as to be only too willing to throw cold water upon any project such as Heales was Quixotic enough to believe he could carry under the Civic conditions then existing. O n the 2nd November, 1850, was issued No. 1 of the Total Abstinence Advocate and Temperance Journal. It was a small, neatly-got-up four paged weekly publication—3d. per copy—its main object being the advocacy of the distinguishing principles of the Temperance Movement. In March, 1851, the Resident Judge (A'Beckett) made a valuable presentation of books to the Melbourne Total Abstinence Society, as an expression of his good wishes. O n the 17th March a tea-meeting was held by the members of the Salford Unity in honour of Mrs. Dalgarno. After tea the company was resolved into a public meeting, presided over by M r . Edward Bastings. Several appropriate speeches were delivered, and an Address was presented to the lady. THE VICTORIA TOTAL ABSTINENCE CONVENTION
Was initiated 25th March, 1851, by a Soiree and Temperance Meeting at the Temperance Hall. The Resident Judge presided, over 300 persons were present, and there was the greatest enthusiasm. The Chairman delivered a very eloquent and scholarly address, and was followed by Messrs. R. Heales, Reid, Bastings, and others. Geelong was visited by a deputation from the Convention on the 21st May, when a numerously attended meeting was held in the theatre, Malop Street. Mr. R. Heales officiated as the Chairman of the evening, and a resolution was passed by which the Geelong Total Abstinence Society was pledged " to public identification with the objects of the Convention, and co-operation with it in order to the advancement of its interest." Dr. Mingay Syder, from the University of Giessen, arrived in Melbourne in June, and delivered at the Temperance Hall three interesting lectures on (a) " T h e Voice of Science," (b) " T h e Nature and Properties of Alcoholic Fluids," and (c) "Their Action on the H u m a n Frame in Health and Disease." He' was followed in September by Mr. Justice A'Beckett in an elegant and masterly Essay on " Temperance and Moral Obligations of Sobriety and Industry in the Pursuits of Life." This was printed in pamphlet form, and well merits re-publication. Amongst the m e n who gallantly strove in the olden times to oppose the progress of the " Juggernaut of drunkenness"—a monster which has destroyed innumerably more worshippers than the Hindostanee idol so called—a few names stand forth in bright relief, and no sketch of the early struggles against intemperance would be complete that did not mark them for honourable mention. They are the two Richard Heales (father and son), William Wade, Robert Knox, T h o m a s Watson, William Nish, and William Webster, all of w h o m I think are now dead.
THE FATHER MATTHEW SOCIETY.
An institution though not necessarily restricted in its membership to the Roman Catholic persuasion was mainly composed of such, and indirectly controlled by the R o m a n Catholic Clergy. It was fenced by a certain exclusiveness (implied though not expressed), and, therefore, though engaged in the promotion of a c o m m o n purpose, acted so far apart from kindred bodies, as to render a separate notice of it desirable. Though as moderate a drinker as Bishop Perry, Father Geoghegan, thefirstR o m a n Catholic pastor, so highly appraised the beneficial effects of total abstinence, that in his efforts to propagate them, he drew no fine distinctions between Temperance and Abstinence, and at an early date initiated a St. Francis Total Abstinence Society. Under the already described Bounty system of emigration, there was a large influx of the Irish element to Port Phillip during 1839 ar>d the two succeeding years. M a n y of these Southern Celts had, before leaving the Green Isle, " taken the pledge " as it was termed, personally from Father Matthew, the Hibernian " Apostle of Temperance," and they brought with them their pledge-cards, which each regarded as little short of a consecrated amulet, that would act as a spell in influencing for the better his future career. Several of them afterwards lived for thirty, even forty years in the colony, bearing their pledges unbroken to the grave, and a few of those strong, unflinching teetotallers still survive in Victoria. Such were the materials whereon the untiring priest relied for co-operation, and not in vain. In 1844 the
