The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-04-09
g IRISH QUALITIES. "
Eloquently Pictured by Rev. P,
F. O'Brien in an
Address Delivered at St. Vim
cents Church, St. Paul.

The following interesting and in.
Vincent's church, st. Paul, March IL
by Rev. p. Il. O'Brien:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentle.
men:-On each seventeenth of March,
wherever the Irishman has acquired d
home Or foothold, under whatever flag
or sky he may have found shelter;
whether in the backwoods of Canada
or the mines of Pennsylvania, whether
on the ranches of Arizona or along
the wharyes of the Hudson, whether
digging for gold in the Klondile or
soldering for England in the Trans
vaal-On each seventeenth of March
the faith of Patrick, however Pickering
at other times it be, kindles within
him rs warmly as in the breast of any
lome-lweller from the cliffs of Antrim
to RoSScarberry or from the hill of
Howth to Arran of the Saints. 1t is
consoling to think that one small island
on the fringe of the Atlantic should
have been and is the selected instru-
ment of Providence for planting the
true faith in every part of the English
speaking world; it is consoling to think
that if the island has hitherto failed
as nation of freemen it has succeeded
as a nursery of apostles.
A nation may be great in various
ways. Its greatness does not depend
a1pon it's territorial magnitude. Greece
is but an ink-blot on the map of Europe
and Greece conquered the world-ruling
Roman with her arts and eloquence.
The city of Venice had argosies OH dis
tant seas when English navigation was
circumscribed by the English channel.
The little kingdom of Belgium-Catho-
lie Belgium-is for it's size the most
pOpulous the most Industrial and the
WealthieSt in Europe. Neither does Il
nation depend for it's fame upon it's
commerce. The mOuntaineers of Swift
zer]and had very little commerce when
flley first startled the ear of medieval
Europe and carved their way to lib
erfy through the ranks Of the Austrian
tyEant at Morgarten. A nation may
have a name without commerce, Il
literature or a battlefield; it may be
remarkable, like the Jews, without
even territory of it's own, provided
that it has a mission to fill in this
world and that it actually fultills it.
And the mission of the Irish people
would appear to be the planting of the
Roman Catholic faith in the countries
that OWN the present OF past sway Of
England, a mission, since it is Gods
Own work, nobler than any feat of
arms, any discovery of science or any
enterprise of commerce. And under
God This destiny was originally due to
one whom Ireland had in his youth for
captive and in his manhood for apostle
a good many Of you have listened to-
day TO the substance of st. Patrick's
aabors and the story of his life. All of
yon know what he did for Ireland
What is Ireland, at home and abroad,
doing for st. Patrick? Do we keep the
laws of God and His church as we'll as
thnsg before us? This is question
with conflicting answers Anyhow we
EnnsJ rNt assume that because we stand
I'VE ean never fall. Fidelity in the past
lis DR guarantee against apOstacy in
the fnfZ1s. The Jews thought that,
Esscanse they had Abraham as their
father, they could do just as they
pleased, and yet the grace Of God re-
jes.ax1 them and passed over to the
EesJfIles. FrAnce was for centuries the
eldest daughter of the church and her
mor.sr;h The most Christian king, and
ycf sare overthrow her affairs with her
tlIrussn- England was once styled "Our
YaiNy'ss Dowry," and what is England
fcLlsys n hotbed of hopeless Protest
sinfSssG- So that religious fidelity in
the ptEst is no guarantee against fu-
lure sapustacy. The spirit Of the times
as u revolt against tradition and au-
alNs11N- a criticism of authority and of
THE Elbust sacred credentials and claims.
1t would be interesting to know how
Tar Thn spirit has penetrated into so
ansnlatesl a country as Ireland.
Tht.re are certain qualities of the
national character, however, which
sfnfas one from venturing evil prophecy.
1t is a matter Of history that the Irish
man has refused to fall in with preya-
Qent currents Of European opinion. The
aeu1a1 system of medieval Europe, for
example, failed to touch, much less
Influence him. His own polity, his own
tribal system, his own land tenure, his
OWL Jurisprudence chung to him until
the lime of the Stuarts, and when the
'Stnarts reigned the back of feudalism
WE already broken. Nay, the feudal
Norman in Ireland became more Irish
thnn the Irish themselves. Again, the
Renaissance, i. e., the re-birth or re-
V1val of letters, especially of classical
litelature. in the latter half of the fif-
feenth century did not visit Ireland.
The great university movement of a
previous time, the movement which
witnessed the development and suprem-
acy Of the university idea. of Oxford
and Cambridge in England, of Bologna
Dad, to- AL.