Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-17
FAIR ERIN'S IDOL
Celebration Of the Anniversary Of the
Great st. Patrick.
ELOQUENT ADDRESS BY DR.. GARRlGAN
PontiflcaI High Mass Celebrated
by Bishop Curtis.
HERWISE OBS ERVED

-
Irishmen and the descendants OF Irish
men the world over are celebrating today
the anniversary of the great patron saint
of the Emerald Isle, and in various ways
the glorious memory of ST. Patrick rs per-
petuate0 and his achievements and virtues
ommemorated with reverence ana love.
In many American cities the chief feature
CT the day is parade of the societies
afhliated with the Catholic Church and
organizations of Irishmen, and until recent
years In Washington such a celebration
was also observed. This year. however.
the parade YVES eiiminat 4, but the ami
versary is not being D. served with any
less enthusiasm on that account
TontfEcRl Mass at ST. Patricks,
The chief celebration of the day was at
st. Patrick's Church. where pontifical high
mass was celebrated at 1870 o'clock by
Right Reverend Bishop Curtis, assisted by
Rev. Father Caughy and the Rev. Dr. Dun
mont as deacons. and Rev. Father Rich
ards as subdeacon. There was a very large
congregation present and the services were
solemn and impressive. The chancel was
decorated with foliage plants
Inc music was particularly fine The
Gregorian Laudate Dominum preceded the
complete mass of Gounod. OShea's "Veni
Creator was sung before the sermon by
Mrs. Pauline Montegrifro Mama. AT the
onertory Sit Nomen Domino" solos, con-
certed and chorus by Cagliero, was rem
dered, the solos being sustained by Mr..
Mama, Mrs. Blanche Mattingly Rogers.
Mrs. Mama, Mr.. w. F. Mcfarland and Mr..
Bernard A Ryan. At the conclusion of the
mass Wiegands Hymn to St. Patrick
was sung in English, with Mr.. Mama and
MI. Mcfarland as soloists.
An Eloquent Sermon.
The
erend P. j. Garrigan. DID,, vice rector OIL
the Catholic University, was a most elo.
quent effort. He said in part:
THE day we celebrate. dear bretbren
comes down to us from remote antiquity
laden with hallowed memories to the sons
or the Gael, and reca..ibg a history as
varied and interesting as any that has ever
peen written, IL we except the inspired mar
fauve In which Moses and the Jewish peo-
PIE nave been the principal actors The
Jewish people arc without a country as
they are without Messiah, and the great
nesS and glory of that race lies in the sin
gle fact that the Redeemer OF the world
was born of them in Bethlehem Judea :
whereas the Irish race with their great
law glver and apostle is a subject more
fresh and interesting than the latest Eu-
ropean conquest or the newest republic, and
1or the good reason that they have a con-
tint Gus history dating back one thousa nd
years before Christ and coming up with
out interruption to our own day and
through all the vicissitudes and revolutions
OF time still possessed of country a ma
tional spirit and an undytng love for lib
erty and learning. During her career as a
nation, Pagan and Christian Ireland has
steadfastly refused to enter the various
currents of thought. political religious or
social She fas maintained in the last one
thousand years an almost constant struggle
against three powerful enemies-the Danes.
the Norman and finally against the intro
cuct1on of Professionalism, all of which she
finally overcame, because of her SUPER
human vaior and her supernatural faith.
st. Patrick's Influence.
when st. Patrick came to Ireland as its
apostle, the grace of God came down gen.
crously on the island at his preaching
Kings and people became Christian, and
the whole nation believed in the true God
The fair form of Christianity grew I'D
amidst them, grew and expanded like a
beautiful figure which commended itself to
their cultured minds. 1t was majestic and
solemn: 1t was soothing to the griefs and
irdulgent TO the hopes of men; ii was a
teaching and worship; it had a dogma
a mystery, a priesthood and church. an
altar of divine sacrifice and a chair of
divine truth; and thus lovely Erin, bright
and bouyant as her sparkling rivers, noble
and majestic as her radiant mountain tops
Iure and fair as her emerald sheen added
to her rich natural endowments supernat-
ural gifts of civine trut, and divine faith
Notwithstanding the most cruel persecu-
tioLs for Gel turtles. Ireland has remained
ever true to her Christian conscience, and
never once broke the solemn VOWS she
made to st. Patrick at her baptism. To-
day, after fifteen hundred years as a Chris
tan people, she is proudly conspicuous for
her unbroken tradition of immaculate Cath
Ollie faith, and amorg the nations of the
Christian world there cannot be found an
other people so instinct with religious be-
lief and Sp Qnyarpa1 nv the laws of Chris
tianity as the people of ireland.
characteristics OF the Irish.
1.-THE Irish people had other strong
characteristics than these two when St.
Patrick came among them-a love for
learning and great reverence for religion.
These two prominent characteristics show
ed themselve- in very marked manner
and degree at two most momentous epochs
in European history, in the period called
by many the dark ages, and in the GEN.
fury OF the so-called reformation. In the
former she Iellghted the lamp of learning
extinguished by the barbarians and restor-
ed letters and religion in the greater part
of Europe; In the latter period she pre-
served the true faith undefled and diffused
1t among the Engiish-speaking peoples of
the globe
These two points Of the discourse were
developed forcibly and eloquently, the
speaker making special reference to the
three great fields of missionary labors
outlined by the direction and spread of
the English language. the three continents.
Europe, represented by England, Scotland
end Wales: Australia and the United States
and Canada. DIR. Garrigan spoke earnestly
and pathetically of the Irish exile landing
on our shores. bringing naught but his
sturdy manhood and his Irish faith and
from these elements as foundation many
of the great industries of our country
were built up and carried on. and upon
them the Catholic Church In America laid
its corner stone.
Growth of the Church In This Country
I'm 1910 there were one archbishop" he
said, -four bishops. seventy priests and
10000 Catholic faithful In our country.
Today there are ninety dioceses in the
land, with over 5000 priests and q Catho-
lie population OF at least 10000. 600. OF
this glorious church." he continued. well
organized and we'll equipped, it is safe to
say that at least two-thirds are OF Irish
birth or parentage, q very large number
o. whom occupy high commercial. profess
sional and official positions. This element
Of our population have enriched the re-
public with their faith, their virtues and
their Industrious lives; they are second
to none In their loyalty to the nation and
in the discharge OF every citizen duty. and
they have built up the church to It's pres