The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-18
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
ADDRESS or FATHER KELLEY.
Influence OF the Catholic Church on CiviIi-
zation. and hreiand's Part In that Work
E.anIish nnnrna.In..

latitude, ana the ceremonial Obseryances.
though very simple. were unusually sue
cessful. At O'Clock the Catholic socie.
ties Of the city, without regalia, but the
members wearing green ribbons or badges.
assembled at Cathedral Han. and having
been formed in line bv Chief-Marshal
James Hayes. proceeded TO st. Peters Ca
thedral. The sacred edifice was crowded.
Solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev.
Father Flynn, Of Waterford, Ireland I:
Rev. Father Doherty, Of st. Patrick's
church, acting as deacon, Rev. Father Slat-
terry as sub-deacon, and Rev. Father Tier
ney as master Of ceremonies.
The address OF the occasion was de-
livered by Rev. Father Benjamin J. Kelley,
of Wilmington, DEL, who discussed the
obligations of the civilized world to the
Catholic Church, and spoke Of the con-
version OF Ireland by st. Patrick; OF her
answering loyalty to the Father despite
English oppression. cruelty, and proffered
bribes. Closing he said:
To my mind there is striking historical
parallel between the Christian Church in
Its relation to Pagan Rome and the Irish
Catholics in their rs,ation TO Reformed
England.
Catholicity was centered in Rome that
thence the light OF the Gospel might be
made manifest TO the world, but Pagan
Rome sought for 500 years to extinguish
the light in blood. COniscation and death
were used. TO be Christian was consiG-
cred sufficient evidence to brand one as a
traitor TO the State. One could not be
loyal to Cesar unless he was loyal to CG-
Sar's gods. a Roman Emperor proudly
proclaimed as a memorable event in his
reign that he had DESTROYED the Christians.
Yet Christianity day by day became strong
er and stronger, and when persecution
ceased the Church had made steady and
surprising inroads on the people, and she
gradually brought Caesar and pOpulace I'M
der her mild sway.
And Catholic Ireland underwent the
same trial for a like cause. Fidelity to
Peter meant. in the eyes OF the law, faith
lessness to King. To be a Catholic was
to make one the object of suspicion. And
vet three centuries of persecution made
no inroads OH Catholic faith IN Ireland,
and when the first meagre instalment OF
tardy justice was grudgingly doled out to
Ireland she took Christian vengeance by
sending her people TO recall, by tdeir en-
ample, lessons whose practical eXemplifi-
cation had been Eneand's glory, and
whose deSertion has been Engand's
crowning shame. Fifty years ago Catho-
licity scarcely found footing in England.
A few Irish coming over at harvest-time,
or living in some obscure spot OF the Me-
tropolis, were, 10 use Cardinal Newman's
idea, the representatives Of faith pro-
fessed and gloried in by successive Eng
lish Kings. with whom honor and right
and not eXigencIes of trade were motives
OF action, and to-day all is changed. The
sons OF st Patrick have carried Patrick 5
faith to Augustine's faithleSs children, and
day by day is growing the little plant which
is destined some day in Gods own prOvi-
dence TO be the great tree under whose
branches Gods children will assemble.
For where 90 the Irish there goes with
them that pearl OF exceeding great price
doubly dear to them for the sacrifices
which they have made in its behalf
Patrick's faith and Patrlck's loyalty 10
Rome. What need that / should refer 10
the evidence OF this missionary spirit in
the colonies! need but look around me
do | seek incontrovertibe proof that we
are a missionary people.
Driven from Ireland by centuries OF mis-
rule; denied home in the land that gave
them birth by reason OF iniquitous laws,
seemingly framed TO depOpulate that land.
at thought OF which the great Columbia
could weep that his eyes might once again
behold the spot where the birds sang 50
sweetly and where the voice Of the choirs
chanting the praise of God sounded as
sweet as the sohgs Of the birds; where
the young were so gentle and the old so
wise; they have come over bringing
| Catholic faith and their undying loyalty
! to the memory OF its apostle IN their own
! land-St. Patrick.
| Men have seen here but fresh illustration
OF Gods incomprehensiblep providence that
he hath chosen the weak things TO con-
| found the wise and strong; for it hath not
! been in elOquence nor in argument that
! God hath placed the means for the spread
of his faith in our midst, but in the prac-
| tical illustration of that faith on HIS people
! for who can tell the silent but none the less
potent influence OF that one fact with
which all our large cities are familiar! Day
after day, at early dawn, there is the patteI
of many feet over our pavements, neither
bindered by the binding snow nor driving
rain, nor kept back by bitter cold-the
| humble Irish Catholic seeking Gods church
/ to hear the Holy Mass.
| But there cometh r day and time when
every wrong shall be Tighted, when justice
shall at length assert itself, and to that day
! do we make solemn appeal.
| And on that day i would fam persuade
myself when the children oi men are al
gathered round the great white throne OF
our Father that the victors might appear In
the garb wherein their warfare was carried
on: and what greater glOIy may be i'm
agined by the faithful sons OF Benedict
than TO see the countless host OF his chill
dren who on earth have filled every posi-
tion-martyr, pontitf, virgin, confessor-
surrounding this great parent and folln
der and LAYING at his feet the tribute OF
merits acquired before God under his
natronagey And. then, too, yieing In
robes of spotless white in the angel hosts
will he found the glorious children ol
/ Domipic. who have preached the good It'd
! mos tn MANY, Nor will there be found
wanting the coarse brown garb OF the chil
dren of Assists Seraph, whose poverty and
hurninp love have been constant sermon
10 the learned and the unlearned; nor the
humble robe OF LoyolaS's sons, who always
first attacked, ever bearing the brunt OF the
fObt. ever seeking the greater glory OF
| God have ever realized the fulblment ol
JOnatius's prayer that in imitation OF Hin
whose name they bear they might be hated
by all men for His name sake.
But mid Benedictine. Dominican, Fran
ciscan. and Jesuit, can Patrick claim count
less sons. And passing from these mutt
tudes. which no man may number, shal
surround the throne OF God the faithful
children Of Patrick. For with Benedictint,
ardor have they labored with head and
hand for man; with Dominican zeal have
his sons preached the good tidings OF love
and peace; and has not poverty been thelI
lot and portion here below, and VINO may
number the torments inflicted on theIn y.
enemies OF Christ and Cbrlsts Churcn ioi
,,,oi, ,,psbakep fidelity IN Mary and Peter