Evening star., 1947-03-18
I Local Irish Groups
Toast s.. Patrick
In Songs Of Erin

Songs OF Erin reSounded through
Mayfower Hatel bathrooms last night
as two leading organizations of good
Irishmen celebrated st. Patrick's Day
amid traditional green surroundings.
There were shamrocks and green
carnations; green harps, hangings,
dresses, soup and Ice cream. Through
some culinary achievement the in
sides of rolls and macaroons were
green. So was the dressing on the
chicken. There was no mistaking
the occasion.
The celebrations, those Of the
Society Of the Friendly Sons of St.
Patrick and the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, Commodore John Barry
Division, went on simultaneously in
different parts of the hotel. More
than 1000 persons, including many
dignitaries, attended the dinner and
heard tribute paid to the Saint by
speakers and in prayer.
Britain Hit for Partition.
The Rev. Edward Lodge Curran of
Brooklyn, N. Y, president of the
International Catholic Truth Society
addressed the Hibernians. He de-
clared that one obstacle to the COM
plete realization of the Irish Re
public remains, and that this OBJ
stacle is the artificial partition i'm
posed on the Irish by the British
government quarter Of century
ago."
He said that now is the time for
the Irish in Ireland and the Irish
in America" to demand that England
remove her troops from the northern
counties of the country so that it
may be "territorially united and
free"
Martin A. Cook, president of the
group, introduced the speaker. Leo
N. MCGUIRE was toastmaster.
President Truman, an honorary
member, had to decline an invitation
to attend the dinner of the Friendly
Sons because of his absence from
the city. He was toasted, however,
by William E. Leahy, president.
The function got under way with
the giving of the invocation by the
Very Rev. Arthur OLeary, S. j.
Tribute Paid Deceased Members.
After Chief Justice Vinson, the
guest Of honor, took his seat at the
head table, tribute was paid to mem
bers who have died: George H.
OConnor, Fred East, Hugh Reilly,
jr., and william L. Browning.
Discussing the role the Irish have
played in the history of America,
John A. Danahar, former Senator
from Connecticut, pointed out that
Americans always have held
high the principles of freedom.
"The ennobled and exalted status
OF the individual. if preserved, means
that economic freedom will go hand
in hand with political freedom he
declared. The Constitution says so.
The doctrine is not to be negated by
conspirators or secessionists.
He then told the group that to the
Irish-American such principles were
worth fighting for, worth dying for;
a peoples government means that
much to us. "
Costume Play Presented.
The players of the society conclud-
ed the evening with a costume play
entitled Lord Edward Fitzgerald" !"
The theme concerned an episode in
the life of the nobleman, who played
a leading role in the maintenance
OF Irish independence in the late
l8th century.
The players were Benton Webb,
William Raymond, Arthur Mccoy,
William Shanahan, Dwight Rorer,
Justin Lawrie, Bernard Fitzgerald,
Charles T. Tittman, Richard Walsh.
Al Manning, James Mulroe, Robert
Nicholson and Leo Payton. Mr.
Lawrie directed vocal arrangements,
Sidney Seidenman was director of
music, Sam Holland the accompanist,
Mr.. Mulroe did a dance speciality
and Jack Mullane was in charge Of
costumes.