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

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but
my words shall not pass away" Shut
your eyes to the fact of an overruling
providence, to the fact of future life for
all previous deeds done on earth, well
you cannot deny that 1t S better for man
to save his soul, than TO gain the whole
world. and that IL is better to be true to
conscience and to God and firm in the
faith, than to abound in the goods of this
world; even better than to stand as a
hero in the ranks of human enlighien-
ment and progress. There are men to-day
who like Solomon have tasted of all the
delights of pleasure who have assembled
the highest pinnacle of fame and taken
the first rank in science, without finding
real and true satisfaction and who are
now craving for something higher, some
thing worthier-the ambition of an I'M
mortal soul. The son of God himself
came upon this earth. He came to speak
words OF power TO man and to establish
hls doctrine upon an everlasting
foundation. lie came to make US all one
as lie and the Father are one. But
among the nations that at one time or an
other obeyed the Savior's call a large
number proved themselves unfaIthful.
The land that remained true and faithful
was Ireland. She alone among the ma
tons clings to the faith. No prosecutions
could terrify them; no privations could
shake their constaucy; no bitter humilia-
tons would waver their fidelity, and
though they we're for more than two CEN
turtles flock without "a shepherd, though
there was no court OF inquIsltion to check
false and dangerous teachings. still did
they cling to the teaching OF ST. Patrick;
still were they what they arc to-day, one
nation that manifested true loyalty to
God, truth and consce nce.
When the Irish people were to become a
nation of martyrs and confcssors of tho
faith, never was tyranny so displayed in
all it's hideous colors, never did human
malice more actively concentrate its fury
for the destruction of everything good and
noble; but never, also, did generosity,
self-devotedness and self-sacrifice appear
i'm brighter light. All the instruments of
persecution were invented, every APP
plIance of bodily pain and mental an
gu sh was made use of to turn her people
away from the faith of their fathers.
Poverty with all its bitterness, exile with
all its sorrows. nay, even death with all
it's terrors were faced with cheerfulness,
Their lands were confiscated, the exercise
of the duties of their religion was denied
them. The minister of religion was perse-
cuted and chased from one hiding place
to another. They suffered loss
of property, friends and life. No
tongue, no pen could depict
the horrors of these penal laws
to which Ireland and her children were
subjected. But ireland, glorious Ireland.
could not abandon the faith which they
received from Patrick and they pro-
claimed that, as sure as there was God
in heaven SO sure would Ireland's altar
stand and her Catholic faith remain with
her until the end of time, and to-day this
faith is loved as dearly as in the day of
Patrick. SO are the Irish people, dear
friends, ready to meet the same persecu-
tons and the same sufferings. Do they
not know and realize to-day that the
highest glory of "A man or of a nation is
fidelity to God. The Irish race could have
had wealth, property and homo governs
ment if her land had consented a aban-
don the faith. But those heroic ones
who went before you would not
and could not accept the Infamous pro-
posals. You. the sons of that grand,
noble Erin, be careful not to prove your
selves unworthy of so noble an ancestry
Thrive by purity of life and conductto'
reflect credit upon your heroic forefdthers.
BE always and everywhere faithful and
pray to St. Patrick that he may help his
dear Irish children. Pray to him that he
may protect the Irish faith which he him
self has planted in the hearts of your an
cestors. Pray to him that you may always
and everywhere show yourselves noble
descendants of that glorious Ireland
which is called the land of the saints and
the martyrs.