The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-07
MerRlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER z; 1873
GREAT LECTURE
ON THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AMERICA,
BY THE
VERY REV. T. n. BURKE.
ON THE
VERY REV. T. N. BURKE.

On the 18th of August, Father Burke deliv-
cred a magnificent lecture on the above SUBJ
ject, in Munster Hall, Cork, Ireland. The Cork
Ezaminer of the Goth, from which we copy,
says of the audience:
1t was great gathering, embracing the
best Of Cork society, a host of strangers, max
ing temporary sojourn amopgst us, aud not q
few also of the laboring masses. On the plat
form and in the body of tho hall, alike, leading
men-our representatives in Parliament, our
merchants and professional men, q large num-
Der Of clergy from all parts of the country,
and some from England and America-were to
be seen and ladies were at least as numerous
haps never before been seen within the walls
of public building in Cork"
Father Burke was introduced by the Mayor
and said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen 1t is now some
OF the West. Whilst was in America was
in the habit of addressing large audiences of
my tellow-countrymen, and they gradually
ception. have now spent some time in re-
tirement-preaching only as a priest, and
feel coming forward here this evening, some
thing of the nervousness, the timidity, which
felt when first had the honor to address
an 1rish audience in America, as lecturer
But the kindness of my reception has some
what Gained and toned it down. bog to
thank you for the cheers with which you have
received me this evening. l know that your
kind welcome Is given me nat at all as an
Irishman-for as such W. -. OF value it,
but that it is given re, frst - n Irish priest
gave with high grace, h " irvilego, the OPP
portunity IF speaking IL ,lr1icstioa of &C.
glorious land that bore I'M feel, ladies and
gentlemen, somewhat = rvous in approaching
inc laof for
reason out Of many-namely, that the sub
ject which propose for your consideration
and attention has been already brought before
you and before the world by one of Ireland's
best and noblest sons-the late John Francis
Mcguire. Wherever went in America, only
followed in his footsteps, and say more than
cry page of that remarkable book which this
truly good and great man has left after him in
tho Language OF a most enlightened and truly
ming, moro Willingly to John Francis ISL Ma sSire
because at the time his death spread grief
through every true Irish heart, both here and
in America, my public lectures in America
were drawing to a close, and had no oppor,
tunity given me of expressing in the western
land the feelings of my heart, which would
have found an echo in every Irishman's
citizen taken away from You. Now, 1 say again
addressing Corkmen, familiar with the words
of this great Corkmsn, that feel am utterly
inadequate to the theme have undertaken,
and yet perhaps there is not amongst them any
subject that could occupy the attention of the
public lecturer, and indeed the observation Of
any trained mind, one more wonderful as well
"a interesting than tracing the origin and pro
gresS, and forecastiDg the future of the Catho
lie Church in America. We know, my friends
e no matter what philosophers may tell us Of
our origin, when they ask us to believe that
we came from the ancestral ape or the oyster
or tell as of the theory of chance-we know
both as reasoning men andsas Christians thai
the Almighty God, with providential mind, a.
well as prOvidential hand, steers, directs, anG
governs the progress and destinies of ali THU
world of ours. We know that the true philos
ophy of history lies precisely in this of being
able to trace the mind and the hand of All
mighty Gods providence in all the events
from the tissue of what the world calls history
Now, it has often struck me that the close o
the 18th century-famous for SO many discords
was remarkable by three mighty and solemn
events; the birth of Martin Luther in 1883
the discovery of America by Christopher Col
nmbus 1872, aud about the lfsame time tn
birth OF st. lgnatius of Loyola. Never, per
haps, aimee the banner of Christianity was un
1urled-never were there three men who exer
cised greater influence upon their age w,
have in the year 1892, man dreaming of tn
existence of mighty continent which we nov