Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-28
TALKS ON IRELAND.
Rev. Father O'Farrell Addresses
Members of A. o. II.
ORDER HOLDS SOCIAL LAST EVENING
A. o. n. No. Give Entertainment
and Listen to interesting program
Feature of Evening Is Address on
Characteristics of Irish Race.

Characteristics of Irish Race.
fFrom Fridays Daily.l
a love OF fatherland dominated the
happy gathering of the members OF
Division No. of the Ancient Order of
lodge hall in the Summers building
last evening. This meeting was to
have been held some weeks ago. but
was postponed at that time on account
of the weather. Last night. however,
everything was agreeable, and the hall
was well filled with members of the
order and their friends. The spirit of
fidelity to Ireland itself is never kill
ed in the heart of the Irish people, and
their patriotism for their own beloved
isle is still as strong as ever. Ii is
for that reason that events such as
that of last evening, when the glories
of Ireland and of her sturdy sons is
the theme, are among the happiest &C.
casions imaginable.
Father o'FarrelI Talks.
Father John O'Farrell, pastor of st.
Patrick's Catholic church, made the
duulSsS ldSt tNellllIS, Ilio sun
ject being Some of the Characters
tics of the Irish Race" Father O'Far-
rell is an able, forceful speaker, and
especially when his theme has to do
with his fatherland it is treat indeed
to hear him talk His speech was the
central number on the program for the
evening. and it, like the remainder of
the entertainment, was enjoyed and
appreciated to the utmost.
e Division No. 2.
Division No. 2, A. o. H., has grown
fast within the last six months. 1t is
made up of the. younger Irish people of
the city and surrounding country. and
it devotes more time to social diver
sions than does Division No. /. which
is made up of the older men. Division
No. has during the past year given
many dances, entertainments, picnics,
and social affairs of other nature and
has upheld it's reputation throughout
as body of people which entertains
royalty and thoroughly.
This reputation was not in the least
impaired by last evenings event. All
of the many people present We're more
than pleased with the program, Father
O'Farrells speech in particular being
interesting, as it gives so much of the
history of the Irish people. The 9TH
er numbers on the program included
music and recitations. the evenings
entertainment being opened and closed
with songs by ST. Mary's chorus. The
program was as follows:
81 Song-St. Mary's chorus.
Vocal solo-Miss Angelina Douglas.
Vocal solo-Miss Nellie Denefe.
Address-Rev Father John O'Far--
rell.
Recitation-Miss Sara Connell
Recitation-Miss Katie McAloon.
Song-St. Mary's chorus.
Father o'Farrelrs Address.
Father O'Farrell, in his address on
Some Characteristics of the Irish
Race" spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies of the Aux
iliary, Members of the A. o. H. and
Fellow Citizens: History brings us
back 5000 years to tell us of the be-
ginning of the irresistible valor of the
Milesians of Innisfail When they
came to Erin from the sunny land of
Spain they found the island occupied
by another race. They made land
ing but We're denounced by the inhabi-
tants as robbers and invaders, acting
contrary to the laws of war. They
were challenged to re-embark, put out
to sea, return, and land again if they
could. They were promised that if
they succeeded in doing so they would
be acknowledged as rlghtful owners
of all Ireland. This challenge they ac-
cepted. These conditions they submit
ted to. Hazy traditions inform us
that the inhabitants, the Tuatha de
Danaans, through necromancy, raised
storm at sea, scattered the Mesisian
ships, and sank many of them with
their living freight But the remnants
of these homeseekers landed where
they could in spite of the old Guilty
and the Danaans, and swept all before
them. They had been challenged to
fight for a home and a country. and
they hadswon. And thus through hon.
or and through valor they became
masters and owners OF the island of
destiny. This mas ever been the Mil
esian mode of conduct. They will not
be robbers. They scorn to be thieves.
Love Fair Play.
They love and ever did love. fair
play and fair fight. Being military
people, they soon made Ireland fam
Gus and terrible. to the outside world.
The Fiana Erion'. or Irish Militia, as
they are known in history, were re-
nowned for deeds of arms, for disci.
pine, and for bravery The poet Os-
sian, with rapture and praises unstint-
ed. sings of their chivalry, their cour--
age, and their triumphs. He depicts
them as prodigies of valor, and incar-
nations of the spirit of glorious war.
And in this view Ossian is borne out
by European history. Though the
Romans conquered most of continent
tal Europe, and the islands of the seas,
they feared and stunned the soldiers
of Ireland, at home, or abroad. When
Roman power began to wane. and
when her soldiers were withdrawn
from England, which was then con-
quered Roman province, the cry of the
English was, who will not protect and
save us from the terrible Irish?'
AS Soldiers.
From the very dawn of history