Gilpin observer., 1913-03-20

also a heart, strong and true, and
a matchless serse of humpr to bear
it. 'Altars, the brutal soldiery of
Cromwell could destroy, but they
could not kill the faith in Erin S
heart. They could break mothers
hearts, but could not reach the un-
dying love those hearts contained.
They could kill men but not the reli-
gIom in which those men believed.
They could bar,ish ard burn, but not
pervert. Oh, the tear. and the smile,
what have they net combined to do
for God and the truth and country
i'm Erin's blood drenched land!' The
world owes debt to Ireland. Her
tears and her sorrows and her sac
rfices have been the means of gain
to others. Generously and unseilfish-
ly, Irish mothers and Irish fathers
have given up their children, their
own flesh and blood, for the sake
of other lands. On one sad day they
bid them a last affectionate farewell
and bid them Godspeed forever and
for aye, and, my dearly beloved breth
rem, the unselfish devotion and gener-
ous sacrifice Of those Irish mothers
and Irish fathers have been your
great gain. For what has becomei of
those sons and daughters of I1ish
mothers and Irish fathers here in
America, Australia, India and through
out the whole universe? l will ten
you, though you already know. Wher'
ever they have gone the hight OF
Gods truth has spread out, ard the
Kingdom of Christ and Church of the
Living God has been built UP.
Churches, schools, and orphanages
and hoapite1s are everywhere To-Day
as monuments of the faith and zeal
of those Irish sens and daughters,
because the poor cid mothers from
every county i'm Ireland gave up will,
ingly and parted with their own dear
ones that they might go forth and
spread unsullied the faith of their
fathers. l have always believed that
the fact that the Irish and German
races came ito this country in such
great numbers, was not simply re-
suit of mere chance or entirely as a
means of escaping injustice at home
and equal oppression, but rather the
AN wise directing hand of Providence
destined that they should come here
and plant and spread the faith OF
their fathers.
"The Irish people, indeed, have
their faults, but what nation in the
world have not? And yet, uotwith-
staining all their faults, they are in-
deed a nation to live and die for.
Observing her history in her glori-
Gus mantyrdom, her tremendous sac
rlrices for the faith, it is not diff
cult, say, to forecast the future
destiny of Ireland; She will never
adopt the modern idea of placing all
human happiness ard therefore all
human effort in the desire for pure
ly natural splendor and accomplish
ments. Rather by far she would, that
her sons and daughters grow rich IN
the grace of God, strong in the OBJ
servance of His commands and by
their splendid examples of their
Christian manhood and womanhood
give to the world treasure to be all
ways initiated and admired. Her sac
rif.ces, her patient suffering Of inr
justice and persecution, her loyalty
and steadfaztness in the preserva-
and her teachings in the face of OBJ
stacles greater than which no nation
has ever been compelled to endure
have all been prompted by a super
natural motive, the love of God and
devotion to His service. Her children
have gone forth everywhere spread
ing both by word and example, the
teachings of Christ and Him crucif-
ed. Ridicule and scorn, indeed, have
oftentimes on the part of the ignor-
ant and prejudiced been the emily re-
ward of their fidelity to the teach
ings of their church. AS am instance
of this, let me quote for you the re-
marks of distinguished colonel of
the Irish members of his regiment:
when l saw those lrishmen go
ing to confession, and kneeling down
to receive the priests blessing, use
to laugh DIN my sleeve at the whole
thing. The fact is (you will pardon
mel l thought it all so much damn
ed tomfoolery and humbug. That was
at first, SIR. Eut found the most
plous of them the very bravest, and
thing. Sir, saw these men tried in
every way that men could be tried,
and never saw anything superior