Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-11-16
EGAN AT IOWA CITY.
Addresses An Immense Au,
dience in st. Brendan's
Hall.

Hall.
Accepts the Presidency of st. PatricA's
Literary Society in aStirring Speech
Defines Cstholicity, aud the Duty al
the Catholic Young Men and W,o
| men Of America and is cheered ta
| the Echo.
He spoke as fOllows:-"Mr. Chat r
man. Ladies and Gentlemen of st. Pa {
rick's Literary society and visiting
Friends: To be member of st. Pat
rick S Literary society in good standing
! to participate i'm i:s programs, IL an
/ honor. TO he una,rln ,usly chosen ia
preside over IT'S me- III, in the cspa.
city of President, Is - ire honor and
enjoyed by few. Ih"se who have con
ferred Ui,is great evidence Of coincidence
and O. tenn. have at tue same time
made sne bankrupt for life, for shall
not live long enough to pay the debt
of gratitude that owe them. 1 have
no studied Grafton for you this even.
ing. A life busy beyond its capacities
has given scanty time for preparation.
I wish to say that the anxiety that
always possesses me when address
the young people and fellow students
of my country is tonight quickened to
the point of conservation. For the
first time speak in st. Patrick's Hall
to the members of this society and its
friends from the standpoint of its
chief executives position of honor
aud responsibility. Beyond the early
glories of this society, that made it
matchless among all the literary so.
cieties of this city, the courtesy, the
kindness and the character of its later
members have made it the Mecca of
my energy, my pride and my affection.
1t was in these walls, that those who
have gone before US gave new and
deeper meaning to Cstholicity, in the
eyes of those who visiting, yet differed
from us, and advanced the world in
honor. From the portals of this hall
have gone forth those who, by besuti-
full character and spotless lives, even
in localities of bigotry and prejudice,
have raised themselves to the highest
stations in the gift of men. Young
men and young women have gone
from this society, mingled with the
world, its cares and its wsys, and by
their daily conduct showed that Cath
olicity stands for Kindness, liberality.
freedom ami love to all and for all the
sons and daughters of this earth: not
for seclusion, sectarianism, clanishness
and bigotry as many are won't to be-
leive. Upon such sons and daughters
the Mother church lays the sword Of
tmperishahle kniehthood and unveils
the path to- nobler and higher life.
Dear to me-, Sir, are tho acts of
broadminded Catholics. Sacred to me
Sir, is their memory. From heart
stirred by Theses emotions and sobered
by these memories, may God in his
wisdom, give me strength and inspira.
ton wherewithalto speak these words
to challenge and to hold your interest
and attention.
we stand in the d4ytleak Of the
twentieth century. The glory, the
strength, the honor of our republic are
emblazoned everywhere. Strange
shapes have come with the new day.
Fixed atsra are fading from the sky,
and we grope in uncertain light the
untrod way The individual stands
slooe and the widening fields stretch
beyond the sight Doubt is every
where. III obscurity and in ignorance
tremendous forces are at work. Men
defle the sacred altar Of our Lord,
make 1T the Instrument wherewithsl
to satisfy cupidlty, vent their lower
nature and reek vengeance upon their
fellowmen. Our government Is strong,
good, and grand, yet nothing is stead
fast or approved The miracles of
the present to the simple mind belle
the old fashioned truths Of the past.
Efforts are made to array class against
class, section against section. Preju-
dice stalks amid confusion, while par
tisansfip and bigotry impel men to
and fro. Tho church is beseiged from
within and betrayed from without.
Our cities are becoming serious prob
lens. Their government is the con-
tention Of partisans and the prey of
spoilsmen. Monopolies, trusts and
combinations are growing into our
land. Trade is restless in their grasp,
while commerce spreads her wingS hy
the new glory and the yalor of our
arms. Great social, economical and
political problems confront us. The
universal brotherhood of mankind is
dissolving and men are budding into
orders, rings, cliques and classes. The
hiss of the nihilist disturbs the crowd.
The murmur of the socialist comes
from the highway. Established ways
are lost. New ways perplex. Amid ell
the great American heart beats on
calm and undismsyed. We citizens of
the republic, tranquil and resolute.
note the drifting of the spectral cur
rents and most calmly await the full
ldjoo1oonro nf tho doy