The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-19

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hall, Centerville, where the parade was
ing order:
Platoon OF police.
j. j. McGill. marshal.
Emmett band.
Hibernidn knights.
French Canadian society.
st. Peter and IT. Paul's society, Anaconda.
A. o. ii. OF Anaconda.
silver Bow band.
A. O. III. of Silver Bow county.
The Hibernian Knights, which were re-
Gently organized from no A. d. H., we're
out 40 strong, headed by Capt. Con Hayes.
They wore handsome uniforms and pre-
sented a very fine appearance. After WIS.,
lting Walkerville, going over the adver-
Used line of march through the city, the
parade marched to ST. Patrick's church,
where Rev. Father Batens delivered an
address. The line then reformed and
marched TO Centervile, where it dis
banded. Everything passed oil with the
greatest smoothncss and there was not so
much as n sign of a disturbance. The
dances given at Miners Union hall and
Hibernia hall tonight were both attended
by immense throngs.
The address delivered by Rev. Father
Batens to an immense crowd at the
church very appropriately referred to
the life aud character of St. Patrick.
Father Batens took his text from the
words of St. Paul TO the Romans: "How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace" and he spoke as fol-
lows:
To-day, my friends, we are assembled
TO celebrate the anniversary of Ireland's
great apostle. To-day the hearts of ErIn's
chIldIen beat with tender emotion and
their eyes are turned toward that land so
dear aud so full of cheerful recollection.
The world celebrates its own heroes, their
names are kept sacred in the minds of
the people and monuments are created to
perpetuate their fame and their glory,
aud SO We meet to-day to celebrate the
memory of that glorious apostle who is
the pride and honor of Erin. You, my
friends, are not ignorant of ST. Patrick's
history. You know the incidents of his
early youth, of his manhood and decline
of life. Most of you are from the land
which was the theatre of his labors. where
heaven crowned his glorious work. Born
of noble Christian parents he was brought
up with tender care, surrounded by every
thing that could make life happy and de-
sirable. Now he is taken away from
parents and friends, no eye TO look upon
him with pity, no heart TO feel the great
ness of his misery. just as life was open
ing with oil it's sweetness he is sold as a
slave, turned out in hunger and naked
ness to feed the cattle on the cold, bleak
mountains of the north province of Ire
land. There he remained in bitter exile,
forgotten and despisod, and seeing that
peace and comfort did not exist for him,
that all vas desolation and distress, he
turned his heart to God and he began TO
pray. He prepared himself for that ex-
allied destiny TO which God almighty
called him, for he was TO be Ireland's inn
mortal apostles; he was to bring the
light of God's gospel to Erin's
barbarians; he was to change this land OF
pagans into land of saints. He came
and Ireland welcomed him as a friend for
Patrick was TO he her great hero. lie
came. raised up his voice, unveiled the
standard of the cross. preached the
gospel and taught the people of
iceland from the king upon his
throne down To the humblest peasant
in the land and like one man the
whole nation arose and welcomed the
apostle, took the message from his mouth
and engraved II in their hearts. Churches
were built in every quarter of the land;
monasteries covered the hills and the val
leys were crowded with hermits. Tue en-
tire nation became n nation of saints and
strange to say, that faith which spread
itself so rapidly and which we may think
would also fade and disappear, rapidly
has been for II centuries, Ern's fame
and glory. The nations of the earth have
tried its strength but in vain. Ireland's
faith could not he shaken. Ii Is common
for men and nations in hours of trial
and difficulty 10 change their
faith, to deny today that
cannot afford To give up property, liberty
and life, everything in this world rather
than lose their faith and tho world has
seen over and over again the sad spec
tacle of nations changing their faith and
shaking of their God. But there is one
race again amongst the nations, one ma
ton amongst all other nations that re-
ccived l,i)O wears ago this divine aud
noble gift of God, IL was accepted by iis
people gladly and willingly and so dearly
did they love that they were prepared TO
suffer and To die rather than to give IL up.
We have seen the eastern nations, who
received the divine faith from the apostles.
forgetting and changing II under the per-
secutlons of the Greek cmperors or under
the terrible hand of Mohammed. We
have seen from time TO time that civilized
nations of Europe renouuce their faith
and fidelity to good. Where is the Cath
ole faith that was once the crown and
glory of England? Where is the glowing
faith that was once so dearly loved N
Russia and northern Germany? Ii
Is no more. Ii is amongst the
traditions of the past. Bat where to-day
Is the faith that Patrick preached in Ire
land l.4pO years ago? IL Is in the mind
and the heart of the Irish race wherever
they are. IL is there. II is pure as when il
came from the lips of lreland's apostle,
and II Is as dear TO the nation as the day
when II was the crown of Erin's glory.
Yes, well may the children of Erin glory
that they belong To a nation thus distin-
culshed above all other nations. Let
other nations eNult in their military glory,
their heroic achievements. their bloody
conquests, their glory IN their present
prosperity, thor advancement in COM
mcrCc, IN arts, IN worl. IN
their material and social progress.
Il Is we'll we admire H. But a word went
out among the nations centuries ago aud
its sound was heard 70 the uttermost