The Irish standard., 1907-10-26

terest was manifested in the industrial
revival in Ireland by the large audi
ence that gathered last night in the
Academy Of Music to hear that revival
promoters, Rev. Michael O'Flanagan,
who il devoting his life to the cause
in which he is interested. A program
Of music and song, brisk and we'll suit
ed to the sons and daughters of Erin,
preceded and followed the lecture de-
livered by the enthusiastic priest who
is here to awaken interest in the in
dustrial schools Of his native land in
which are being trained the youth of
the countryside.
On the platform were gathered
number Of the Catholic clergy of the
city who have become interested in
Father o'Flanasan,s work in behalf Of
the industrial Improvement in Ireland.
Bishop Prendsrgast was also present
during the first. part of the program.
In . speech which served to introduce
the Irish priest, DR. Robert Ellis
Thompson gave a brief but conpre-
hensive review Of what the situation
had been In both Ireland and America
on this question during the fifty years
preceding the birth of the new move
ment. .
This place, the Academy of Music"
he said, "called to the minds Of Phila-
delphians the many questions relating
to Ireland which had been propounded
there. But never" he declared, had
anyone in that auditorium before
touched on the point through which
that country was enabled to recover IT.
self-its industries" Ireland, the speak
er claimed, had in it. all that should go
to make it q prosperous as we'll as a.
beautiful country. IL only the 1rishman
might work for himhelf.
when the Irishman has so ably
proved bis capacity for work in every
other country but his. own" said Mr..
Thompson, "it is time he began to
build up for himself in his own land
that prosperity which he has helped
other nations to gain for themselves"
The patriotic Irish priest was ap-
plauded roundly by the audience, when
at the close Of Mr.. Thompson's. speech
he came forward to begin his lecture.
His first few sentences In the Gaelic
tongue were spoken with impressive
dignity, and old mon and women leaned
forward eagerly to hear their beloved
tongue, "the forgotten language, now
lifted up to become standard for the
army of progress" Father oFlanagan
spoke at great length, but was given
close attention and every telling point
was warmly applauded. He said in
part:
have commenced to speak to you in
irish for two reasons: In the first place
I want to bring home to your minds
In the most forcible manner possible a
change that has been slowly taking
place in the mind of Ireland during the
past twenty years; change that has
thrown the mind Of Ireland in upon
itself, and which aims at developing
ireland from within rather than max
ing Ireland mere imitator Of foreign
countries. At the root Of most of the
evils from which our people suffer is
the false system Of education that has
been enforced upon them, system
that ignored not merely the language
Of Ireland but its history. its poetry
and even its geography and natural re-
sources.
In the second place. and principally,
want to pay the clearest possible
tribute to the language movement as
the source from which springs what
ever there is Of new Industrial enter
prise in the Ireland of today. The
citizen Of America who pays only the
~ 80 ss5 90 -