Evening journal., 1898-03-18
IRELAND AND THE IRISH
St. Patrick's Memory Praised
in Song and Oratory.
FATHER BBRMIEGHAMs LECTURE

THE IRISH WOULD DO IN CASE
OF WAR.
Probably the largest gathering OF
| representative lrishmen ever assem-
bled under one roof was that of last /
night in the Auditorium, where Father /
| Birmingham, one of Wilmingtons |
best-known priests and orators, ex- |
tolled the beauties and valor of the |
Emerald Isle. The immense building |
was crowded to the doors, and those |
who were unable to secure seats stood |
up during the entire exercises The |
memory of lreland's great priest and |
apostle was well commemorated, and |
the occasion brought together men in |
every walk Of life.
AS the crowd surged into the
building the First Regiment Band stood
near the entrance and gave concert
of national airs The decorations Of the
interior, especially the stage, were truly
Irish-American. Erin's flag, with
that of America, could be seen
everywhere. In the background OF the
stage stood the picture OF Robert EN-
NETT the Irish patriot. On the left OF
the stage was the picture OF Washing
ton, and on the right was the picture
OF st. Patrick. Hanging from the
prOscenium curtain was a streamer
bearing these words: Who Dare's to
Speak of '98?'
Seated on the stage were Fathers
Connolly, Kelley and Donaghy, as was
, also the committee OF the celebration
, Previous to andafter the election a mu-
, sical program, consisting Of Irish and
! other melodies. was rendered by Miss
= Elizabeth Schwab, Miss Jean Ford,
/ William f. McNulty, James A. f.
Ward, John A. Butler and Alexander
4 j. Butler. The singing and the sing
" ers were well received.
An unexpected treat was also given
!, when little 5-year-old John Carney re-
cited several patriotic selections. He
I, was literally applauded. There were
= deputations from the various A. o. II.
societies in the state.
Vicar-General Lyons. chaplain OF the
A. o. H., introduced the speaker OF the
Il occasion. AS Father Birmingham s
stalwart form advanced to the foot
light he was greeted with vociferous
t. applause. He said in part:
S, Members of A. o. H.: / greet on thls
lie OCCASION the ancient and honorable
body to which it is your privilege tC
r. belong No words Of mine can posi-
IN bly, convey to you the sense / have 81
Il the high compliment | feel in beins
privileged to address you on this. tn,
SO hundredth anniversary Of Ireland
rs armed and wrathful uprising agains
he unbearable tyranny.
II am also here, members OF the
o. H.. TO congratulate you on the un
N. tarnished record of your venerable or
tx der. honorable in It's integrity, glorl
Gus in its history. lofty in the unim
no Of ofr,I..
~ lustrious in the character OF its mem
bers. devoted to the triple cause O
iii unity, fraternity and charity, and des
rs tined under the providence OF God 3
,r- behold a future renowned in the an
nails of mankind and TO write in let
he ters of imperishable gold record 10
ed devotion to the cause OF human enamel
patton and freedom for every child O
" God, which Shall endure till the heay
ems shall be gathered as a scroll an
time and earth are swallowe
in eternity.
I'm the emerald seas that roll etel
nally from England and Scotland, an
! dimly distant from their rugged shore.
stands an island sung in song an
famed in history. It is the home of tn
1W celebrated Celt. It is the fairest pate
" of earth ever flung by the Creator on
leu OF the windows OF Gods heavens. o
p. the face Of the Almdghty's green cart
there Is no land so green. Nowhere
III the sky more soft, the air more blith
y. the sun more mellow, than the SIX
~ that smiles, the air that blows, than III
~ sun that shines upon this verdant sc.
~ ~ locked isle. When the day god, n
'ie joicing in his strength, streams up Il
!. valleys and rolls away the blue ha.
~ from the mountain tops, all nature
~ aglow with congenial gladness. III
~ heather blooms upon the hillside, II
~ rose bushes in the valley, the bin
~ tunefully carol In every grove al
nu glen. Nature has blessed the ancie
- isle
'Iu "In this favored land. this paradi
Of earth. there dwelt in pre-Christi;
times a Druidical people-simple, II
right and patriarchal. Their religi,
was an imposing panfheism, for the
God dwelt in the groves, and tn
found books in the running brool
lis sermons in the stones and good
He | everything But whatever their sem
ND ments, or whether or not they kne
the penalty OF Adam. they dwelt
peace and order. Their gOvernme
ith, was tribal or clannish; property W
an held in common and In laws, la
on bore a strong affinity to the nations
the the East.
1T is neither to be expected nor q
d a sired that in a discussion OF so br
tho a character. as that which now G
and cages attention, any attempt should
and made to enter upon vexed questio
Of concerning the origin and antiquity
live the Irish race. No country in I
)us- world perhaps, offers so vast a field a
ant so rich a treasure to the antiquary I
fact the history Of Ireland remains to
not written.
'ity. The Irish were a warlike peop
Of and after the gifts of the gods tn
'an- greatest glory was in the field, bra
ary dishing the battle-axe. welding I
in spear or throwing the dart. This mi
tant disposition. whether inherit
from warlike ancestors or acquir
from repeated action in self-defer
Fri was often turned to disastrous accou
19. among themselves. Thus one pei
eel. chieftan warred against another. a