The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-07-09
PROCEEDINGS HARMONIOUS
A Most Cordial Welcome From the
Rt. Rev. Bishop McFanl.
A GRAND PARADE AND OUTING
The Business Transacted and the
Election of Officers.

Tho great national convention of the
reunited \. o. ii. opened on Monday
morning, June 81. in Trenton, N. j.,
when the delegates assembled in st.
Mays cathedral, where solemn high
mass was celebrated. The cecbrant
was Rev. ID. j. Duggan Bordentown;
deacon, Rev. George Osborne; SUBJ
deacon, Rev. William +. Dunphy; mas
ter of ceremonies, Rev. John McCloskey.
Right Rev. Bishop Mcl'aul occupied the
episcopal throne. Father Fox acted as
assistant priest and tho deacons of
honor We're Rev. L. 5. Phillips and Will
liam j. Mclaughlin. Father Fox dc.
livcrcd Il mastery sermon.
1t was about 2::30 o'clock when the
open session was called to order by
Bishop Mcl'au. at the Taylor Opera
house. AS tho bishop walked out onto
tho stage he was greeted with the most
enthusiastic applause. The delegates
arose In their places and gave several
hearty cheers. After the applause
had subsidized Bishop McI'aul walked to
tho front OF the platform and delivered
Il short address, which was many times
interrupted by the appaudng.
This enthusiastic greeting he said,
renders it impossible to restrain the
feelings awakened in my breast by the
sight OF this convention, composed OF
delegates from all parts of the United
States and Canada, for the purpose OF
lastingy cemcntng the union SO hap
PLY accomplished during this mcmor-
ablo year of '9S.
AS II man whose pride is to have
first seen the light of day beneath the
genial Sky of the cver-flithrul Isle, as
the chief pastor of the diocese of Tren-
ton, as bishop OF the Catholic church,
bid you thousand welcomes, and
pray God to bless your deliberations.
Questions momcntous to the integrity.
tho progress, the prosperity of your
noblo ordcr-qncstions whose signifl-
cameo and Importance are rar-rcachiug.
not limited merely to the interests OF
your own organization, but co-exten-
sivo with the welfare of the Irish race
Will engage your attention. Wherever
an lrishman; yea, wherever there
dwclls u heart in which p,lls;tcs Irish
blood-;nd what land visited by the sun
In his majestic course around the world
II ~, oh t1,o Il
of Erin?-the principles of Friendship.
Unity and Christian Charity here pro-
claimed by II reunited Ancient Order Of
liibcrnians will meet Il generous well
como and encourage the sea-dividcd
Gael to unite for securing the strength
and the influence which, Joined to that
indomitahlc courage which has never
deserted us during long ages OF oppres-
sion and tyranny, will place dear, old
Ireland forever in possession of her
long sought liberty.
Here | may be permitted TO remind
you that the poet, dwelling in the bit
tcrncss of his soul, upon the miserics of
his native land has announced their
cause in tones which must find an echo
in every Irish heart:
" Let Erin remember tho days of old
Fer her faithcss sons betrayed her: =
When Melachy wore the collar of gold.
Which he won from the proud in
vader.'
"Ah yes, let lis remember the days of
our glory and our sorrow, and let no
thoughtlcss word or act mar the mag
nificcnt future Of the Irish nation and
the Irish race. Looking out into that
future, see the star of Irish freedom
rising on the horizon; behold it ap-
preaching the zenith whence 1t will
bathc with generous beam the hills and
the wales of the Emerald gem of the
Western World
Concerted effort enabled us to retain
that faith which we hold dearer than
life; disunion caused the tears of the
Children of Erin to flow at home
"Disunion," the reverend speaker said,
chad rendered 1t possible for the poet to
describe the woes of an Irishman in a
foreign land, as it had been done in
the Exile of Erin" The bishop then
ably recitcd this pretty poem of Moore's,
and it provoked much applause.
Continuing, he said: Union among
lrishmen also enabled our fathers to
stand shoulder to shoulder with other
nationalities while they laid deeply and
firmly the foundations of free insti-
tutions in this fair land. For does not
history proclaim that one-half of the
American revolution was composed of
Irish Catholics and Irish Presbyterians?
Here they fought and bled and died for
liberty. A memorable example is found
in this city of Trenton, where the names