The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-19
ST, PATRICK WAS
ORATORS SUBJECT
Father Doyle Delivered Eloquent
Address Last Night
LARGE AUDIENCE PRESENT
Ancient Order of Hibernians Held Gel
ebration in Honor of lreand's
Patron Sant-lnteresting
Programme.

The Rev. Father Francis c. Doyle adj
dressed Division No 3, Ancient Order of
Hibernians, and their friends. at Knights
of Columbus hall, First avenue and
Twentieth street, last night.
The occasion was the annual celebra-
ton in honor Of ST. Patrick and the hall
was comfortably filled with people in
spite of the extremely bad weather.
The feature of the evening was the
eloquent lecture of Father Doyle which
was listened to with profound interest
by all present
In part the speaker said: THE spirit
of Ireland is the spirit of all liberty-loy
ing people. Through all the centuries or
oppression through which the Emerald
Isle has come its people have remained
steadfastly true to the faith and princi-
pies instilled in them by their sainteG
Father Patrick
st. Patrick found Ireland clothed In
the rags and desoation of ignorance and
idolatry. BY his untiring labors and I'M
shaken faith in God he transformed the
country into a nation of God-fearing peo-
plea nation whose loyalty to religion
and the principles of liberty is proverbial
the world over.
ST. Patrick's Birthplace.
Historians differ as to the birthplace
of ST. Patrick, but 1 care not where he
was born or of what nationality. Suf-
fee it that he saved Ireland and built
up faith that has wlthstood all the OPP
preston of tyrants and inspired in the
hearts of all Hibernians love of liberty
that will live as long as an Irishman
lives.
THE majority of historians seem TO
agree that ST. Patrick was born on the
shores of France and was carried TO Ire
land while yet boy by captors, who
the green hills of Ireland that he was
afterwards to bless with the light of
Christianity and civilization. God came
to him there as he tended cattle, and he
escaped his captors. Returning to his ma
tive country he remained but q short
while. when he returned to ireland.
After long and careful study he went
to Rome, where he received his commits
sion from Pope Celestinus l. Returning
with this commission to ireland he be-
work that has been performed since the
Christian era He found Ireland wrapped
in the mantle of idolatry. He left II
clothed in Christian faith.
THE spirit that st. Patrick gave Ire
land was fresh and vigorous. He stood
by the people in the hours of their OPP
preston and helped them to do their
fighting when British oppression bore
sorely upon them.
A Nation of Martyrs.
when England dared to Cypress the
people politically they bore 1t bravely,
though fighting long possible, but
when that country dared TO take from
them their faith in the living God they
found a nation of martyrs. Blood flowed
like torrents over the green hills while
the people of Ireland stood firm and UNI
shaken in the true faith that st. Pat
rick had given them.
But 1reand's great suffering has
made a nation of strong men. Thousands
have been forced to leave the country,
but everywhere they have become leaders
among men and have been honored for
their firmness and their great love for
liberty. Their blood has mingled with
that of nearly all the nations of the earth
on almost every battlefield Everywhere
that Irishmen have gone they have be-
come great and have received honor [
need not name those Sons of Erin who
have made for themselves immortal re-
nown in all the arts and sciences of the
world. Every true Irishman has them
engraven indelibly on his heart.
Origin of Order.
1--WE are here tonight celebrating the
memory of ST. Patrick under the auspices
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. 1t
is not generally known that this order
was organized more than seven hundred
years ago for the purpose of protecting
the priests of the Catholic church in Ire
land who were being hunted by the
boodhounds of English oppression.
The priests and their followers were
compelled to hide themselves in the caves
of the mountains to protect themselves
from English torture and death. The
members of the Ancient Order of Hiber-
mans stationed themselves as sentinels to
guard the hiding places of the priests and
on the approach of the oppressors would
hurry TO their assistance.
"While of course there is no need for
such things now. | believe that every
member OF the order would as faithfully
fight for the protection of the ministers
of the church.
Though Ireland is still sorely oppressed
by their old enemy, the English nation
hope to see the day when Irish people
Will ne as Tree tS lllOSe VI AlueTlCd anu
Ireland will take her rightful place
among the republics of the world
Every feature of the programme was
well rendered and greatly enjoyed by all
Following is the programme in full:
Prayer by the Rev. Father Kttrick
Overture Sounds from Erin-Orches-
ira, Prof. Frank Davidson. director
Tenor solo The Minstrel Boy"-Mr
James O'HIara, Mrs o. w. Colgan accom-
PIANIST.
Cornet solo, 1.-THE Charmer"- Fred
Nappi.
election-Orchestra
Address-Rev. Francis c. Doyle
Xylophone solo-W. II. Holtz Harry s.
Moran accompanist.
Vocal solo, Come Back to Ern"-Mrs
Leroi Bicl1el, Mrs. o. w. Colgan accom-
PIANIST.
Violin solo. "The Harp that Once Thro
Tara's Hail. with variations-Mr James
Mather, Prof Fred L. Grambs accompan-
list.
Vocal solo. I'm Sunny Span"-Mr b. L.
Michaelson, Prof Fred l.. Grambs accom-
PIANIST.
Bomb Throwers Aroused.