American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-03-15
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
The following address was de-
livered by Mr.. John Whelan of this
city, before the Hibernian Asso-
citation at jackson, Miss, on last st.
Patrick's Day:
Ladies, fello,c citizens and members
of the Hibcrnian Society: That it is
useful to lay aside particular days
for the celebI alton of great events,
is sustained not only by the usage
of all nations, whether they be bar
barOus or enlightened, but by the
good results which proceed from
that usage.
God, by his divine will, has insti-
tuted one day in each week which all
are bound to keep holy, in order
that we may be reminded of our
duties towards Him, and devote
ourselves to the contemplation of
our destiny, learn the means where
by we may secure our eternal saliva
ton by revising our conduct, cor
recting our faults, and progressing
in the knowledge and practice of
virtue. The great God who formed
us, knew how to regulate and direct
the work of his own hands, and,
hence, he enacted a law to preserve
in the memory of his creatures q
recollection of their duties to the
Supreme Being, by devoting all the
faculties of the mind at stated pc
RODS to the contemplation of the
object of our creation and our de-
pendence ON our Creator.
Though the worship of Cod be
our first duty, it is not our only OBJ
legation. Man, though created to
possess eternal happiness in heaven,
is doomed to sojourn for time on
earth, and he owes duties to society
from which he cannot escape with
out giving offence to God and there
by fOrfeiting his eternal salvation.
Man is naturally selfish, and is more
wrought upon by sensible objects
and present enjoyment than by the
remote prospects of happiness or
misery; and hence civil and political
festivals, judiciously regulated, are
of great advantage not only to in
dividuals but to the State at large.
We are necessarily more affected by
those objects that strike the senses
than by abstract meditatlOns. we
see through the eye, hear through
the ear, and taste through the pal
ate, and SO of the other organs of
sense. These are the channels through
which flow the ideas and infOrma-
ton of the mind, and, hence, by
common usage of mankind, on fes-
tive occasions, we have exhibitions
to the eye, information by addresses
or excitement by music for the ear,
and the feast for the indulgence of
the palate, and all these are we'll
calculated, when judiciously used,
to produce the happiest effects on
the mind, or, if they be abused, they
may cause the most deplOrable re-
suits. The most sacred and useful
things are sometimes abused by the
means or the manner that they are
used, and, therefore, it behoOves us
to be circumspect in the use or in
diligence of all temporal things.
Man iseasily and powerfully wrought
upon by the example of his fellows:
and thus the public good is greatly
promoted by holding forth to the
world the bright examples of the
beDefactors of mankind.
Members of the Hibernian Asso-
citation, l do assure you that my
pride and qualification are enhanced
in having the honor to address a
society which contains brethren in
affection and feeling, though not
united in the same creed; and when
for the celebration of our national
festival we see mingled together the
sons of ST. Patrick, and the fellow.
countrymen of Washington, the
lovers and advocates of freedom,
the enemies of tyrants. and the
friends of the oppressed. Irishmen
and the sons of Irishmen, imbued
with the spirit of national liberty,
and dIgnified as citizens of this free
and glorious Republic, we have the
honor to be members of the most
ancient, benevolent and glorious
society instituted by civilized man,
and we are assembled here to cele
brate the anniversary of the patron
saint of Ireland, the great, glorious
and renowned st. Patrick.
This day the Irlshman's thoughts
revert to the land of his nativity,
and he searches for the shamrock,
whether he dwells in the frozen
zones or under the burning sun of
the equator. This day there is no
habitable part of the globe where
freshmen do not throw away all
care and anxiety, make their shout
and song vibrate and meet in spirit
in the land of their birth.
Famed isle of saints. again we hail
Thy banner. bright and cleaning,
And free from stain. as erst, when hosts
Gave battle meath it's beaminR.
We homage pay to thee to day,
Mother Of priests and sagcs,
or poets rare, and soldiers bravo,
Fond nurse of faith for ages.
Land of the shamrock and the cross,
The dli-y aud the heather. y
WLer- love Of Desu,y and OF truth,