Evening star., 1902-03-17
'ER|N'S PATRON SAINT
Services Commemorative Of
st. Patrick's Day
IN LOCAL CHURCHES
BANQUETS TO BE GIVEN By
LOCAL SOCIETIES TONIGHT.
Large Congregation Listens to Dis
course by Rev. DR.. Fletcher
Other Assemblages.
IN LOCAL CHURCHES

saint Of Ireland WAS observed today. Spe-
cial services were held this morning and
there will be public meeting this evening.
The shamrock has been conspicuously dis
played by Erin's sons and friends today on
the streets and In the business houses. The
Ancient Order Of Hibernians will hold a
banquet at Carroll Institute Hall this even
ing, when distinguished men and those
prominent in affairs will take part in the
speechmaking. Another banquet. under the
auspices of the Friendly Sons Of St. Pat
| rick. Is scheduled for tonight at Rauscher's.
and prominent men are on the program for
addresses there also.
A number of smaller affairs will also be
held in honor Of the day, and the memory
OF st. Patrick will be revived in the hearts
Of Washington's Irish-Americans. Last
year. and for several years previously.
| scarcely any demonstration whatever
marked the day, but the interest has re-
vived this year. and it is said will be kept
Special services were held in three of the
| Catholic churches this morning-St Pat
| rick's, St Aloysius' and st. Domin!c's-and
were attended by great gatherings.
The exercises at St. Patricks were wit
messed by an audience that taxed the ca
| pacity Of the church. all the pews being
occupied and the vestibule behind the last
tier Of seats being filled with persons who
of the service was the large number of
sanctuary boys, seventy-fve in all, prop
erly arrayed in vestments, fifty of whom
knelt about the altar bearing lighted
torches during the conservation, making a
most impressive scene.
DR.. D. J.. Stafford had made elaborate
preparations for the observance and Sc
cured the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Rocker, secretary
to the apostolic delegation, to sing the
mass. with Rev. c.. M. Bart OF st. Te-
resa's Church, Anacostia, deacon, and Rev.
George Dougherty of st. Augustine's
Church. subdeacon. The master Of cere-
Surguy and Oscar Hardness were torch
bearers and Mr.. Joseph J. Bingham censer
| bearer.
DR.. Fletcher's Discourse.
The Rev. DR.. Fletcher, pastor Of the
Cathedral, Baltimore preached most i'm
pressive sermon, appropriate to the occa-
sion.
DR.. F1etcher's theme was 1.-THE Triumphs
Of Faith, as illustrated In the Character
and Apostolate Of st. Patrick and In the
Life Of the Church"
Rev. Fletcher said In part:
Faith according to st: Paul. is the
substance OF things to be hoped for, the
evidence of things that appear not
ut is the substance of things to be hoped
for. not merely because 1t must be the
basis of every spiritual edifice which a man
the beginning of eternal life. Hence. 1t
| necessarily includes love and brings with
il delight in God, since eternal life con-
| sists in the knowledge, love and enjoyment
of God
again, it Is the evidence Of things that
appear not. because all evidence begets
conviction, SO the evidence which faith Is
bends the mind completely to the mind of
God. Between the soul and the revelation
of God there Is established an innate SYM
pathy, so that God has but to speak and
the soul, like true child, hears. under
stands ond obeys. 1t Is easy to conceive how
this faith must change the whole tenor OF a
mans life and give him boldness Of en-
deavor which by many Is called genius
but which he knows to be the power OF
God dwelling within him. 1t brings him
face to face with the realities OF the un-
seen world, or rather it lifts him above the
plane and sphere of nature, until he finds
himself standing in the ranks OF the Cheru-
| bim and Seraphina, gazing into the blessed
| face of God
"Such was the divine virtue which found
| lodgment In the soul of st. Patrick and con-
| trolled the activities OF his life. He was
| ever in touch with the unseen world, and
| all his life long looked for the revelations OF
| God.
In the year 431 an envoy had been
| sent by Pope st. Celestine to evaHgelize
Ireland; but his mission was failure; uss,,,ia In
| episcopal consecration ard set out for the
| land of his captivity. And thou, fair land
| of destiny. clustered by the sea, what was
1t that won for thee the smile Of heaven?
Thou vast ever the house Of intellect the
| fostering mother Of chivalry, the nursery
Of purity and Justice and truth. Virtue
! was enshrined in the pages OF thy Brehons,
and thrilled along the harp-strings OF thy
| bards. and flashed from the steel of thy
knights in the day Of deadly dole. lily
| from the thorns thou vast. though only
product of earth. Behold thy son comes to
thee with grace upon his lips. and power in
| his hands and holy conservation upon his
| brow. to dispense a Pentecost OF blessings!
Arise then, and be enlightened. for thy
risen upon thee! The Lord himself shall
| be to thee an everlasting light, and thy God
| for thy glory.
The Work Accomplished.
And now the work Of the six days was
accomplished. and the Lord saw that it was
good. The SHOWS Of 120 winters rested upon
| ST. Patrtcks head, and he fain would be
dissolved and be with Christ. We have
seen the germ of faith implanted in his
| heart open In leaf and flower and wealth Of
golden earnings. When he would rest he
| simply slept. Upon awaking the former
| things had passed away. He knew even as
| he was known. But the church which he
| established. It's foundations were fixed In
| the holy mountains. and the heather rage
and worldly insinuations Of 1,5O0 years have
not avafled to upro0t them.
I'm 1867 came the Danes, and during three
centuries ceased not to wage war In hatred
| Of Irelands religion, and though the
| crown Of empire fell from the nations
| brow, not SO the crown Of faith wreafhed
! for her by her apostle. There came. too, a
| later day In the gloom OF which we are now
living. In the troublous times which super
vened upon the religious upheaval OF Lnree
centuries ago many bud Of fatrer promise
was found cold upon the rocks of sordtdness
and passion. The waking gloom reveals
the church of st. Patrick seated In all the
ma jesty of heaven upon the mountains Of
st. Patrick's faith and st. Patrick's sane
tity.
"This has been the history of the past
and this shall be the story OF the future,
IL only the children Of St. Patrick be faith
full to the traditions which they have re-
ceived.
"Oh, blessed faith, with thy comeffness
and thy beauty set out. prosperously pro-
ceed and reign"
Musical Feature.
During the service an exceptionally fine
musical program was rendered by the
choir, assisted by a full orchestra. The
music was as follows: Prelude. march,
Rostetter; mass. .Messe Solennelle.' Gou-
nod; offertory, '.Tu es Petrus." Layallee:
soprano solo and quartet, ''Veni Creator"
Wiegand: postlude. Hail. Glorious Apos-