New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-18
THE PROCESSION YESTERDAY
BLENDING OF THE BANNERS
CHURCH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

UdUNCd AMI SUClEI SEhV 1ChS
Yesterday was the day held in observance
in every quarter OF the civilized world, for,
wherever civilization is. there lrishmen are
found, and always i'll sufficient numbers to
render the day dedicated to the patron
saint of Ireland worthy OF notice. even
alEong people Of other races and processing &
another form OF TIE Christian religion. 1t
may truly be said that there is not Il civil
izc', country On the face of the globe i'll
which lrshmcn have not made their mark
and left the impress OF their national char
actcri>tics.
This is, however. more particularly the
case in the United States OF America for
no nation more than the Irish has realized
in al its force that the soil OF america is
the land OF the free 1t is here that the
Irishman, restrained by the religious di>;,-
bilities that 80 long existed i'll his own coun-
try, found his true home. and as lis heart
turned fondiy to the memories of Erin
NdrourHeen, he felt and confessed that
America was his country too; for nowhere
could he traverse over free soil without
finding those cndcared to him by the same
nationality, in whose veins the salue blood
flowed, and whose hearts responded to the
same religion.
And because the Irishman is SO much a
part Of ourselves, because his ardent spirit
and his stalwart arm are ever ready Osym-
pathize with and take par, in everything
that benefits the country, it is for this that
the American, diff ring. it may be, in re
ligious views from his Irish fellow citizen.
vet sympathizes to the utmost extent in the
great Irish festival known as st. Patrick's
Day.
We have noticed that the various holi-
days and festivals of the present year have
been celebrated with an imPressnteut sur
passing the celebrations OF any other year
since the great civil war has ended. and
what is true of otl!cr occasions is equally
true of 81. Pa:rick's Day. for the turnout
yesterday was larger and the celebration
more earnest tLan We ever remember to
have witnessed.
Although the weather on Thursday was
SO inclement that great apprehension Was
entertained that the procession on ST. Pat
rck's Day would hc prevented. these appre-
tensions We're agreeably disappointed. for
the day of ST. Patrick dawncd as fair as far
could be.
At an early hour the notes OF preparation
were heard, and one after another the mem
bers Of the various Hibernian associations
assembled, each in readiness to take part in
the role of the day, the principal being the
various branches of the Hibernian Benevo-
lent and Mutual Aid Associations. In Civ
ing a report Of the occurrences of the day
We first describe
A Flag Christenei.
The first division OF the order above
named, having been presented with a mag
niticent tlag. proceeded before they joined
the main procession on Canal street. to ST
Patrck's church. where the flag was blessed
by Fathers Flanagan and Allen: MessrS.
Patrick Irwin and Hugh McCloskey were
sDunsnrs.
Rev. Father Flanagan made Il most elo-
uucnt address to his countrymen. He ad-
vised them. above all, to avoid the great
evil OF this age, at least during this day:
he said that he was proud to see SO many
educated anu ItSFcttaOlc lrlSuIHeu gathered
to ocelebrate theonly day theirrace could now
recognize as national to themselves: he was
proud of it because it was proof that one Of
the strongest elements oflrelaud's greatness
is. that her sons still, in whatever cline
they may be. retain the memory of her
great Apostle She has taught her children.
i'll other lands. to look back to the his
tory OF the country Of their ancestors.
and to feel IA pride i'll the ancient history
ta n1I .,f Vr.1.
records are fresh in the memory. OF Tier SONS
today. 1t makes 10 difference where one
goes. be it Iceland or Africa. if sufficient
Irishmen are on hand to make Il procession
the seventeenth Of March Will be celebrated
by procession. This is something more
than IA national holiday, it is Il feast OF re
ligion and love.
Father Allen made an eloquent speech.
and appealed to his countrymen to avoid all
exccsscs on this festival. Owing to the diff
tculty of hearing all that the speaker said. ,
or even half what he said, on account ot the |
shutting OF feet OF anxious parties crowdiug |
in. we are unable TO g i've the substance OF |
this eloquent chrgyman's remarks.
After the ceremony the branch formed in
line outside of the church, and moved down |
to Canal street to Join in with the process
siou.
The Assembly.
AS on ali sucli occasions the Gay statue. |
and every gallery which could give Il view
on Canal street. were throngcd with life. |
The galleries held more of the beauty Of !
New Orleans than one could see in thou |
sand years of promenading. After con-
amount of waitng-an invarable |
of parades. by the way |
the procession started and moved for St. |
Patrick's church. The line of march was
through dense crowd up st. Charles to |
Poy,lras. thence to Camp, and up Camp !
street to the church.
st. Pntrick's Church
Was crowded. Not a seat could be obtained |
by an outsider when the procession arrived. |
The members of the society, or. at least, q |
eoodly portion of them, were accommodated |
with chairs in the aisles or standing room. !
The altar was magnificent, and its surround |
ings we're well calculated to impress the |
heart of the devout Catholic with an abid-
ing sense OF his religious duties.
The Sermon
" hich, after the solemn high mass had
been celebrated. was preached by the Rev.
Father Cornelius Moynihan, was a choice
specimen of the rloquence of devotion. We
could not by description do justice to the
manner in which the talented clergyman
spoke of the occasion: of the duties that
to all men: duties for the neglect
Of which they could not be excused by
Ignoring religion. The sermon had pro-
found effect on all present, even on those
who did not hold the same faith the church
IF st. Patrick was erected to celebrate.
When the religious ceremonies terminated
the long procession was formed and took up
The line OF march in conformity with the
prescribed route.