The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-03-28
SPOKANE, WASH.
Especial correspondence

] Spokane. Wash, March 24,-March II
was a memorable day in the annals OF
Spokane Hibernianism. There was no
parade, but members of the ancient or
der and the knights of Columbus and
their friends did honor the memory OF
st. Patrick in Irish songs music and
oratory. In addition there was the
Irish play. "Arrah Ma Pogue,' by the
Jessie Shirley stock company in the
Auditorium theatre, which was
throneed The musical numbers were
presented by Mrs. George Manning,
Miss Antoinette Leiendecker and Harry
| Wood Brown the address being by w.
tC Donovan. formerly newspaper man
! in Spokane who eulogized the mothers
of the men from the Emerald Isle. The
playhouse was prettily decorated for
the occasion, banners of green, harrs
and shamrocks being part Of the color
/ scheme Mr.. Donovan said, I'm part in
his tribute to Irish folk:
The occasion that brings us togthtr
tonight is dear to the heart of eN cry
person in whom flows the blood of
| Erin's sons and daughters. The an
nual gathering of Irish men and wo-
men the world oyer on this anniversary
is not a perfunctory assemblage for the
exchange of compliments or for self
adulation. This day is not designated
by the people of our nationality to do.
homage alone TO the memory of heroes
of civil life, nor to those who have won
renown upon the field of battle, but,
on the contrary, it is set apart TO pay
tribute to one who was ia: greater
than any of these; one whose career
among the people of the Emerald Isle
has redounded to the glory of God and
the salvation of thousands of souls.
| Nay, more than this to honor him VINO
made itspossible to preserve to the gen
Grafton that followed the word Of
God, and the learning and culture OF
the Christian man. We are gathered,
in memory of Patrick, Ireland's patron
saint to commemorate in a fitting
manner the works and teachings of
this disciple of Christ
We of this generation have but The
traditions of our race and the pages of
history for our inspiration. When st
Patrick visited Ireland in the year 432
he found a race of people prepared For
the work he had set out to do They
were intelligent, we'll governor, con-
tented and happy.
When the gospel was preached TO
them, the Irish mind and the irish
heart sprang to the Catholic faith. took
it and embraced it, and put it into her
blood, and into the lives of her chill
dren; and she became Catholic under
the hand of an apostle such as no
other nation on earth ever did, or ever
will know until the end of time.
Look at the history of the oppressed
of every land, and there you will find
! inscribed upon the honor roll the
names of Erin's gallant sons, who
| turned their backs upon the country
| they loved so we'll to battle for the lib
erty of strange people, and whose
lives were sacrificed to ameliorate the
wrongs of the weak.
The pages of American history are
replete with the deeds of valor and the
glory of the Irish people.
Not only in the early trials and sub
sequent development of this country
were the men of Irish birth prominent.
but to the Emerald Isle is due the
credit of furnishing the man who first
set foot upon the shores of America in
l49Z. Among those who made up the
crew of the Santa Maria was an Irish
man. named Billy Rice When the keel
grated upon the sand it was some dis
tance from dry land. Rice. with all
the impetuosity of his race, Jumped
into the water, and taking the line
pulled the boat to shore. Thus it was
that the first white man to set foot
upon the American continent was an
Irishman.
Draw back, with me. the curtain
from the dreary and dismal mast and
look upon the narrowing scenes of sor-
row and trouble, of sacrifice and mise
ry, undergone by the greatest martyrs
| OF the worlds history-the women of
catholic Ireland. How little thought is
given to the mothers who made those
glorious pages of history possible. We
look with pride upon the achievements
OF Ireland's sons in this and othe,.
lands, but do we stop to consider tI,at
behlnd them all there was secret
force certainly and surely striving for
the elevation and upbuilding of their
characters; that before their tongues
first uttered sound mothers live was
shaping their destiny?
1T would need more potent Ianeu.o
than mine to adequately picture to vo,,
the great and commanding Influence
! that the Catholic mothers of ireland
have had upon the history of her ,eo-
pie and the destinies of her race
VINO can estimate the Influence IF
the Catholic mother upon the growing
child? Who can ascertain from, ,ho
after life what lesson in youth cres tod
the strongest impression or vi,a
prayer spoken was the saving Of th.s
soul? While coddled at her breast r.
learns to lisp a prayer and ak a
blessing. She early instills A love for
the pure and beautiful, and then b,.
fostering care nourishes all the atttri,
butes that develop under his ministra-
tions. q
From childhood she guides him int
mans estate and with tender solicit,,do
points out the path she woulJ hsTn
MN follow, and by her daiiy taacbinc
fortunes him against the manv nitfaIls
mat oeset his way. She follows his 20
reef through life with restless zeal aud
when his course is run it is She who
dry-eyed, though her heart be breal,
ing, closes his eyes for that sleen tha4
knows no waking and yhen Will,
bowed head and shaking frame. offers
UP a prayer for the repose of his so,,I
How many are the mothers Of Ire
land who have suffered thus? Thpr in
this, the hour of our fluctuations ova,.
ireland and her glorious history ber
heroes and her saints, let us stop for a
moment to offer UP silent praye., for