The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-24
AMERICAN CATHOLICS.
Hon. J: G. Madigan's Lecture,

Hon. j. g. Madigan's Lecture,
The hall of the Kavanagh School was filled
to completion Thursday evening, it being the
occasion OF the formal opening of the building
and the delivery of a lecture by Hon. j. G.
Madlgan OF Houlton, on the sDuties and claims
OF Catholicity in this country The lecturer
was introduced by Rt Rev. James A. Healy,
IN few we'll chosen and appropriate words,
stating that the proceeds of the lecture were to
be devoted to the support of the IS orphans
now IN the asylum, forty of whom belong to
this city, thus showing clearly that such an in
stltution saved for the city a large sum annual
ly, which would otherwise devolve on them
he then introduced the lecturer of the even
ing. Mr.. Madigan stepped forward and was
received with storm of applause, and COM
menced his lecture as follows: "First in
war, "First in peace" and First in the hearts
OF his countrymen." This is the tribute which
the whole world pays to Washington TODAY.
All kingdoms and municipalities acknowledge
his greatness. Portland, with good taste dedl.
Gates this day to morality ard education, which
he SO much loved, school house which was
erected through the penefcent donation of the
sister of one of Names most noble sons
namely, Miss Kavanagh of Damariscotta.
He then went ON to show what the country
was before and since the Revolution, and the
part Catholics took at all times since its first
discovery. Catholics, he said, have just claims
in this country because it was by them it was
discovered. Columbus, John and Sebastian
Cabot, and many others of the early explorers
were Catholics. Christianity aud civilization
were given to this benign nation by the Fran
ciscans, Jesuits, Recollects and many other
early Catholic missionaries, as early or before
the year 1865, 55 years before the Puritans set
foot on Plymouth Rock The Mississippi
and DE Soto as early as 1862, 81 years before
the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers The lead
ing historians of the country, Bancroft Muir
ray and others, attest to this The Irish were
by far the largest element in this country pre-
vious to the Revolution, and were at one time
ten to one to that of any other nationality, and
were to be found in Kentucky Virginia, Mary
land, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South
Carolina, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Della
ware, and last, though not least Maine, part
of which was settled by the Sullivans-the
towns of Limerick and Belfast. He then spoke
of the many heroic deeds which were perform
ed by Irishmen ard their descendants, and Of
the battle in Machias bay, termed the Lexing-
cOooS
were captured then doing good service at Bun
ker Hill
Next came the convention which granted to
all men religious and political freedom. Then
followed the Declaration of Independence,
which was signed by several Irishmen, includ-
ing Charles Carroll, of noble memory, who gave
$1,OOO,00O for the support of the Constitution.
An lrlshman it was, said he, who first read to
the public the Declaration of Independence,
and by an Irishman it was first printed. Thus
hot iy,o ~ I
all positions, and whenever the country
needed aid or assistance of any kind the Irish
were ever ready and willing to help her
and to Ireland is due the credit of giving the
first sympathy our country received when she
was struggling for her independence. Catho-
lie Spain, France and other Catholic nations
rendered valuable aid to US in our struggle for
liberty. From France we received three humid
red million dollars in money, 10000 soldiers
and large fleet. Washington, Adams, Frank
their appreciation of the loyalty and fidelity of
the Irish in our great struggle.
He then glanced briefly over the country and
the part that the Irish and their descendants
took in it They were to be found in the war
OF 1872, in the war of Mexico and wherever our
glorious Union was threatened they were ready
to rally to the standard of the stars and stripes
and have blended with it on many fields in our
last great struggle the green flag of Erin One
hundred and seventy-fve thousand Irishmep,
part in the great battles among which were
Gettysburg, Malvern Hill, Fair Oaks, Gaines
Mills and Others. Ireland, he said, though de-
spised and down-troddeu to-day, had her gold
en- age and wa for many centuries the mistress
of Europe in both art, SCIENCE literature archi.
lecture, music, schools, colleges. And at her
universities were educated the greatest men of
Europe. In all the walks and pursuits of life,
aud in the fine arts, Irishmen aud their sons
have excelled, and if those people who are al
ways ready to throw slur at and despise those
poor Irish, would but read little history and
learn few facts. they would not be so willing
to insult such time-hOnored race. Barry, the
father OF the American navy, and Montgom-
cry, who fell at the heights of Quebec. were
Irishmen, as well as the leading men both be-
fore and since the revolution have BEEN He
then glanced over the condition of the Catho-
lie church in this country at the present day,
and spoke OF the number OF colleges, schools.
and religious orders, both men and women, of
which We coulG boast; among which some
Arch bishops, 36 Bishops, 1 Cardinal, and
some 5000 priests, over 1000 churches and a
Catholic population of 100000
He fittingly closed by calling on all Catholics
to be faithful to their country and it iustitu-
tons, and to practice their religion, to be good,
temperate, law-abiding citizens, and follow ia
the path of their great leader and statesman,
OConnell who said when they done wrong they
gave their opponents a chance to find fault
with them.
The lecture was an able production, showing
profound study and wide comprehension, and
informed with earnest intention. 1t abounded
in weighty thought and was set Jff with great
felicity of diction. Although Mr. Madigan
spoke for an hour and thirty five minutes. the
large audience never wavered in their attention
for moment, and only wished that the lecture
might have been longer