The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-03-18
lreland's Patron Saint Given
Marked Tribute by John
J. Cosgrove
FOLLOWING BANQUET
BY ABOUT 700 PEOPLE
Irish and American Colo~
Mingled in the De >mSss
oratio~ !,

The celebration of st. Patrick's day.
the anniversary of the death of the
great apostle and patron saint of Ire
land, was held last evening when a
large throng gathered in the Clan Cor
don hall to attend the banquet and en-
tertalnment conducted under the aus
plces of the parishioners. of st. Monica's
church. The exercises were marked bv
an even greater degree of success than
in any previous year in Barre.
The hall was attractively decorated
IN American and Irish colors. Stream
ers OF red, white and blue were much
IN evidence through the ball. At the
rear OF the platform, which was banked
in profusion Of potted plants and
flowers, were the American flag and the
emblem Of Ireland The emblem was
the green flag with the gold harp in
the background with the inscription,
Erin Go Braugh." Banquet tables. en-
bellished with vases of green carnations
and beds OF shamroeks. taxed all the
available space. Seated as guests of
honor at the speakers table were Rev.
Hugh Mckenna, who presided over the
post -prandial exercises; Rev. p. NJ. Me-
kenna, pastor of st. Monicas church:
John J. Cosgrove, speaker of the even
ing; John W. Gordon, S. Hollister Jack
son, Rev. G. II. Holt, pastor of the First
Baptist church,; Rev. j. w. Barnett,
pastor of the Congregational church:
Dir. j. w. Stewart and Z. NJ. Roscoe,
superintendent OF the Barre schools. The
banquet was served early in the even
ing, and nearly 700 people were served.
During the banquet. music was rem
dered by Prof. Mario Basini and Prof.
Petro Landr. Prof I.andri rendered
several pleasing violin solos. accompan-
led by Prof. Basini at the piano. The
remainder of the musical program held
during the banquet was composed of the
following numbers; Vocal solo.
Dreams" Charles Gibbons: vocal solo.
The Songs My Mother Used to Sing"
Miss Mae Quinlan; vocal solo, '1f |
Could Live to Love Yoap Henry Car
roll vocal solo, '.The Kerry Dances"
ID. J. Sullivan. Fhe program of enter
tainment was brought to close with
a defamation, "Sparticus to the Gladia-
tors by John ,Iordon.
John ]. cosgrove's Address.
The principal speaker of the evening
was John J. Cosgrove OF Providence,
f. J., a prominent American figure in
Irish literary and historical circles. He
was reared in the Emerald Isle, is well
versed in Irish traditions and history.
and he gave an impressive discourse on
@The Story of Ireland" in which he
paid a glowing tribute to the Irish ma
Iion and the Irish people.
He said in part as follows; 1T seems
good to speak to an audience not com
posed entirely of those of the Catholic
faith, as it is a better opportunity to
liscuss the history of the Irish upon
broader basis. On this occasion it be-
.omes fitting to review the history OF
Patrick, the apostle, who brought the
aith of Christianity to Ireland | am
proud OF Ireland. ! am proud of her
leroes and all her great men of learn
ng. whose numbers are constituted OF
10Th the Catholic and Protestant faith
came from the north of Ireland and
eceiycd my first educational instruc-
ions from a Presbyterian minister,
whom ! regarded as highly as my Cath
,lic brethren. 1t is Ireland as a nation
hat the Irish are proud of. those who
ave had the cause of Irish independence
t heart am proud of Robert Emmett
nd of St. Patrick, of the Grattons.
Burke. Swift and other Irish heroes.
yho have stood unhinehingly side BY
ide 1t is to these men that we pay
ribute.
AT the last Olympic games held at
4ondon there was a contest among
chool girls of all nations to learn who
est remember their national anthems.
he American girls were those who prac-
ically were unacquainted with the
american national anthem. Most of us
an be compared to these girls, as we
now little or nothing of Irish history.
f her past or of her present.
"As far back as history dates. the
filesians were the first to inhabit Ire
md in the very infancy of the ages.
he Miesians were a race from Asia
Iinor In the old testament it is spok-
n of where the prince was bitten by
snake and was cured by Moses. He
as promised his destiny on an isle.
he Milesians wandered across the Eu-
Dpean continent their destiny being
-eland That these AIilesians advanced
civilization TO a remarkable degree
attested by the most eminent of his
,rians. They were wonderfully adj
lnced in learning, commerce and other
-anches Of knowledge. They possessed
hat was known as the first representa-
We form of government. They estab-
she'd schools Some of the greatest
rly astronomers We're reared from this
ce Of people. Their records of eclipscs
I'd other astronomical phenomena is
by records of several cen
res. They could predict the exact
~ and minute of eelipses of the sun
"a moon after several centuries of ad-
Incemeut in the land.
"St Patrick was not the first Chris
m minister to attempt to propagate
iristanity in Ireland. Others endeav
ed but ia vain. Penagius of Rome was
MT to Ireland but his efforts were frus-
ated. 1t was st. Patrick who accom-
ished the spread of Christianity in
ese lands agree that he was prob
ly born in Scotland, but it is because
devoted his life to Ireland and his
1rk we venerate him. At an early
a