Father Mathew dismounted, and began to administer the pledge of abstinence to those who were willing to receive it.

They kneeled on the ground in platoons; the pledge was read aloud to them; Father Mathew laid his hands upon them and pronounced a benediction.

From the necks of many a small medal attached to a cord was suspended.

In this rapid manner the pledge was administered to many hundreds of persons within an hour, and fresh crowds continually came forward.
When I was introduced to the good man as an American, he spoke a few kind words and gave me an "apostolic kiss" upon my cheek.

As I was about to make the first public speech of my life, I suppose that I may regard that act of the great Irish apostle as a sort of ordination to the ministry of preaching the Gospel of total abstinence.