The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-03-11

one iota of their need. Glorious
things may indeed be told of Eng
land and her Christianity, in the days
when she "was merry England" The
same is likewise true of the ancient
church among the German, Spanish,
Scotch and Italian nations not to ex-
clude the immortal churches OF tbs
east, and above them all the church
that boasts Of her Charlemagne and
King st. Louis, her Tancreds and De-
Bouillons but which today is groan-
ing under the heel of the Goddess
prosecutor. All of these helped pow
erfully to propagate the faith and to
this day suffered their portion for 1t.
But not one of them all contests with
our Isle of Saints the honor of be-
ing in the most complete and tender
manner consecrated to the religion OF
Christ the saviour. All other nations
have their profane as well as their
sacred history. They have achieved
much power and glory by other In
terests than those Of devine religion.
Ireland's history on the contrary. has,
since her conversion, been identified
almost exclusively with that of reli-
gion. Had her case been otherwise
terms Of peace and conditions of sur
render to the nations of the earth.
Yes had lust and lucre become her
gods her crown might not be resting
now. on the brow of an alien ruler.
Had she instead cast away her faith
as did her neighbor Ireland's present
boast might be of kings and colonies
with hosts of troops and a mighty
navy. But, no ireland forgot not
Christ. Her grandest wars were those
that she waged for God. Fatherland
was always secondary, while the most
brilliant victories that she won were
first of peace and freedom after.
The speaker then dwelt upon the
time Immediately following, the death
of st. Patrick, the golden age Of lrish
history, when her colleges and univer-
stiles, with students numbered by the
thousands, bore aloft the torch OF
Christianity to the pagan world. He
told OF Irish saints among the other
nations; Germany with us; France,
As; England with As. He told of the
conquering hosts Of Irish monks whose
influence was more powerful than the
+ warriors steel.
He told of the invasion Of the Danes,
- Tho 0"o wears oe constant strife; of
the coming of the Normans, whose
.. u sles to suhdue Ireland fail
ed, and whose only success. the speak
er charged to base. inhuman treach-
cry. Then came the reformation,
when the English crown called on Ire
land to forsake all connection with the
Church, and Frin's response was a
laundering mol"
;; let the blood black pages rest, .
exclaimed the speaker, as he passed
over the period Of history from the
tine Of Henry VIII down to rs years
ago when O'Connell wrested from the
Parliament of Great Britain ernanc'-
patton for the Catholics of Ireland.
Yet he paused to point out that dur
ing the long and weary years the faith
had been preserved. up on the bleak
and barren mountain; Or On the wild
and trackless hillside, in glen an@
cave, in deep recess and under HEDGES
ireland preserved the faith, waiting
for a brighter Gay.
CLOUDY was your rising sun, O'COn-
nell, but your meridian, oh! how bril-
liant! And the setting-never sha''
that be as long as Ireland shall ador
| the western ocean or a single Co.
shall remain on earth to recount the
| triumphs Of his nation"
| Sadly the speaker summarized the
results Of persecution and PORTED on
that with the dawn of a brighter er:'
in Ireland's history, her sons in larg-
est part were either dead or gone
away.
| Dr. McKennxl closed with a fervcn;
! prayer for the weIfare CT Ireland.