The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-18


rick. TO bis God. Irisbmeu scarcely have q
land OF their own, and they surely Isve no
0oVernment Of their own. The ruthless
con9ueror despOilsd them OF both. But
they have religion OF which nor men nor
The powers OF bell have succeeded In de-
spoiingthem. Their fathers preserved ibis
religion for them at the price OF suffering
and blood. They
STARED neither land nor gold
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life,
In The brave days Of sld.'f
They who have no other sbDnld surely
know The value Of
THIS IoOD-BOUGHT INHERITSKCE;
hut, my dear brethren. fai.b and obedience
10 The authority OF the Holy Chureb. as rep
resented by her duIy-appoinfed ministers,
must go hand in hand. In her darkest as
in her brightest days the people OF Ireland
nave hearkeBed to the voice Of their eecles-
astical superiors a5 The sheep OF the flock to
the voice OF their shepherd. Oh, then, base,
dear brethren, would be the wretch who
would attempt TO sever this people from ibis
clergy. L have heard OF men who pretend
to labor for the political restoration OF Ire
land. and who teach that the rrst requisite
for this end il TO alienate The people from
the clergy. They prate from the ros-
trum aud they scribbe in the newspa'
pers to bring about this sacriegfous
purpose. 1t would be a dark'r day than
Ireland has yet seen-lnd God knows she
has had her dark ones-tbe day on which
her people would give ear to these traitors.
Why, however, do | sound a warning,
when in reality entertain no Apprehension
that such a depIorabIe divorce will ever be
brought about? | need only look towards
Ireland now, and there see the devoted
priests going the rounds among their poor,
starving, fever stricken parishiSners, suS-
tanning their courage with words Of hope
and Of sOlace. distributing among them the
little OF this worlds wealth which they
possess, comforting them in their diving
moments with holy words aud the sacra-
ments OF the Church. and interrng them
after death with touching rites, to be-
come convinced tbat the ties which unite
those priests and that people are becoming
only closer and more lasting.
POOR IRELAND!
When will the Joseph appear whose wis
dom and sympathy will save thee from this
periodical martyrdom? Black, horrible
famine has again sunk upon Thy provinces.
Tny mothers are wasted; thy babes are de-
clining, for the bud cannot blow when the
rose-bu>h is whitening; even the stout
hearts OF thy fathers, as capGciOus of sor-
row as they are OF generosity, surcharged,
are bursting; yet. like Job, thou refuScst to
bless (?) God and die. Poor Ireland! Oh,
brethren, do not forget her in her great ca
amily; give her Of your superfluous means,
and give her your prayers.
In conclusion, the speaker said: II is now
fifteen hundred years since 81. Patrick
lived IN Ireland. During this period So
ccty has undergone many transformations.
Ireland bel self has experienced reyerses
which ended in the loss OF her independ-
ence. From amidst all this change there
still survives the memory OF the man who
illustrated the nv y>tery OF the Holy Trinity
with a sprig Of the green, immortal sham.
rock.
1T CETERA.
At the conclusion OF the enlogy a colec-
tion was taken up for the benefit OF the dis.
tressed PEOPLE Of Ireland.
After mass a number Of our prominent
Irish citizens called at the episcopal resi-
dence to pay their respects 10 Father
Stenger and congratulate him upon his elo-
quent oratcrical effort.
Last night there was a banquet at Snc,-
ling's Cate, at which quite humber OF the
sons OF Erin attended. As might have been
expected, the evening was speEt in the en-
joyment Of good things, both substantial
and intellectual.
At Mozart Halt there was an amateur the
atrical performance. which attracted large
audience, and everybody was pleased.