Knights of Father Mathew
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2008-01-31T15:30:15Z
Peter Clarke
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[[Image:Fr Matthew.jpg|thumb|left|Statue of Father Mathew in [[St. Patrick's Street]] [[Cork (city)]], [[Ireland]]]]
The '''Knights of Father Mathew''' was a [[Catholic]] [[Temperance movement|temperance society]] that originated in [[Ireland]] and promoted [[teetotalism|complete abstinence]] from intoxicating liquors.
It was founded in [[Cork (city)|Cork]] in [[1838]] by [[Theobald Mathew (temperance reformer)|Theobald Mathew]], a [[Capuchin friar]] - generally known as '''Father Mathew'''. Under his influence, branches the organization spread throughout Ireland, though it was badly disrupted by the [[Great Irish Famine]] of [[1846]] to [[1849]]. Father Mathew also travelled in [[England]] and [[Scotland]] ([[1842]]) and in the [[USA]] ([[1849]] to [[1851]]) to preach temperance. It is estimated that 7,000,000 took the pledge of abstinence under his influence.
Father Mathew began his work in the U.S. in 1849, at which time he was entertained by the President and granted a seat within the bar of the Senate and on the floor of the House. Only one foreigner, General Lafayette, has previously been given that honor. He was also lauded on the occasion by famous statesman Henry Clay.
Father Mathew spent two and one-half years in the U.S., traveled 37,000 miles, visited 25 states, administered the temperance pledge in over 300 cities and towns to an estimated more than 500,000 persons.
The Knights of Father Mathew organization in the U.S. was established in St. Louis, Missouri, on 26 April, 1872. In 1881, it added life insurance as a benefit available to members.
Chapters or “councils” were permitted to organize branches of Catholic women that were called "Ladies' Auxiliaries of the Knights of Father Mathew." The Ladies' Auxiliaries were especially active in promoting temperance among children. Both the Knights of Father Mathew and the Ladies' Auxiliaries of the Knights of Father Mathew became affiliated with the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America in 1895.
Some members were buried with '''KFM''' or '''K. of F. M.''' - Knights of Father Mathew - or '''LAKFM''' - Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Father Mathew on their [[tombstone]]s.
==Source==
*[http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/1124913901.html Temperance Movement Groups and Leaders in the U.S.]
==See also==
*[[Temperance organizations]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1838]]
[[Category:Catholic lay societies]]
[[Category:Fraternal and service organizations]]
[[Category:Temperance movement]]