Gilpin observer., 1913-03-20
and the eternal consequences Of the

same, form the religious memory Of
this festal day. Today. then, wheth-
l@r in the land OF his birth, or the
land of his adoption, the true son of
Erin on this morning rises in his
pride and blesses God that Irish
blood courses through his veins. AS
Irishmen, therefore, to-day we are
proud that Ireland. 900 years before
the Christian era had her language,
her government, her laws, her reH-
gion, her literature arid her music,
and was populated by civilized, re-
fined people, comparable even 10 the
Ancient Greeks and Romans. We are
proud of the culture of the Irish peo-
pile at the time st. Patrick first
preached to them, and cf the willing,
humble reception accorded him and
his doctrine of the gentler, higher,
nobler life of the Christian. We are
proud, tco, that the dear old land
that we affectionately, as sors and
daughters cali home, hallowed by the
footsteps of st. Patrick, previous to
the invasion of the Danes, was
known as the island of Sairl.s and
scholars. Finally, We are proud today
of the sublime, glorious sacrifices
made by Ireland and her people in
defense and preservation of their
faith, first and above all other things,
and we thank God humbly from our
hearts that her history which for
seven centuries. was written i'm tears
and blood still shows that Ireland
rs still pecpled by the Irish, that her
sons and daughters are still liberty
loving and patriotic, and that they
have carried genius ard talent to
every land of the universe, adorlning
the court, elevating the standards of
morality and citizenship, everywhere
having their names placed high upon
thb annals of the worlds greatest
and best histories. Let me quote for
you Governor Taylor's, of Tennes-
see, beautiful tribute to our native
Hand:
of l were sculptor, l would
chisel from the marble my ideal Of
a hero. l would make it the figure
of an Irishman sacrificing his hopes
and his life on the altar of his coun-
try, and i would carve en- its pedes-
tai the name of Emmet.
eff were a, painter, l would make
the canvas eloquept with the deeds
lr,f hn b,.nx ft,t
whose proud spirit no power can
ever conquer and whose loyalty and
devotion to the hope Of free govern
ment no tyrart can ever crush. And
l would write under the picture IRE
land"
"1f l were a poet; | would melt the
world to tears, with the pabhcs cf my
song. l would touch the heart of hu-
manity with :ne mournful threnoiy
of Ireland's wrongs and Erinis woes
would weave the shamrock and the
rose into garlands of glory for the
Emerald Isle, the lard of martyrs
and memories, the cradle of heroes.
the nursery of liberty.
Tortured in dungeons and murder
ed on scaffolds, robbed. Of the fruits
of their sweat and tell, scourged by
famine and plundered by the avarice
of heartless power, driven like the
leaves of autumn before the keen
winter winds, this sturdy race of
Erin's sons and daughters have been
scattered over the face of the earth,
homeless only in the land of their
nativity, but princes and lords in
every ether land where merit is the
measure of the man.
| Men and women of the Irish race
you can well be proud of your amces-
try. Everywhere your forefathers have
fought and died for their faith and
their country. Never have they falter-
ed in their allegiance to the vicar of
Christ In Rome, never have any
voices been needed except these of
true shepherds. And just as they
have been devoted and loyal and true
to the cause and principles of their
religion, SO likewise the governments
of the world have found in them
able and courageous defenders. For
where is the battlefield that has not
been glorified by Irish courage and
baptized In Irish blood and where
is the free country whose councils
have not been strengthened by Irish
brains and whose wealth has not
been increased by Irish Drawn?
Members of the Ancient Order Of
.Hibernians, our motto as brothers
and members of this organization lis
friendship, untty and Christian char
ity. Let us. therefore, be practical
In thic rocnoot To-. 1,Atn.. x..a..xl