The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-03-24
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
The Festival at Mozart Hall.
The Supper, Toasts and Speeches.
Discourse Delivered in the st. Paul
Cathedral, March II, 1865.
BY REV. JOHN IRELAND.

BY REV. JOHN IRELAND.
The Anniversary of Ireland's Patron Saint
was duly celebrated in this city on Friday. In
the morning solemn high mass was celebra-
ted at the Cathedral. The Rev. John Ireland
delivered an able, earnest and eloquent dis
course. His subject was Ireland and the
Irish People, at Home and Abroad" 1t was
listened to with great interest by fully 500
men and women, who filed the spacious Co
thedrsl to OVERLOOKING. We have seldom lis
tened to q more earnest or eloquent address,
and we hope to lay it before our readers to-
morrow.
THE FESTIVAL AT MOgART HALL
The Festival at Mozart Hall was attended by
about !, 600 ladies and gentlemen. At an early
hour the Great Western Brass Band arrived
and soon the stirring strains OF st. Patrcks
Dav. 40 sweet to an Irishman's ear, were ecno-
ing throughout the winding halls. Al elghs
O'Clock the rooms adjoining Mozart Hall which
were all thrown open were crowded. viewers
favored with view of the tables before the
guests were seated, and to say they looked
magnificent, and fairly groaned beneath the
weight of good things, does not express the
half f. was a bountiful feast, and reflected
great credit upon the ladies who prepared it.
Five tables, each running the full length OF
Mozart Hall. were set. Over the entrance to
the Hall were hung two American flags, while
at the opposite end was plaster OF farls
statue of st. Patrick, fanked on either side oy
the Green Flag of Ireland bearing the inscrip'
ton of Erin 20 Braugh." At o'clock the
doors we're thrown open and the guests, to the
number of 500, sat down. The tables were
twice filled, and yet many were unable to get
seats. The Rev. John Ireland oficiated as
President of the evening. After doing ample
Justice to the excellent supper, the audience
was called to order by the President, who
briefly returned thanks to the citizens OF st.
Paul for their cooperation in celebrating this
anniversary, and on behalf of the exiles OF Erin
bid them cordial welcome to the festive board.
A choir of young girls composed Of Maggie
Sweeney, Ada Brissette, Maggie German, Ju-
lia German: Mary Haas, Mary Long, Annie
Grindhall, Mary A. Ryan, Maggie Boland'
JEANNE Cramsie, Mary Morrison andIMary Col
ter.-then sung "Sweet Home" We may
mention in passing that these young LADIES are
deserving of all praise. Their sweet songs
were an attractive feature of the evening, amt
were loudly applauded.
After music by the Band, toasts and speeches
being the order, j. NJ keenan,, ESD, read the
FIRST REGULAR TOAST.
The Day We Celebrate-The oasis in life's
Journey on which the Irish exile rests 1or q
moment to gaze back with loving heart upon
his native land.
Responded 10 by Rev. John Ireland.
LADIES AND GKNTrEMEN-It must be pleas
ure to one who is in heart and in feeling, as
we'll as In fact an Irishman, to respond to the
toast which has now been proposed: st. Pat
rick's Day! Few words in the language exer-
cise a more magic spell over the children Of
Erin. To-day many a tear has dropped, many
a heart has sighed, many prayer mas ascend
ed to heaven for poor Erin! 1t ID not alone
those of her children, who yet cling TO her
bosom that have baked this day with raptur-
ous applause. Ireland is but small portion
of the habitable globe; but Irishmen are every
where and wherever they are, they never for
Get to celebrate st. Patrick's Day. tbs solemn
ized in Australia and the distant Isles OF the
Pacific: India and the remote shores OF ASIA
exult with Joy on this day Coiumola, lana
land themselves do not remain silent; irish
hearts beat throughout the ranches OF Buenos
Ayres and Chill; and many brave SOLDIER ana
nstriotic student are moved to tears in Italy.
trance and Austria. Go far and wide, you Will
meet TO-DAY an Irishman, with o green sham
rock DER his heart; put your hand on that neart,
Won woulS think it would burst 1t palpitates
80 wildly for Ireland, because 1t is st. Fat
rick's Day. And surely it could not be expect.
cd that the Yrishmen of st. Paul should be less
enthusiastic than their fellow countrymen
throughout the world for their dear little Isle
and her glorious Apostle.
Every people have day set apart 10 tesuiy
their love for their country, and increase, II
POSSIBLE, the pure flame OF that love. HOW
the hearts of Columbia's children throb on the
morning of the memorable fourth OF July! we
are Americans. On that day we pledge our
selves to ever cherish and admire the Stars and
Stripes. But we are Irish Americans, and
coud we remain unmOved when We are TOLD
that it is the 18th of March.
We celebrate this day to prove to all
that we love ireland. Oh! heavens, before
whom all our thoughts are unveiled Oh! you
friends, who listen to our words, You know we
love that Isle! You know we would willingly
spill our best blood in her defence. NO!
among us there is no miscreant, who would
blush to celebrate st. Patrick's Day-nO one
who would be ashamed because his religion Is
coeval with Christianity, coextensiVe with CIV
ilization because he sprung from an island,
which was civilized before others were discov-
cred!
This whole day we have lived in Ireland.
We have seen the green hillside, where we
have roamed in happy childhood; the lovely
valleys where murmuring brooks, with music
all their own, wash the moss covered banks,
on which grows the shamrock. We have
heard the voices of our lost companions ring
on our ears. We have revisited all the scenes
OF our youthful days. But it was not enough
TO have our hearts and our minds thus silently
turned towards Ireland. Hence we have as
sembled here together to manifest publicly our
love for that oppressed Isle.
What, though for years from thee strayed.
Yet still see again,
In dreams, the spot where was born,
Athwart the dark blue main.
We celebrate St. Patrick's Day to keep this
love alive, and to add, if possible, to its fame
Distance easily obliterates memory. Were il
not that, as each year rolls by, our national an
niyersary returns to US anew, we might per.
haps forget Erin and what crime if we did
Erin Is our country; she is our mother. We
surely owe her q tribute of love. We owe her