The Portland daily press., 1875-03-18
THE 18TH OF MARCH.
The Celebration of st. Pairick's Day i'm
POrtIand-The Lecture, the Concert
Procession.

oud the Dauces-A Fine Looking
Procession.
Probably never brighter day 'dawned upon
the city of Portland than the 18th of March,
1875. The 18th of March is a memorable day
for several reasons. On this day Joseph of
Arimathea was born; it was also the birthday
of St. Patrick. 1t was in honor of the latter
parsonage that yesterday was celebrated in this
city. History gives long and varied accounts of
this man. He had wonderful power in the
working of miracles. Upon his advent into
Ireland the feeling was SO strong against his
religious teachings that he was obliged to
punish his enemies in various ways. AT times
he would curse the rivers and drive the hsh
from them. Then he would curse the kettles,
and no amount Of fire would make the water
boil in them. He drots all the serpents from
Ireland, and to this day not serpent is to be
found in all the land. An old legend says that
this was done by the beating of drum. In
1881 an Irish gentleman carried six common
snakes to Ireland, but they were all captured
and killed. 1t is said that the travels of the
saint can be traced to this day by the number
of places named after him. An old legend
tells a story of st. Patrick as follows:- W hen
the serpents were driven out of Ireland, st.
Patrick chained one of them in the bottom OF a
lake, telling him to remain there until Monday
morning. Every Monday morning to this day
the serpent raises himself up and says, "It is
long Monday, Sc. Patrick" 1t is said that the
inhabitants believe this legend to be true
st. Patrick was great man, and it is no
l.. 10 ha1d daor n
true Irishman 1t is probable that he did more
for the cause of religion in Ireland than any
other missionary who ever visited the island.
Yesterday morning every flag that could be
procured was used in the tasteful decoration OF
buildings along the route OF the procession.
The decoration at the corner OF washington
and Congress streets, AID at the book store OF
Messrs. McGowen, on Congress street. were
noticeably elaborate.
Early in the morning the Irish citizens were
astir, and at half-past nine the Cathedral OF
Immaculate Conception was filed with an
attentive congregation. The services were held
in honor of st. Patrick. Mass was said.
Father Moriarty officiated as celebrant,
assisted by Fathers Bradley and McKenna.
The musical part of the service was very fine,
Mozart's Mass No. 2 being given.
Mass was also celebrated at st. Dominic's
church in honor of St. Patrick. Father Wal
lace acted as celebrant. A very large congre-
CATION was present
The procession was something to be proud of.
The several organizations had their ranks full,
and every man was on his good behavior. The
line formed on Middle street, right resting on
Exchange street. AT the appointed time-lO
o'clock-the procession took up the llne OF
march!oyer the route already published, in the
following order:
Platoon of Police.
Chambers Band, % pieces
Marshal of the Day-Capt. A. j. McMahon.
Aids-Montgomery Guards, Michael Lawless; Sheri-
dan Cadets, MIR. Butler; Wolf Tone, Hugh
Kelley; I. A. r. A. John j. Sheahan.
Montgomery Guards, Lieut.. Gately, 81 men.
Sheridan Cadets, Captain Somers, Lieut.. Flynn, 35
Irish American Relief Association Marshal, Sergeant
Major j. c. Goodhall, late 18th New York
Zouayes. Aids j. H. P. Merrill, P.
Maloney, 120 men.
Coles Band, IS pieces.
Wolfe Tone Association, Marshal, M. H. Cunning
ham Aids John Hyland and John Dolan, 30 men.
On the arrival of the procession at the City
Building the column was reviewed by Mayor
Richardson and the members of the City Gov
eminent. The streets were thronged so that
it was impossible for teams to pass. The pro-
cession marched over their route uptown and
returned to Market Square and down Federal
street. where Coles Band rendered a serenade
to the Advertiser office. The procession then
marched to the PRESS and Argus offices, where
Chandler's Band gave delightful serenade.
Marshal McMahon reviewed the procession on
Middle street, and the line was dismissed.
EVENING EXERCISES.
At an early hour in the evening City Hall
was filled with people, and before the hour
arrived for the entertainment to commence it
was impossible to secure standing room, either
in the galleries or in the corridors leading to
the hall.
The children, dressed in. their pretty white
suits with green sashes, looked finely. The
Sisters of Charity were seated on the stage
with the children. In the centre of the stage
was the chair formerly used by the late Bishop
Bacon, appropriately draped, out of respect to
the late Bishop.
The programme was the same as published
in the PRESS Tuesday morning After the first
part of the programme the lecture of Rev. j.
J. Moriarty of Albany, N. Y, was delivered.
The speaker was introduced to the audience by
Rev. Father Wallace, who briefly alluded to
the loss they had sustained ia the death of
Bishop Bacon, who always took so much in
terest in the children's entertainments St.
Patrick's evening.
Upon being introduced the clergyman an
pounced his subject-"Mysteries of Ireland's
History" The reverend gentleman is very
pleasing speaker, and held the closest attention
of the audience during the delivery of the
lecture, which lasted about an hour. The fol-
lowing is an abstract of the lecture:
There is special providence that directs the
affairs of nations as well as OF individuals. All
the events that transpire year after year. and
century after century, tend towards an OBJECT,
certain though often mysterious, an OBJECT, IN
oomnrehensiDle to mere human wisdom and
Infinitely above the range of mere polItica!
FORESIGHT OF all the strange and wonderful
b;stores embraced in the annals OF the human
r.ce there was not one more mysterious tnan
,he bistory of ireland and its people, deep
bnt unfat6omable study to superficial obseFV-
ors comnransible only to the true philosopher
of history, guided by Christian principles, VINO
acknowledges the supernatural agency at WORK
in this world and possesses bellef Strong anu
mistaken 10 aaother world beyond the conhnes
of the present. Such one believes tnat al
historic events must tend to the obJects which
the Supreme Ruler of the universe always mas
in view, namely, His own glory and the saliva
ton of souls. By this great principle and this
alone can We find the key to the mysteries OF
II Tra1opd,a history.