The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-17


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President John W. Hogan presided at
the dinner with Edward McSweeney, edi-
tor of the Boston Traveller at his right
hand. the newly elected president John
p. Beagan, not arriving until later.
The tables were arranged on three sides
OF a square and at each Of the 40 or
more sitting were neat programs con-
tainlng the splendid dinner bill, which
was served in the Narragansett's best
style.
The ink on the program was Of a green
tinge out of compliment TO the national
ty OF the cubmen, and on the front
cover were sprays of shamrock with a
single shamrock on the back
Mr.. Hogan said he expected that the
new president, Mr.. John Beagnn, would
act as toastmaster and the latter did not
expect to preside, so both were provided
with the same excuse. unpreparedness.
He called attention 10 the purpose of the
club. that OF recalling the memory ot st.
Patrick on or near the nth OF March
each year.
The speaker of the evening. Edward
McSweeney, was then introduced and he
spoke at length in an interesting manner
on st Patricks Influence on the Worlds
History"
He pretaced his address by calling at
! tention TO the double anniversary, that
OF the saints day and of the date OF the
| evacuation OF Boston by the British
troops during the early days OF our Revo-
lutionary war.
While South Boston is occupied by
the Irish. that being the scene OF the
|
little fear that the double anniversary
will ever be forgotten.
RACE PRIDE AND DEVOTION.
"we Irish have sympathy with men OF
common stock who meet together in
this country on the days sacred 10 their
! patron or national heroes. 10 discuss,
analyze or glorify their race.
| The loyal Scots singing the sweet melo-
| dies OF Bobby Burns" or repeating the
virtues OF st. Andrew; the Engishmen
| meeting once a year on St Georges day,
| are all loyal Americans and the better
| for these celebrations. So, then. as our
| day of days comes around. we are proud
! to meet together and show the world the
/ reasons for the faith that is In us
! Our race is by nature gregarious, hav-
| ing acquired mental and bodily equip
ment by stress Of conflict during a saw
| age prime as have all strong races.
| For we are a strong race. OF all the
| races on the earth having influence on
| the worlds affairs, only two excel the
| Irish in racial tenacity--the Jews and
the Chinese-and each derives this
strength from the same source-race pride
| and religious devotion
"Our future is wholly bound up in that
| OF this country, and by reason Of our
numbers, if for nothing else. IL is Our
| duty to extend our racial force towards
| national progress, which can come only
| from the united work OF ell the races
here working for n common object
SAINT A TRUE CE1.T
II does not matter where ST. Patrick
/ was born, whether In Scotland. or Brit
| tany he was n true Celt. When he came
/ TO Ireland bearing Pope Celestines COM
rrisSion to preach the Gospel OF Christ L
tho uttermost extremity Of the known
/ world, ne tourneyed through the island.
! strerouosly and successfully planting the
| faith dn every quarter. and his heart over
| flowed with Joy.
"Behold," said hn. "I have preached
| God here where no person is beyond met
and oftentimes nc prayed that he might
! revcr lose tho children whom he had ac-
| uUired "at the ends Of the earth"
n will work no harm TO the saintliness
/ q. ST. Patrick TO cell attention TO the sec
! ular side OF his character. His rengius
zeal was none the less religious zeal for
! beinC coupled with prudence ana rare
/ guoc sense.
! IIo was a practical reformer as we'll as
/ a ferNc missionary. and was as admira-
| hly equipped by temperament and train
iuz for the one role as for the other.
The six years he passed as a slave In
| ireland gave him an intimate and sym
! rathetic knowledge of the trials and
! needs OF the humblest classes He was
! broadened by cosmopolitan experiences
/ by extensive travel. by long residence and
study in several European countries, and
hy the Reorganization OF the court of
! Rome. lie was familiar with opposition
/ f., m within, as we'll as from without the
| church.
RESPECT FOR TIE LAW.
AZ the same time that he organized the
/ church with a mastery OF men and meth
I eds which has been recognized by nom
/ Catholic scholars the world over. he pro-
/ vidod for the perpctuation OF his policy
| by founding special semnaries and mon
/ as.eries for tho education Of n priesthood
/ ST Patrick has been compared TO Scion.
/ TO JUstinian and Il other great law Civ
/ ers. and the comparison Is not greatly ex-
/ aggerated. His policy I'm dealing with the
/ Lew was Identical with that he practtccd
/ in dealing with .he church.
/ He builded on what he found. develop
/ int II and Chftstianizing a. but not an
/ tnsonizing IL. and In this way he estab-
| ls he'd respect for lcsal processes and oh
| legations and devel) )ped a code that gave