The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-17
NATIONAL HEAD
OF |. A. SPEAKS
Mrs. Mary MeWhorter, President Of
the Ladies' Auxiliary, A. o. H.,
! Talks on Irish
History.
ST. PATRICK'S PROGRAM
Interesting Musical and Dance Mum.
bers Presented at st. Peters
Hall Last
Night.
ST. PATRICK's PROGRAM

Mrs. Mary McWhorter of Chicago,
national president of the ladies aux
iliary. Ancient Order of Hibernians,
was the principal attraction at
very pleasing st. Patrick's entertain
ment presented last night In st.
Peters hall by the ladies' auxiliary
of Keokuk
Following an interesting program
of song and dance numbers. all
pleasantly reminiscent OF things
Irish, Mrs. McWhorter, who is an
authority on Irish history. spoke on
the past and present glories OF the
Emerald Isle in an entertaining ana
highly agreeable manner.
Mrs. McWhorter started back at the
very dawn of Irish history and told
of the spiritual, mental and temporal
growth Of Ireland. The speaker saw
the foundations of much that is com
mendable in American national HE
In the graces and character traits OF
the forefathers Of those Of Irish
been handed down as heritages to the
"exiles" in the United States.
Against Equal Suffrage.
But she did not stray so far IN
past centuries that she could not
come right back to the present day
and tell her audience some Of the
| things concerning modern institu-
lions that she held in her heart.
Particularly she flayed woman SUI
frage and some phases OF modern
social and club life. She warned
against all of them.
A number of women in the audience
applauded when she hit the suffrage
question.
'Woman's place is in the home
said Mrs. McWhorter, and If she
can't make a success there how can
she hope to through the use Of the
ballot. If we do our duty faithfully
in the home we need no fear that
we will not have sufficient rights"
The speaker declared that woman
is unsexing herself in the struggle for
equal rights. Such things as modern
society, club life and the like. al
though she did not say her hearers
should not take part In them at all,
should not carry away the hearts
and minds OF Catholic women, she
declared.
Knew Her Irish History.
The subject of Irish history Mrs.
McWhorter knew to the smallest de-
tail. She spoke in a sympathetic
manner of st. Patrick and st. Bridget,
the patron saints Of Ireland, and
pleaded with her hearers that the
virtues Of these two might be copied.
She drew an interesting picture or
early Irish history before the coming
of christianity and commented upon
the high state of civilization that
existed upon the island. Then came
moving account Of the coming OF
st. Patrick and his conversion OF the
inhabitants to christianity.
She traced the influence Of this
intense religious development down
to the present day and declared that
the Irish race had a finer spiritual
nature than any other, that their re-
ligion was more moving part OF
their life.
Keeps Faith Alive.
"In honoring such men as st. Pat
rick" she said, I'VE are helping 10
keep alive the light of our faith
Irish Catholicity IS one Of the great
influences for good in the life of this
country.
In reciting the history OF Ireland
and the Irish race, which she called
the destined race, she did not neglect
to tell the part England has played
in the destinies Of the Celts. Eng
land was pictured as a horrible tyrant
which had done everything possible to
conquer the spirit, and destroy the
customs, language and traditions OF
the Irish peoples. Ireland's Catholic
faith and 1reland's spirit had never
been conquered, however, she declar-
ed.
TN America the Irish are display
ing those great traits that marked
theirs as a great civilization when
Europe was pagan. The first Of the
Irish came to this country to build
the railroad and the banks. but lived
to see their sons own them
Religious Influence.
The influence of religion on the
Irish mind and heart was dwelt on.
1t was this simple Catholic faith that
has kept them pure and Cody, she
declared. In conclusion she painted
a sympathetic picture of a home in
Ireland at the present time with
Himself, Herself, Shy Mary, the
prenuptial arrangement, the marriage,
the worship and all the rest that goes
to make up the life of a simple, good
people.
She told her audience that the
country needed more of that sweet,
simple faith rather than the complex
of modern civilization
such as suffrage and the like, and
pleaded with her hearers to pattern
their lives more after those of their
Celtic ancestors.
Evening Program.
Preceding the address, st. Pat