The Newtown bee., 1907-03-22
ST ROSES.

lO WIN lOftNO.
 ST ROSES.
 ELOQUENT ADDRESS BY REV FATHER
 SIBERIAN.
 Despite the almost impossible con ditton of the roads good sized audi ence was present at St Roses church, Sunday evening, to listen to the ad- dress of Rev John H. Sheehan Of New Haven on "St Patrick" Father Since han spoke without notes and held the eloquence. He said in part: The Catholic church moves on undaunted, impregnable. Wonderful indeed is the onward march of the Catholic church Most wonderful indeed is that saintly man, St Patrick, in whose honor we have gathered this evening. The church has had many great leaders, as St Jerome, St Francis, and St Daniel, but not least among the spiritual war riors is he whose feast has been cele- brated in every part of the world to- oome St Patrick's day; exiied though they be from the land of their fathers, on this day their hearts beat in unt- son for dear old Ireland. Irish men the world over speak in fondness the name of St Patrick. Father Since han briefly rehearsed the story of how the poor shepherd boy was taken cap- tive and carried to foreign shore. That afterward the shepherd boy re- turned to his own country and was consecrated bishop and returned to ledge of Christ and Him crucitied. He expounded to them the doctrines of Christ, and the year 432 the Irish chieftains swore allegiance to Patrick's God and Ireland clasped the religion of Christ to her bosom. History thus organism to the knowledge of Christ. From the day on which St Patrick en- tered the princely halls of Parra, from that day until all Ireland was Catho- lie he continued to labor. In all that time not one drop of blood was spilled. early nations in that she recognized the voice of God s apostle as the voice of God and accepted the faith of Christ. Patrick found Ireland pagan and left it Christian. Peace then spread her wings over the land. the one great university center Of the world. Students flocked to Ireland from all over the world and drank deep draughts from the wisdom of the Irish monks. They came by thous- ands and tens of thousands and re-
 
 knowledge of the religion of Ireland. Then followed from the middle of the fifth to the close of the eighth centu- ry, 300 years of peace and prosperity when the arts and sciences prospered. Toward the end of the Eighth century receive a fatal blow. The Danes came down from Scandinavia. They first conquered England and then cast their eyes on the lovely valleys of Erin. Desolation followed in their wake. Then came the Saxons, and age followed. At the end of those long years of carnage. Henry the Eighth demanded that the Irish peo- pie should renounce their religion, Then followed the reign of the bloody Elizabeth, the hated Cromwell, then William of Orange. For 300 years and more they fought for thelr faith, fought in the name of the sacred cross and the altars of their religion. What manity to man those centuries cover! The Irish people were persecuted, | their altars broken down, their priests hunted in the forest; they could not l change the faith of the Irish people. Great as has been the love of Irish | land, Ireland has borne the | brunt of battle and spilled her hearts best blood in her adopted | home, wherever it has been. She has fought the battles of France, of Ger many, and has been foremost in the contests of our own beloved America. Irishmen can look down from the cen turies and see what has been accom- l plished. Ireland of the present is proud of Ireland of the past. Look at Henry Grafton, or Father Murphy, or the immortal Robert Emmett! Irish men are ever proud of their native land, for purer blood has never coursed through the veins of any race of men. | England did not cease to make laws to deprive the Irish people of education The enemy of Ireland's freedom has been, and is strong, but thank God, hatred and prejudice are dying away Still her sons are as true and loyal tC their native land as never before. Ire land is on the road to progress, and al though freedom seems far away, there never was time when the prospect o1 God grant that the day Of sunshine
 and of peace may shine upon her love
 ly shores.
 Before the lecture musical pro gram was enjoyed, rendered by the
 members of St Roses choir The ) Benediction of the Blessed Sacramen, followed the lecture, Father Sheehar
 being the celebrant, assisted by Re- Father Fox.
 , Ernest Wheaton passed Sunday il
 West Cornwall, the guest of his uncle Agent McCreedy.
 Miss Kate Tomlin and Miss Alic Scudamore spent Friday in Bridgeport