Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1903-12-12
Entertainment in Honor of the
Ladies' Auxiliary Was a
Success.
A Scholarly Address Delivered
by Attorney Newton G.
Rogers.
INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL MUSIC

Rarely has such a grand gathering OF
Irishmen and women assembled together
in Louisville as that which graced Hiber-
MAN Hall on Tuesday night, when Divis-
ion /, A. o. H., held a social session in
honor of the Ladies' Auxiliary. Young
and old were there to listen to music OF
Ireland, to hear addresses on Irish and
Catholic topics and to encourage the
members of great and noble society,
the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The large audience was welcomed by
President Mike lyman, who introduced
David O'Connell, Chairman of the Lite
rary Committee, IN whose charge the
exercises of the evening were conducted.
Chairman O'Connell made a graceful
little address and in turn introduced
Newton G. Rogers, the well known at
torney, who, spoke at length on the
"French Laws of Religious Associations. y"
Mr.. Rogers gave a graphic recital OF
the relations that had existed between
France and the Holy See for fourteen
centuries, how that country had been
favored with the title, Daughter of the
Church." Then he told the story of
Frances downfall from grace, how the
politicians had brought disaster upon the
country by trying to abolish religion
within the confines of the country. mo
nation can be progressive without NOR
ais" said Mr.. Rogers, land there can be
no morals without religion" The speaker
devoted some time to the career OF M.
Combes, the French Premier, who is
mainly responsible for the iniquitous law
which has driven priests and nuns from
the fair land of France and made it al
most a religious and educational desert
Combes was born and reared Catholic
and studied for the priesthood, even
taking minor ecclesiastical orders. Sud-
denly he broke away from the church
aud her teachings. Where he had once
been son and student he became an i'm
placable foe. In this respect Combes
was like many other foes of the church, a
renegade Catholic, and the worst foes the
church has ever had to contend with
have been Frenchmen.
Mr.. Rogers scored the French aristoc-
racy for its supineness and cowardice in
failing to support Count Albert de Mum,
who leads the opposition to the enemies
of the republic and church. This condi-
ton, he said, will continue to exist until
the people of France arise and take the
government in their own hands. Mr..
Rogers address was listened to with at
tention and was frequently applauded.
The next feature of the programme
was piano solo by Mrs. George Barrett,
of New Albany. She delighted and
thrilled the large audience with selection
entitled "a trip from Louisville to Ire
land and return via Dixie" Mrs. Bar
rett's performance on the piano was pro-
nounced to be the best ever heard IN
Hibernian Hall and was received with
great enthusiasm. Mrs. William T.
Meehan sang a contralto solo that was
warmly applauded by all present.
Thomas Walsh, the Irish-American
lawyer and poet, when called upon made
a bvief address on the loyalty of the Irish
people to the Catholic church aud inter-
spersed his remarks with amusing stories.
Miss Mary Corcoran sang pretty Irish
ballad that met with favor. Thomas
Dolan, a veteran Hibernian, told num-
Der of humorous anecdotes, including one
on David O'Connell, the Chairman of the
evening.
Mr.. O'Connell brought the evening to
a close with brief resume of the work
accomplished by the Hibernian of Louis
Vile during the lest quarter Of a century,
where more than $4,000 had been ex-
pended in sick and death benefits by |
Divisions / alone. incidentally he told |
what the order had done and was doing |
in other cities. This closed one of the
most delightful evenings ever spent in
this city by a crowd of Irish men and
women. Members of the Ladies' Aux
iliary, in whose honor the entertainment
was given, were present in large num-
bers. All of the State and county officers
we're likewise present, and all join in the
wish that other divisions may follow the
example of No. /.