The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-18
THE FAME OF THE IRISH SCHOLARS


had then oyerspread the civilized world. ST.
Virgilius. an Irishman by birth, was the first
who taught the rotundity of the earth. When
Charlemagne desired an explanation OF two
solar eclipses that occurred in the year $40.
he sent to Irish abbott named DungaH,
who might well be styled the first astronomer
royal OF Ireland.
The Irish went to every quarter Of the
habitable globe to dissipate the darkness Of
Paganism. With the exception Of Kent. the
entire Saxon Hetptarchy owes it Christianity
to Irish missionaries. In course Of time the
exodus OF our people became frequent and
numerous through foreign persecution and OPP
preston and eyrywhere they held aloft the
banner of the faith.
Let US never lose sight Of the union between
ralth and the fatherland that has existed from
the dawn Of our Christianity and hitherto
withstood all the weakening influences OF
time. The national banner unfurled on the
field OF battle from Clontaf to fredericksburg,
displayed to the eyes of our soldiers the green
immortal shamrock to inspire them to deeds
of valor.
What has the future in store for our be-
loved land? A people who have displayed
such indomitable spirit and energy who have
won their way to afiuence, dignity and power,
the brilliant dawn Of whose Christian civil
1Zation would have infallibly frightened into
perfect day had not the dark clouds Of foreign
persecution and oppression overspread their
hortZon-when the shackles of slavery are
completely struck off their limbs, must excel
as OF old in the cultivation Of the arts of
peace Centuries Of war, of all influences the
most demoralizing, centuries of persecution
under a penal code, the most Ubiquitous that
was ever devised by the perverted ingenuity
of man for the enslavement and debasement
Of human nature, would have driven the Irish
people back into barbarism were they not en-
dowed with great natural virtues and des-
tined in the providence Of God for great and
lasting achievements. At every epoch Of ma
tional liberty we find the Irish church renew
ing its youth like the eagle. and the Irish
nation arising in its strength like the tabled
phoenix from its ashes.
Cardinal Newman, so familiar with the
history of the rise and fall Of nations, so
well qualified, therefore, to cast the horo-
scope for Ireland, predicts glorious things for
her. II look towards a land both old and
young-od in its Christianity, young in its
promise OF the future; nation which
ceived grace before the Saxon came to Brit
ain, and which has never questioned it;
church which Comprehends in its history the
rise and fall of Canterbury and York, which
Augustine and Paulinus found and Pole and
Fisher left behind them. I contemplate
people who have had long night, and will
have an inevitable day. l am turning my
eyes towards a hundred years to come, and
| dimly see the Ireland l am gazing on
become the road Of passage and union be-
tween the two hemisDheres and the center OF
the world. | see its inhabitants rival BeIg-
ium in populousness France in vigor and
Spain In enthusiasm" But in our struggle
for liberty and nationhood we should never
forget the fate that befel the Jews. They
perlShed as nation, they fell from their
nigh destiny, because in their ambition of
temporal dominion they despsed the gospel
of Jesus Christ. When the sun of freedom
rises on our benighted country how beauti-
full will It be to behold the shades retiring.
and each moment and another Of the
gifts of the Celtic character, the charms OF
our holy faith and worship yet concealed,
starting into light, till the whole nation
shines forth holy type of the city of Cod
Shall we see those beauties in their true
light, and worthily value them? Or shall we,
like the Jews OF old contract our gaze to
the vista of temporal prosperity holding our
hands before our eyes to shut out the spirit
ual glory? Let US hope, that you and shall
resurrection OF our native land from the
mountain Of faith, wherein stands the Lamb
from whose feet flow the streams Of life.
The address was preceded by a we'll
arranged programme of instrumental
and vocal music. The opening number
on the programme was piano selec-
ton from B. Richardi, and organ Sc.
lection from Edward Kretschmer. by
Miss Anna McQuillan, who is thor
oughly at home with both instruments.
Miss Kimball and Mrs. f. A. Whfta-
ker were both absent through illness.
and the second number given was
Macheronfs Ave Maria" a beautiful
composition artistically rendered by
Miss Alice Bisonette Miss Marie
keOgh, a violinist of ability, gave Sc
lectiOns from Mutzkc and Ernst, and
Miss Marie Owens, who also handles
the violin we'll, number of selections.
Miss Clara McCauley sang For All
Eternity" by Macheroni, and Miss Alice
Whitaker also appeared in a soprano
solo. There was a piano solo by Miss
Stella Lynch, followed by vocal solos
by Mrs. McNamee and Miss Julia Gull
len, vocal solo by Miss Coghlan, who
has a charming mezzo soprano voice.
and the closing number was by Miss
Anna McQuillan, who gave selections
from Greig.