Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-23
CATHOLICSCONVENE.
MEETING oerHe IRISH BENEVOLENT
UNION IN SCRANTON, PA
rhs Work Of the Orgapisation-Hon. A. II
Kelley and Mr.. John NJ Higgins
Of This City, Present.

Tho twerty-third annual convention OF
tho Irish Catholic Benevolent Union OF
America was held in Scranton, Pa. last
week.
AZ the afternoon session of the first day
Mr.. John NJ. Higgins. of Richmond made
an address and urged that no member who
does not take an active interest in his local
society should be elected q delegate to the
National Union. A peculiarly of Rich
mond. he said. is that there is little immi-
Grafton 10 that city and the local society
Jsnenos upon the Catholics who have long
bean settled there for its membership;
since its organization the. Kichmond
society ha, paid out $50, 600 IN dement's ana
charities.
SECOND DAY PROCEEDINGS.
Thursday morning when the convention
was called TO order. President Daily an
nounced that ex-President Kelley. who
came the night before. was in the conveh-
ton. The President delivered some very
Mandatory remarks IN relation to the Judge.
MIR. Higgins, of Richmond. heartily well
coined Judge Kelley among the delegates.
Judge Kelley gracefully responded; thank
inr the members for tho hearty welcome
that had been extended TO him. and praised
the objects Of the union.
In honor of Judge Kelley tho convention
took recess and rendered him areception.
ANNUAL oFFICEss ELECTED.
Officer. were then elected as follows :
President, L. NJ. Daily, Philadelphia FIRST
Vice President, John j. Behan, Kingston,
Canada: Second Vice-President. Mrs. Maze
Reilly. Toledo. Ohio; Secretary. Martin L.
j. Griffin. Philadelphia: treasurer. Hon.
Michael Glennan. Norfolk. Va. Executive
Committce-John B. Ratigan, worcester
Mass; Richard Haggerty, Camden, n. D. !;
John N. Higgins, Richmond, va.
The installation of officers next TOOK
nlace. the pledge of Office being admins
tered by Judge Kelley.
A yIBGINIAN coMPLIMENTLD by THE UNION.
Hon. NJ. Glennsn was presented by the
president, Mir. Daily with beautifully en-
crossed series of resolutions. to which Dir.
Glennan in kis usual happy style made an
appropriate acknowledgment.
Sir. Higgins was member OF the Com
mittee on Resolutions. chairman OF the
committee to invite the reverend clergy al
the Bishops residence to attend the SEES
sions of the convention. and also chairman
of the committee to call on Judge heliey
and escort him to the convention.
Mr.. KEILKy's address.
After q few informal speeches the time
came for saying adieux. Mr.. kellev, who
will return TO Egypt in a short time 70 re-
sumo his duties as Judge IN the inter-
national Court, IN bidding farewell 10 the
delegates, sad
II am unwilling to say farewell, because
am unwilling to believe that IN tho mu-
tations of time the day will not come and
soon come when shall see many OF these
gentlemen here again and more OF the
fades in convention assembled. 1t would
l. N
farewell familiar to your ears. bu. they
would serve no useful purpose. testi--
fed how much Iloved TO be with you, and
| assure you it was no ldleness of praise
when said this morning that you have
never met and you never shall meet with
out having me with you in spirit should l
be kept from you by obstacles which are
unsurmountable.
Il think we are always apt to under
value our parent societies and the affiliated
societies. We are apt to think that be-
woodwork which does not show itself in
great advertisements in the newspapers.
with pomp and splendor and blare OF
trumpets-that 1T IS unlmportant WORK.
But the fact that it is tor the common
benefit makes it noble work. Con-
trast the first ten years of the pres
ent century with the last decade:
Inc nrSt ten years saw ING WoIiu
looking at the most dramatic spectacle
that ever met the gaze of man. Europe
was overrun by man with an unpiece-
denied record. Humanity speaking, there
was then oil that was enduring TO look
upon, yet there does not exist to-day one
solitary achievement for which the French
Emperor fought and for which 40 much
blood was spilled. We begin the end of
the century with all his work undone. with
his own dynasty extinct. with every Napo-
leon banshed from France. and with the
Pope restored to Rome, and that
Popc's successor with pen in his
trembling hand inditIng document
which has gained more widespread con-
sideration and attention than any pronun-
ciamento issued for centuries. BE encour-
aged. my brothers: you are not doing a
weak work. You are working for the peo-
pie for whom Leo is working. 1t is the
day for the common people. They are be-
ing elevated by such mlnistrations "a
yours. Why should you not be proud of
such work That may be always remem-
bered in your prayers, and whether l DO
present or not l hope my name may be
mentioned, and now good-by."