The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-04-06
RI INGIN OR DS.
BEFORE .AGREAT .AsSEMBLAGE
The Frui tful Mother OF Saints and
Heroes Cannot Be Always .5
Held Captive.

The Fruitful Mother OF Saints and
Heroes Cannot Be Always .s'. s5
Held Captive. 81
The st. Patrick's day celebration of'
the Ancient Order Of Hibernians OF St.'
Louis was the most creditable and best:
in all it's details in the history Of that
noble Order. At Z O'clock sharp the
members, 600 strong, assembled at ST.
Patrickis hall, whore they were met bys
National President p. j. O. 'Connor, State
President Daniel O'Connell Tracy and.
County President John ]. OConnor.
The County President, acting as mar
shal, got the men in line and marched
into st. Patrick's church in an orderly
and dignified manner. Every member Of
the Order in st. Louis received Holy
Communion. Rev. Father MoCaffery,s
who was the celeprant Of the Mass, de-
livered 9 beautiful address, congratulate
ing the order on it's devotion to faith
and country. After Mass the members
retired to the hall, whore National Presi-
dent O'Connor delivered q short address
to the members. IL.
The Ancient Order Of Hibernians and
their friends, 5000 strong, filed every
inch Of space at Grand Music Hall st.
Patrick's night. The stage was elegantly.
decorated with American and Irish flags.
"A beautiful oil-painting Of Emmett was:
placed back Of the speakers stand, while
on the stand were the Stars and Stripes.
The draping and bunting were hung in
the most artistic manner, under the di-
rection Of j. J.. Fitzgibbon, the local ar.
tist. The Christian Brothers Band, un-
der direction Of Prof. Gecks, opened the
program with a medley Of Irish and
American airs, and then 8 fine variety ot
music was elegantly rendered, each Of
the participants receiving encores. Press
ident O 'Connor speech thrilled the au-3
dience with delight, and he was fre-;
quently applauded. Among other things
he said:
/ thank my st. Louis brethren for at
fording me the privilege and pleasure Of
taking part in this celebration. [ desire
10 express my hearty and grateful appre-
ciatlon Of this magnificent audience,
comprising, as it does, many OF the fair
ladies, who shed 9 fragrance at all sea-
sons and at all times, but never exhibit
more sweetness or beauty than when by
their smiles they enIiven the exercises Of
patriotism. To-day the guardian spirit
of Ireland sits on Tara's Hill, bearing in
her hand Erin's harp, with the green i'm
mortal shamrock. Wherever shamrock
lifts It's tiny leaves and unfurls it's ban.
ner Of green the patron saint of ireland
is remembered. He brought Christianity
into Ireland, and from that germ has
gone forth halo that will encircle his
memory throughout oil generations.
(Applause.)
Neither Patrick's name nor his bless
ing have perished. His name is immor-
tai il the Irish heart as the blessed faith
he taught. Year after year for centuries
the tribute Of grateful love and praise
has been laid upon his tomb. His faith
has made him q shrine in every heart;
The Irish people can thus never forget
him, nor let his birthday pass uncele-
brated. Beautiful and Christian the sem
stiment that prompts you to celebrate
this natal day Of your great apostle, ST.
Patrick, to whom, after God, Ireland
owes it's blessings and it's consolation
during ages Of oppression and suffering.
The tenacity with which the people Of
Ireland have. under all circumstances,
5clung to the religion Of their fathers Is
the shining mirror which ref scts all their
nobler virtues Her unexampled piety
during that period earned Tor her the
title of the Island of Saints. Z From
the sixth to the middle of the ninth cen
5tury Ireland maint aimed the ntellectual
supremacy Is Europe, and On account of
the wisdom and learning of her sons she
derived the title Of Island of Scholars :
Passing over the three centuries that
followed this outbreak we arrive ats 8
treat crisis il her history which brought
with Il its long train of human woes and
|nlat ational calamiti rom the shores sof
the Baltic D formiidab ble Tribe passed TIE
Irish channel took possession and plun-
dor Aer bays and harbors and ravaged
Iths entire coas For more athsn tlhree
|pent they kept the whole island Il
D atat 81 coDf fusion 81 and alatna, snsil s.
Effolnenting i1isiiaiions among the eopie
Eprafa the way fta t il iinsl sub
/ fioa 81 the Enc i md m
q 3 hs 81 tl,sn,y q
bris 81 rslisy 4 q 3 lI ~ - thee