Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-18


citizen in the land of his adoption, and added
other profitable instruction, which was closely
listened to, and applauded at its close Father
Garrhan spoke particularly of the day and the
enjoyment its proper celebration afforded the
Irish people, closing with an admonition to de-
sist from all excuses and rioting. His remarks
were also received with attention and applauded.
At Salem square the line halted after its tire
some march, and was addressed by the chief
marshal, Mr.. John F. Murray, who congratu.
lated the men on their fine appearance and or
derby conduct, said other pleasant things and
wound up by advising them to attend the lee
turc in the evening. They were then dismissed.
HON. W. E. RoBINsoN's LECTURE.
large audience met at Mechanics hall, last
evening, to hear the lecture of Hon. VIM. L.
Robinson, of Brooklyn, N. Y, on ireland
her Interests and her Destiny" He was intro
duced by Mr.. jeremiah Murphy. Mr.. Robin
son began by asking indulgence of the audi
Cuce on account of severe illness, from which
he had not recovered, and he was there against
the advice of his physician, and only devotion
to the cause impelled him to endeavor to fulfill
his engagement. lie said it was now 1906 years
since the death of Ireland's distinguished saint,
who had doneso much for her moral regeneration
yet her vcneration for him had not abatcd. He
gave an outline of the life and labors of Saint
Patrick, who was a native of France; bis first
landing upon the Emerald Isle, in the beginning
of the fourth century; his seven years captivi-
ty by the native rulers there, and his subsequent
return to the continent and visit to Rome,
where he was commissioned for the holy work
upon which he afterwards entered. His extra
ordinary labors, and their more extraordinary
effects upon the people of Ireland, during his
thirty years efforts, in their conversion from
barbarism and idolatry to the Christian faith,
were detailed. A brief sketch was then made
of the early history of Ireland, with illusions
to her distinguished patriots and martyrs, her
bards and statesmen, to the expressions of En-
glsh rule and to the indomitabe will and
spirit Of liberty which ever had and always
would animate the sons of this "Gem of the
Sea" till freedom and independence are achicv-
ed. Her more proper connection, morally, po-
liticaly and socially, Nwas with the United
States, rather than with any nation in Europe,
and she was stretching out her arms to us for
dhhSAdtlOus liz EiCdb dlu gwen " Jul lOhOlu-
tionary cause in 1776 by the "Frieudly Sons of
st. Patrick" in Philadelphia, in the subscrip-
ton of half million of money by them
to aid our suffering army, was alluded to,
as illustrating our present obligation. Mr.. Rob
insol closed by reference to the future destiny
of ireland, counselling hope and confidence that
better days would soon dawn upon her history.
His lecture occupied about an hour and half
in the delivery, abounded in eloquent descrip-
tons and impassioned appeals in its portrayal
of Ireand'S beauty and Irish wrongs, and was
listened to with undivided attention.
THE SUPPER,
Which Mr. Thral of the Bay State house had
in readiness soon after the close of the lecture,
was one in which Saint Patrick himself would
have delighted, had his benevolent career been
late enough to bless the present generation per-
sonally. The long tables in the dining hall were
filled when the people sat down, and the people
were filled when the tables were deserted. So
much for the eating.
Mr. jeremiah Murphy, master of ceremonies
for the evening, made the opening speech when
the attention was turned from the plates. He
spoke of the proud spirit of Ireland, notwith.
standing her down-trodden condition; of the
changes wrought in the past year, and of the
meaning these changes have in what is to fol-
low. In the way Of illustrating this spirit, he
alluded to the fact that during the year an
attempt had been made to secure a site
in the city of Dublin for statue of (as
he styled himl the "imbecie, idiotc
Prince Albert" which attempt utterly
failed, while in the same year statue of Will
liam Smith O'Brien had been unveiled in that
same city of Dublin. His remarks included
other matters brought to mind by the associa-
tons of the day; and in closing he introduced
Mr.. Owen F. Burns as toast master for the eve
ming.
The first toast, The day we celebrate" was
passed by in the absence of Father Griffin, who
was expected to give response, but had been
absent from the table since saying grace. The
second,
Ireland-thOugh absent and far from her green
and fertile shores, our hearts turn in fond affec.
ton to our native land; and in all her trials,
sufferings and hopes, she is fondly remembered
by the scattered children of the Irish race
Met happy response from Mr.. John j. O'Gor-
man, who cloquently alluded to the fact that
L 3
his heart fondly turns to his fatherland, and
each in his own way strives to make it great
day, the trials and troubles of the race making
them more united and enthusiastic in the cele-
bration of this their peculiar holiday, the annu-
al occurrence of which is 50 full of pleasant
memories of the Green Isle, The third
The United States-The refuge of the exile;
we have done our part in complying with her
claims upou us in this the land of our adoption.
May she enforce her claims against the oppres-
sOr of the land of our birth
Was one response to which was called for from
Hon. VIM. L. Robinson. He gave some amusing
incidents OF his own experience in the United
States, beginning with the time of his landing at
New York, thirty-ive years ago, with only one
sovereign in his pocket, for which he immedi-
ately procured the change, after VIII CHI he re-
freshed himself with beverage not exactly
sanctioned by the temperance men of the present
day. His next move was to get naturalizcd,
which he could then do without having lived
five years in the country The clerk of the court,
who administered theoath, wound up with $50
help you God give me a dollar" and rebuked
the newly-made citizen when asked by
him if he couldn't afford to put a semi
colon, or at least a comma, between God
and the dollar. This was told in way to create
much laughter, as were also several other per-
sonal anecdotes about his having been suspended
from college, afterwards expelled from the house
Representatives in Washington, where he was
newspaper correspondent, for describing Saw
yer, Of Ohio He gave an account of his ac-
quaintance, in those days, with Webster, Clay
and other eminent American statesmen; and
then passed to some remarks on emigration,
giving it as his opinion that a majority of the
people in the United States were Irish, remark
ing that as the numbers increased all should
see to it that the children should be brought up to
fear the Lord, and love George Washington and
Saint Patrick.
The Heart of the Commonwealth she
continue in her prosperity, and retain her posi-
ton as second city Of the state
Was the fourth toast, and, very appropriately,
Mayor Earle was called upon to respond. He
told story, on rising, about meeting an Irish