The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
GAELIC LANGUAGE DEFENDED
DR.. 0'Connell Delivers Interesting
Address at Meeting,
Mr.. ). ID. Flynn Reelected President
Following Request that some
One Else BE Chosen.

! AIr T, d. Flynn, president of the Gaelic
/ League. presided at the meeting Of the
/ organization last night
MT Flynn addressed the league, calling
attention to the many distinguished
scholars and pbilologists interested in the
movement for preservation of the Gaelic
language. He signifed his wish that a
change be made as 20 his position as
president by referring to the splendid ma
terial among the members.
/ Dr.. JEFFREY {. O'ConneU called attention
TO the devotion and faithfulness Of the
president In the cause Of the Gaelic Ian
guage, and strongly advocated his re-
election.
The election resulted rs follows.
J. D. Flynn, president: Dr. p. J. Byrne,
/ vice president; Miss Nora Mcnamara.
secretary; Michael Keehan. treasurer.
DR. jeffrey c. O'Connen addressed the
league in Gaelic. lie said in part.
Nj President ladies. and Gcntiemea Of thc
Gaelic League
1t gives me much ulessur. 90 participate in thi.
glorious vQrk-the study 0f the Irish langusze-aud
hope to be with you as often as I can hand in
hand, shoulder TO shoulder, and heart 90 heart in
this prlisaWorthy and most important undertaking
the preservation Of the Irish language tie !auq8ge
Il oar fathers
Some say that there is no advantage 10 be derived
from studying tie Gaelic tongue. Well Il thav con
slider t n commercial light in the light Of silver
and gold they are wise, but it is not with these eyes
that He Gaelic students view IT, but with the ewes
oi the saFant, The phOloEst That eminent Uhilolg
gist5 Pro1. j. e. ZC-s, o. Bavaria SAYS the Gaelic
Is among the eldest and the most important 0f me
groups oi ATyan tongues Father PezTon states that
10 is the same tongue Of the Titans and the t0p,ua
Of the Gael, still spoken BIZ the AlmOrc RTqtons m
France and the old Britaius Of Wales thar it is me
tongue Oi the Iace Of Conner son of Japhet
As II IS necessary TO eat and drink TO be healthy
ana strong It IS also necessary 10 and drink 10
preserve patriotism and spirituality strong and
lsalihy. What IS the food Of Irish patriotsms The
Gaelic tongue.
%, Erin. vain your efforts, your prayers for free
GGns crown,
While offered in the language Of the foe that e,ors
It down;
The great Car Of Russia neer stood sscurs oar
Polsnds scattered frame
Until he tTanpled from her heart the tongue that
bore her nameY"
We ought 10 have great respect for tho Gaelic
tongue. tongue none sweeter, more etYectiyp nor
more ancient. The tongue spoken in the schools
eStaoished in the fifth century. the tongue frat
formed the missionaries that went forth m avart
pagan Europe from Germany to the extremity of
ltaly, that gave France, Germany, and Ifaiv bisb-
Oi's tle tongue that formed the monks that snr
Soanaed thaflemagqe at Aix-la-ChapeIe ond ,rbo
lauenI philosophy under Charles le tbauy
~ Is great pleasure 20 know that the new vssr
-s1o' Hnds the Gaelic tongue booming. that Dot
alone amid the Wilds Of Connaught. the hiIs -
Donegal and by the shores os Munster tie oid
tongue stll fingers; but al over the island.
leafh OF The Introduction Of the Irish ls7s7,,s.
as one Of the branches in the night schools os
Boston Many thanks are dus the Ancient O-5e-
OF HioeTniaIs for this. and 70 the same order i
que IN great measure the action Of Consress i,
providing for the erection Of a manument fo "A
nlTal Barry the father Of the American narv in
the streets Of Washington. "
These stepping stones in American civilization ,-,u
oe monuments 10 the name Of the Ascient ODie-
which viii last as long as Old Glory herself
Ihe Gaelic tongue is sIringing like Kettles on the
fOor 'N ''s
And TaTs's hall re-eehoes its music as Of vore
~ swiftly Ieappearng as footprints on the sbora
hher the Barrow and the Erne and Loch Syriily,s
waters rear.
ne o.den tongue Is booming with Joyous life AZ las.
NliI live again It's memories-the gories Of the ras
The Patriarch tongue is hummng its sweet bv
and by ~
and ne children Of the Gael-scot, Msnx. and Wal.
stand n0bly hy:
Oar pulses stirred with freedoms fire to rescue 70
save
The language Of cur fathers from DARK Oblivion =
grave.