The Irish standard., 1907-03-30
Rear Admiral Melville and Other Distineu-
ished Speakers Pay Tribute to
Memory of the Dead.
The Occasion Was the Unwilling of Fine
Statue Presented by the Friendly
Sons of St. Patrick.

On Saturday last Philadelphians of
all classes and creeds paid tribute to
memory of Commodore John Barry,
Father of the American Navy, Catholic
and Irishman, says the Catholic Stand
ard and Times Of March 23d. The oc-
casion was the unveiling of the fine
statue Of the great sea fighter pre-
sented to the city by the Friendly
Sons of st. Patrick, and erected on
the central plot OF Independence
Square. The day was the eve of the
feast of lreands apostle, and never
before was there such a display of
green In Philadelphia, never before
such a hearty recognition of the part
taken by Irishmen in the establish
ment and maintenance of the Re-
public. l... .-
The weather was ideal. and long be-.
fore the hour set for the ceremonies
Independence Square was crowded
The Friendly Sons. invited guests and
the active participants in the exercises
assembled in historic Independence
Hall, where they formed in procession.
Previous to this over three hundred
sailors and marines, headed by the
Navy Yard Band, and commanded by
Colonel Dickey and Captain Miller.
marched to the scene and formed in
open order. making a space for the
others to pass through. Rear Admiral
Tilley was to have represented the
navy, but was then prostrated by what
proved to be his last illness.
The president of the Friendly Sons
opened the exercises by introducing
Bishop Mackay- Smith, OF the Prot
estant Episcopal Church, who offered
prayer. He paid a glowing tribute to
Barry as one Of those brave and wise
men who, not born in this western land
and owing not their virtues unto us,
yet rushed to aid our forefathers in
their hour of distress and hazardcd
their lives and fortunes in the holy
cause Of liberty" ...
General st. Clair A. Mulholland,
chairman of the committee appointed
to erect the memorial, referred to Com
modore Barry as an early member of
the society, whose name would go
down to future generations as bril-
liant son of Ireland and a great and
true American.
This monument" said the speaker.
"is a memorial to tho founder and
father of the navy that, from John
Barry and John Paul Jones to Farra-
gut and Dewey, has been the pride
and glory of the Republic. 1t is ap-
propriate and altogether proper and
right that the memorial should be
placed on this spot, on sacred ground,
made sacred and holy by Barry and
the men who with him gathered here
| to bring into existence this nation and
the best form of government with
| which Almighty God has ever blessed
mankind.
"The committee desires to express
it's gratitude and thanks to the mayor
Of our city. to the members of the city
councils, to tho director Of public
safety and to all who have made our
work pleasant and agreeable"
Miss Elise Hazel Hepburn. twelve
years Of age. great great grandniece
of Barry. then pulled the cord which
released the flags yelling the statue,
and the band played 1.-The STAR
Spangled Banner"
/ The statue, q picture Of which ap-
peared in the last issue of The Catholic
Standard and Times. is Of bronze, and
stands on massive granite pedestal.
Cut in the polished surface of the
diverse is the single word BARRY"
while the reverse shows the following
inscriptions: