The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-24
HIBERNIAN CHAIR.
Rev. Thomas j. Shahan, of the
Catholic University of America, 4
Writes Letter
OF INTEREST TO THE A, o. H,
The Resolution to Establish Col
tic Chair Receives Due
Consideration.

tic Chair Receives Due
Consideration.
The following circular We have re-
ceived from the Rev. Thomas j. Shahan,
D. D., Professor of Early Church His
tory in the Catholic University at Wash
ington; it speaks for itself, says the Hi
bernian Record:
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. October IA, 1894
DEAR BROTHER:
At the suggestion of some prominent
members of our Ancient Order. take
the liberty of addressing you few words
concerning the luton, unanimously
adopted at Omaha, to establish in the
Catholic University at Washington q
chair for the perpetual teaching of the
language, culture and history Of the
Gaelic race.
| True it is, that politically We are the
most loyal and afectionate sons OF this
mighty commonwealth aud that we cleave
forever with the most enlightened devo-
tion to the fundamental compacts OF the
nation and the States, and to the COM
mon institutions of the land. True also,
that multitudes of US rejoice that this is
not only our adopted but our native
country, and that We first saw the light
on soil as yet unblighted by religious
or social persecution.
Nevertheless, We cannot forget that in
Gods providence, We descend from the
most ancient of the western races, one
which has wandered over many seas and
in many climes, and which has gathered
in the long centuries of it's development
q common fund of experiences, qualities,
traits, feelings, tendencies and ideals,
peculiar and distinctive, and which Off
ferentiate from other races the men of
Gaelic origin.
Now, all this is the common property
of every one of us in whose veins flows
the ardent blood of the Gael, and all this
is embedded in the grand old tongue
and the admirable literature of our faith
ers. High sentiments of veneration and
gratitude, no less beitting to races than
to individuals, ought to move us to save
this perishing tongue and literature,
through which the greatest OF spiritual
Iegacies were handed down to us for
nearly fourteen centuries; our national
ity, our religion, and the splendid UNI
broken spirit OF the Gael.
No doubt such feelings are latent IN
the blood of ali men Of Irish descent; but
We want them qu,ckened; we wan1 the
young generations to be conscious Of
them; to be proud Of their ancestry Of
scholars, teachers, missionaries, saints
and martyrs, and to develop for the good
of this great country the noble qualities
with which God has endowed the Irish
race, and which they have richly Guilt
waited in the historic rast-fortitu6e, en-
durance, daring, chivalry, manly tender
ness, love 1T science and culture, and de-
votion to Jesus Christ and His Holy
Church.
There is an inspiration in great deeds
accomplished that works FOR ages on the
communities which have done them. A
great cathedral,a splendid parish church,
school or other public monument re-
call forever the sacrifices Of the genera
ton which toiled to uplift them. Nay,
IN them that generation is immortal for
every stone is eloquent with praise of
the generosity and intelligence Of THE
builders. But this chair of the Celtic
tongue, literature, civilization and bis
tory will be more than any monument OF
stone or bronze. From 1t will reso und
the living voice OF teacher, and as long
as our country lasts ii will be the solid
centre about which mey gather all those
who love the story, the tongue, the writ.
ings, the poetry and the spirit of the
Gael. Whatever teaching is established
in universities partakes at once Of the
nature Of these universal schools. II
shares their dignity, and its results are
| sure to be as widespread as their influ.
ence and the fields where they draw
their students.
This chair, when established, will dc
| an ever increasing honor to the Irish
name and cause. It will help to unite
us all on the common ground of litera'
ture and learning. It will tend to make
| us follow the highest ideals, intellectual
and moral. The great scholars of this
land will learn through it what the Gae1
was and is in the worlds history, and
what the scholars have once grasped az
the truth, very quickly makes its way
into the books and newspapers of the
day. Moreover, this chair will furnish q
full and accurate knowledge of our liter.
allure and history to the Catholic press
of this country, power that is growing
in numbers and influence to Catholic