The Irish standard., 1910-03-19
THE FESTIVAL OF
SAINT PATRICK
Rev. John Dunphy, Vice
President of St. Thomas
College,
E-
Delivers an Address in Chi
cago on "The Day We
Celebrate"
Faithful Tribute to the Mem.
ory of Ireland's Patron
Saint.

Orchestra hall, Chicago, which seats
5000 people, was comfortably filled
st. Patrick's eve. On the splendid pro-
gram was the name Of Rev. John Dun
ply, vice president Of st. Thomas COL
lege, Merriam Park, and who is also
president of the United Temperance
League of America. Taking as his
theme "rhe Day We Celebrate" Faith
er Dunphy said:
We are assembled here this evening
to pay fitting tribute to a memoir
able day, a day whose origin can boast
of venerable antiquity, and whose
associations have been enshrined In
story and in song. Our festival has,
indeed, witnessed the glowing lustre
and romantic charm of many sunsets.
and it's soul-stirring memories have
often been the theme of the historian
and the poet.
The Seventeenth Of March-what
magic phrase! 1t recalls to every 10y
al son of Ireland the history Of his
country's past. 1t is, in truth, sug-
gestive epitome Of her triumph and
of her failure. Its morning dews spar
kle with charm which attunes the
soul to the recollections of sweetest
memories and noblest achievements
In the long list of it's anniversaries, it
has never failed to inspire every Celtic
Irish heart with an intense ardent love
"a Celtic love--for the old faith, deep,
abiding ineradicable, which the illus
trious apostle implanted in the bos-
to rekindle in every patriotic Irish
breast that keen sense OF distinctive
nationality so characteristic of the
Irish race.
The tones of our sweet national mel
odies may fade away when the great
festival has been duly honored The
harp that filled the halls of Tara, with
the fairy-like enchantment Of music
unsurpassed, may again be mute for
season, but the spirit of chivalry that
underlies it all is immortal, and the
memory Of all that it awakens shall
never pass beneath the shades of OBJ
livion.
"But strew his ashes to the wind
Whose sword or voice has served man.
| nd ic ho 1oa1 IVhnea O1nrtOllS mind
Lifts thine on high?
TO live in hearts we leave behind
| Is not to die"
Every nation has her scroll of fame
upon which she inscribes in imperish
able characters the names Of her il
lustrious dead. Every nation is lavish
in her euogy Of those whose noble
achievements have shed lustre upon
her name. America loves, and with
justice, her Washington and her Lin
coin. France delights to recount the
mighty deeds of a Charlemagne or a
Napoleon Rome recalls with pride the
exploits of her Caesars, and Greece,
LHOuBH SHOII, dIdS, VI IIoi 1HCIcHI
spendor, still rallies under the spell
of such names as Mitiadcs, Pericles
and Alexander.
Every royal son and every descend
ant of the fair Emerald Isle beyond the
sea is bound by the most sacred ties
of faith and fatherland to pay wor-
thy tribute Of recognition and of graf
itude to the hallowed name Of Patrick.
Consciously or unconsciously, for veal
or for woe, that name and It's associa-
tions are inseparably interviewer into
the very texture Of Irish history, and
of Irish tradition. And there is scarce
!, ly a hill. q valley, or a stream In that
prehistoric land. without it's reminis-
censes Of the heroic self sacrifice, the
untiring christian zeal, Of our noble
patron, and of the affectionate attach
ment Of devoted people. st. Patrick's
influence has entered into the very
structure Of the life Of the people Of
Ireland, and his teaching has ever
| heen the foundation of their aspira.
| tions and their hopes, presenting to th<
world grand though pathetic theme