Year: 1877

| LET me exDress the wish that among all
vonr other annual rennions the one now
held here NAV ever be freshly remembered
a. having been prosperous, harmonious, ana
happy; and let me cherish the hope that
your coming together from so many distant
and widely-separated homes may symbolic
the general political peace-the era OF good
feeling-which is now dawnlng over all the
sections of our common country.


The Governors address being over tne
procession proceeded to Cathedral Hall,
where the sessions OF the convention were
! to be held.


IN CATHEDRAL HALL.


The societies arrived ut the hall at l
O'Clock. The hall was most beautifully ana
artistically ornamented by the ladies OF st.
Peters Cathedral. Caed Mile Fattha met
the eye as the visitor entered, and ere the
threshold was passed the delegate ana tne
visitor feels that he is entering hall where
ten thousand welcomes greet him. The
most prominent position in the decorations
was given TO O painting OF the late Hon.
Henry A. Wise, Of whom Mr.. Reilly spoke
most affectionately in the following address
OF welcome:


mr.. ReilIy's Welcome Address.
Mfr. President and Gentlemen OF the Irish
Catholic Benevolent Union,-In the name
of the Catholic Beneficial Society OF Rich
mond I welcome you to this the capital
city OF old Virginia. l extend to you a
genuine caed mile faiHha-and this vel
come to which the tongue gives utterance 1
assure you comes spontaneously from the
innermost recesses OF the heart. We are
glad that you are here, and we feel that II IS
good to have among US brethren who dwell
together in unity. We feel proud OF the
honor you have conferred upon US by Sc
lecting this our city in which to hold your
Annual Convention. An association like
yours. founded on the broad basis OF Chris
tian charity, is welcome, will always be
welcome, wherever, whenever, in whatever
places you in your wisdom may think pro-
Der TO select to hold your conventions. IL
charity covereth q multitude OF sins and
maketh man nearer akinlto the angels, and
secures for him the favor OF the great Al
mighty Being, surely it will win It's way to
human hearts and gain the love and atiec-
ton OF men wherever the bright light OF
Christianity sheds its benignant rays.
Wherever the banner OF Christian charity
is unfurled those who walk beneath its folds
will ALWAYS be sure Of heartfelt welcome.
We love to look upon scene like this-the
men of the North, the South, the East, and
the West, meeting not in battle array with
hostile intent. welding bloody weapons in
fratricidal war, but all assembled together as


BRETHREN WORKING IN HARMONY


for the formation OF the one great object :
all endeavoring to cultivate the noblest. the
grandest Of all the feelings that inspire the
human heart-blessed charity, peace on
earth, and goodwill to all men.


You have held your conventions in the
larger cities OF several OF the great States
Of the North, the East, and the West, ana
YOU now come to Virginia, famous for
great men and great deeds in the history OF
the country; and you, gentlemen OF the
Convention, as Irishmen and as Catholics,
should feel rcioced that you are assembled
in grand convention in this old State. You
should feel within you great love for this
old Commonw weath, for here on her hon
ored soil was erected the first barrier against
that damnable heresy .:Nothingism.
Here it went down in ignomy and shame,
and suffered defeat from which it never
recovered, and which insured its everlast-
| ing destruction. -,


a few minutes walk from this place will
bring you to the spot where repose the re-
mains OF one OF Virginia's noblest and most
gifted sons, who were he living to-day
would be here among you, and IN language
of eIouuence which he knew go well how
to use would gladly welcome you to this
his native State When this great wave OF
KNOWN othingism arose in its might, and
swept over great portion OF the land and
threatened to engulf every vestige OF civil
and religious liberty, this man Of powerful
genius, eloquence, and mighty will dared
| to raise his voice in defence OF your rights
and mine all over this State; from the noun
tain regions to the seashore was heard his
clarion voice as in laundering tones he de-
nounced


| THIS HYDRA-HEADED MONSTER.


which, in its mighty strength, felt too
powerful to be subdued. But the iron
neryed Henry A. Wise, like brave, like a
gallant and chivalrous knight OF old, en-
tered the lists, threw down his gage, and
offered combat to this mighty monster. he
feared it not. The language OF truth and
Justice, when proclaimed by so eloquent
tongue, was too powerful for successful re-
sistance, and back to their haunts were
driven these midnight marauders-these
underground robbers of ireemen's rights ;
and this is the home Of that great and good
man; this the State Of his nativity; this the
place that showed to the world that intoler.
ancc and bigotry should have no abiding
sDot here: and this is the State / ask you
to honor, to reverence, and to love. Need |
ask YOU not to forget the great and good
man of whom I have just spoken. The
sons OF Erin are never ungrateful, and the
memory of Henry A. Wise is enshrined in
the hearts of Catholics and of Irishmen all
over the land. God bless his noble soul /;
may be to-day be enjoying in Heaven the
reward OF his good deeds during his So
iourn here.


Oh, we are indeed glad to welcome you
here to Richmond. No doubt your being
here is suggestive OF some strange thoughts
how easy you came, and how hard 1t was 20
gain admittance at no very remote period
in the past. What change there Is in the
scene; how different are all things now.


A few short years ago there tioated from
wonder Capitol flag that we OF the South
loved as the men Of '9S


LOVED THE FLAG OF ERIN's GREEN ISLE.
That flag, though bathed in glory on many
q bloody field, went down ut last Watered by
the tears of as brave men as ever contended
for right in any land beneath the sun. The
evils that followed the downfall Of that flag
are now. thank God, fast passing away; the
bright sunshine Of liberty has penetrated
the long, dark hight which, like pail, over
hung our beloved country, and we once
more feel that we are freemen. Oh, yes, men
OF the North, the East, and the West, we
too have again learned to love that starry
banner which now floats from yonder
dome, for now. it waves over the whole
| country, a symbol OF equal rights for oil ;
and God grant that it may never again be
stricken down, but float on forever, and
hold its place foremost among the banners
OF the proudest Of the nations Of the earth.
Men of all the sections Of our beloved and
once again united country, your are indeed
| welnnme TO this seYen-hiled CITY of Rich