine judgment. Other autographed quotations of Theobald Mathew exist from October 9th, 1849, and September 19th, 1857.
Transcription:
[Front]
Father Mathew 136 [in pencil, possible archivist’s notes]
He reasoned of Righteousness Temperance, and The Judgement to come._
Acts Ch. 24. V. 25.
Theobald Mathew [Signature]
Last(?) August 6th 1844.
[Back] “Father Mathew” [in pencil, possible archivist’s notes]
[Back] “Father Mathew” [in pencil, possible archivist’s notes]
Creator
- Mathew, Theobald, 1790-1856 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu