Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-18

was strictly an Irish-American affair and
when the menu had been discussed the
last song sung and the last speech made
the managers of the celebration were
complimented on the success of their ef-
forts.
Among the speakers were Mgr. Dennis
]. O'Connell of the Catholic University;
Rev. Father Eugene F. Connolly. pastor
of the Immaculate Conception Church:
Francis P. Sheehy. District president An
cient Order of Hibernians: Joseph d.
Sullivan. president Division No. b: Repre-
sentative Abraham L. Brick and Repre-
sentative William Sulzer of New York
Rosa r. Downing was postmaster.
nv Mrs Nellie B. Kelser, soprano; Miss
Mary G. Curtin. soprano. and j. Harry
Maxwell, tenor. Miss Margaret Brosnahan
was the accompanist
A telegram was read by the POSTMASTER
from P ]. Haltigan, editor of the Ma
tional Hibernian, who had been called to
Bridgeport Conn. to make an address
before the order in that city. 1t read as
follows: Two thousand Hibernians of
bridgeport Conn. in mass meeting as
sembled join with me in fraternal greet
ings to our brothers and sisters OF the
National capital" The reading of the
telegram was followed by applause.
Views of Mgr. O'ConneN.
The Catholic University. with which l
am connected is rot less interested in you
Hibernians than you are in it, Mge.
O'Connell said. in responding to the toast,
The Church" 1T loves you, and thinks
of YOU and watches over you. | have been
called upon to speak on the toas;, The
Church., and ] wish TO say that L could
talk upon that subject all night.
Il am more familiar with it than with
any other subject you might mention
But / will not take up too much time. as
there are number of brilliant takers
who are to follow me. II is generally ad-
mitted by men who study it that each
and every race on the face Of the earth de-
velops some characteristic trait. l do not
think the characteristic trait of our nation
is that of cohesion or organization: We
are too full of independence. We wish to
be leader. We have d trait that no other
nation in the world can lay claim to-the
| trait that will make it impossible forever
for a Celt to be slave.
J We are bound together by bond of
unity 4 stronger bond could not be-the
church. However we may be scattered
| over the world. when we meet we are one.
| Our nation covers the earth. yet we are
| nodded into one great. solid phalanx,
| one that will never be broken, that of
| faith"
AS Mgr. OConnen departed to keep
an appointment those present arose and
drank d silent toast in his honor.
DAY We Celebrate"
| Rev Father Connolly assistant pastor
of Immaculate Conception Church. re-
sponded to the toast. The Day We Cele-
| brate.'
To-day we celebrate the inception of
moral influence he said. augmented
and sanctified by Gods holy blessing,
which has wrought untold and immeasur-
able good for mankind and woven into
| the annals of the human race many of
| its most sorrOwful. yet witbal, sublime
| chapters. When ST. Patrick answered
| the call of the death angel. Ireland lost
leader but she gained more-an advo-
| cate before the throne of God.
| If any men have reason to celebrate
| if any race has cause TO feel a virtuous
pride in the history of its ancestors,
| then have we reason to assemble tonight
| and commemorate the shining glOrleS of
| the Gaelic race.
THE deeds of Ireland and her sons are
| to be found on every page of American
| history They fought and died for the
| independence of America. They have
every right and duty to labor for Amer-
| ca now.
Their influence for good will go far
| toward blighting the immoral weeds
springing up about us; toward leading lis
|
| more just, more enlightened, more pros
porous times.
History of the Hibernians.
Responding 10 the toast Our Order
Francis p. Sheehy, district president of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians gave
an outline of the history of the Hiber-
Mans of the numerous good things they
had accomplished and touched on what
they intended to do in the future.
The Irishman in America was the
toast assigned to Joseph d. Sullivan,
president of Division ;. A. o. n.
Our connection with America, Mr..
Sullivan declared, goes back TO the very
beginning of it's history. We know on
the best authority that st. Brennan was
the first discoverer of this continent.
The majority of the coloniSts who set
tied in the original states were of good
old Gaelic stock. and the names of many
of the cities on the Atlantic coast indi-
cate the Irish origin of their founders.
THE spirit which prompted immigra-
ton to America of so countless brave
Irish hearts was the spirit of liberty. al
ways so strongly developed in the Irish
man. Quitting their homes. their possess
| sions and retaining only their memory
| OF dear old Erin and her once happy