Evening star., 1901-03-18
Celebration of the Anniversary of
Patron Saint.
PROGRAM At GRAND OPERA HOUSE
Address by Dr.. Garigan of Catholic
University
SERVICES IN CHURCHES S

The loyal, loving sons and daughters of
Ireland gathered last night at Chase's |
Grand Opera House to join in fitting |
celebration of st. Patrick's day, conducted |
by the members of the Ancient order of |,
Hibernians The address Of the evening |
was made by Rev. DIR. 2. J. Garrigan, vice |
rector Of the Catholic University. DR.. |
Ciarrigan did not content himself with rhe- |
toricaI flights and pretty metaphor. He |
delivered a forceful. logical address, which !
eEthused his audience by it's poignanCy and |
filled the bosom of each Irishman with re- /
newed pride in the history OF his race and |
q new determination to strive for the bet |
terment of his people musical program,
In which the songs rendered were distinct
ly Irish I'm type, made up the remainder
of the entertainment.
The opening overture of Irish melodies /
played by an orchestra was warmly ap- |
pIauded. Mr.. William II. Callahan. chair
man Of the joint committee Of the state |
and county boards of the Ancient Order |
of Hibernians, having the arrangements of |
the evening in charge introduced Mr.
RosSa F. Downing, president of the organi- |
2atton presiding officer. MIR. Downing |
expressed the thanks Of the order to those |
who had assisted In the plans and lent |
their services to the preparations for the |
entertainment of the evening. He conclud- |
ed his opening remarks with a tribute TO |
the Catholic University and its vice rector.
DR.. Garrigan, who was then introduced.
DR.. Garrigan congratulated the order
upon its manner of observing the feast of |
the patron saint of Ireland He said that |
on these St. Patrick nights a page of Irish |
history is turned over and the faith of |
people brought out more strongly. There |
was q religious tinge to the celebrations, |
he said, which attracted the Endorsement |
of the church. Further the celebrations
evidence a spirit of Irish patriotism, show
ing that the Irish people still cherish a
love for the old land.
History of Ireland.
DR.. Garrigan then carried his auditors
briefly into the history of Ireland during
the past century. His mention Of the
names Of Daniel O'Connor and Gladstone,
as men who had labored for the advance
ment of the race, brought out rounds of
enthusiastic applause. He said that there
was much in the history of the past 100 |
years to warrant encouragenen for the
future. Conditions had been ameliorated |
in many particulars. DIR. Garrigan then
spoke of the Irish people as standing on
the threshold Of a new cycle and said he
had been thinking deeply and philosophic-
ally to find some guiding principle 10 direct
the efforts Of the race as a whole during
the years that to come.
My conclusion is this he continued
'IriShmen and sons of Irishmen should la
Dor for the unity Of the Irish race by culti-
waiting some of its best characteristics. We
have been divided In the past. Let Erin
remember the days of yore. The division
of the people was their defeat. We have
been duped, betrayed. bought and sold. We
have never stood together man de-
manding our rights. We have been clan
niSh and have not looked beyond the bOr-
ders of the little township in which We
Were born. We We're not strong; We're |
not unconquerabls. And why was it SO? |
We We're divided
Antedates Christianity.
Here we have a people the like of
which the world has never seen. Their
history dates back before Christianity.
They were even enlightened and noble then.
Through fifteen hundred years their iden-
tity and characteristics have followed them
all over the world. They have been known
everywhere as men who love liberty. Here
is a people transplanted. cast out of their
own country to the four winds of the
earth, and Yet they have retained their
identity everywhere. Not only have they
retained this identity, but wherever they |
have gone Irishmen have risen to positions |
of prominence and power. Is not the unity |
of such people worth preserving? Is not |
their history golden with the deeds Of good, !
brave and noble mankind? Why should |
we let all this perish7 Why should 1t be |
forgotten and allowed to pass into oblivion? !
Is IL not an interesting study?
Some people have said there is danger |
of the Irish going 70 seed danger that |
We Will pass out of ourselves and become |
a part of others: that we will lose our
identity and characteristics. 1t must not |
be. In politics, in religion, in social life !
the characteristics of the Irishman stand |
out. and we must bend our energy to cul- |
tivating the characteristics that are best !
and undying. l will not pretend to emu |
merate the characteristics that might all !
be cultivated. but there three l would !
especially urge upon you:
First, love for the Christian faith; |
second. love for knowledge and learning; /
and third. love for liberty. Love God, |
love truth. love country"
DIR. Garrfgan spoke of the good resulting |
from the formation of the Ancient Order |
OF Htbernians, referring TO the chair of |
hish language and literature 1t has en- !
dOwed with $4,000 at the Catholic Univer- |
sty. This led him TO speak of educational |
progress in Ireland He declared that de- !
spite The fact that there are four Catholics !
10 each Protestant on the island, there is !
nevertheless not one Catholic university |
provided by the government, while the |
PTotestants are given four government in |
stituJiOns Of higher education. Despite |
this. he said. the people advancing.
Dr. Garrig8n further said that in urging |
the preservation of the unity of the Irish |
race he was not suggesting that they be- |
come less American; not that they shall |
become nation within nation. He said |
he wanted Irtshmen TO prove that they |
were loyal 70 their adopted country and |
yet loving children of the mother isle |
we owe It, he declared. "tO ourselves
and TO our country to preserve our iden-
tity as Irishmen and thus cultivate the |
Qualities that go to make UP the best of
American citizenship
Confronted by Problems
I'VE are confronted today by many Sc
riOus problems and dangers that We hard |
ly realize-conditiOns that call for the
highest type OF citizenship. Legislation is
not our safeguard, for Legislation is tickle
and can be manipulated. II is made TO
bend to the trusts, the great trade COM
binatiOns. The ballot IN America is not
free. II takes millions to run an election
and what meaning is manifest in the ex-
penditure Of those dollars? These condi-
ttOns preSage need of men of conscience
They must be met and dealt with by God
fearing people, with individual and ma
tiOnal conscience. And who better fit
ter than lrtshmen? Here is people who
for 500 years laid down their lives on the
block IN defense of conscience and did
not surrender. Why should not that peo-
pie be the leavening Of the mass? Irish
men. ] appeal TO you tonight, do not sell
yourselves to the politicians. Do not go
with the caucus. Do not follow your party
rlShf or wrong Vote your conscience