The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-07-08
IRISH PEDtGREES
AMERICAN EDITION OF CHARTS
FAMOUS IRISH GENEALOGICAL.
WORK PROVES THAT THE IRISH
ARE THE MOST ANCIENT, RACE
IN THE WORLD.

There has just come to our desk one
of the most important genealogical
works we have ever had the pleasure
of examining. 1t is entitled Irish
Pedigrees, or The Origin and Stem of
the Irish Nation, by John O'Hart, F.
r. H. S. 1t is an american reprint of
the first history Of the Irish families
ever published. The learned author has
drawn from all legitimate sources, es-
pecially from the annals of the Four
Masters, a work written in Gaelic in
the 18th century. He has utilized the
manuscripts of the great Michael
EO'Clery, chief of the Four Masters, who
compiled from authentic sources the
annals from the earliest times down to
A. d. 1886, and also the book of Irish
Genealogies. The author has at
tempted in these volumes to present
his readers. with Ito use the lines of
Longfellow, The history of the world
brought down .ffssses Genesis to the
day of judgment, 3 - aEI events as far
as Ireland is concerned
There can be nothing more certain
than that the Irish people are the
most ancient race in the world, not
excepting the Jews, since the latter do
not seek to carry their origin far be-
yond Moses; whereas, as O'Hart con-
clusively proves, the Irish are descend
ants of Japhet, the son of Noah
+ While he gives due credit to the var
ious authorities consulted, the great
value of the work is due to his own
knowledge of the Irish language and
Irish history, as well as the fascinat,
ing science of Philology. 1t would be
singular indeed were Irishmen not
fond of searching for records of the
first bearers of their names, when
among them are so many that are an
cient and honorable. 1t has been in
more ways than one labor of love for
the author since the first edition pub
lished in Ireland was for the laudable
purpose of rescuing the Irish genoa
ologies from obscurity and to aid re-
search. The learned author was as
sisted in his work by the late Geo. w.
Childs of the Philadelphia Public
Ledger, who created fund for the
purpose.
To the American Edition has been
added department of Heraldry. The
antiquity of Irish Heraldry antedates
that of any other people, ancient or
modern. It is universally conceded
that high order of civilization pre-
vailed in Ireland many centuries
anterior to the evolution of modern
European peoples, or the foundation
of the oldest of the continental ma
tions.
! An erroneous idea is entertained by
some, that heraldic symbols denote ar
aristocratic or exclusive class and Is
un-democratic in its origin or per
manency. On the contrary these
badges of distinction were the rewards
of personal merit and could be secured
by the humblest as well as the highest
They are today the testimonials ant
warrants of the bravery, heroism anC
meritorious deeds of our ancestors
and they appeal to the pride OF thu
intelligent and enlightened descend
ants of these distinguished families
to-day as the valiant deeds and self
sacrificing acts of contemporary per
sons will to their posterity. The worl
is handsomely bound in two volumes
three-quarter morocco and will brinl
joy to the heart Of every book -lovini
lCelt. We bespeak for it a large an,
satisfactory American circulation |
Iis from the press Of Murphy & Nc
1 iCarthy, New York City. VIM. J. MOI
| ris, .5645 Emerald Avenue, Chicago. i
general agent for the publishers in tn
Middle West.