Year: 1875

SPEECH OF THE REV. DIR. M'GLYNN-''DRAMAs
ARE sERMoNs"-REMARKs OF MR. o'coNNoR
POWER.


The breakfast Of Delmenico, corner Of Fifth
avenue and Fourteenth street we're the scene yester-
day OF complimentary d5euner given by committee
OF Irish American friends TO Mr. Barry Sullivan the
Irish actor The orchestra band Of Booths Theatre,
under the leadership of Mr.. operti dscoursed selec
tions OF Irish national and other popular compo
sitions of the day boys madrigl gee club also lent
the charm Of their youthful voices during the progress
Of the breakfast in singing a number Of melodies,
among them the pathetic Irish song, 'Come Back
to Erin" The tables were ranged IN the
form Of IT AT the head guests table, sat the
chairman, Hon. s. s. Cox; his right the guests
of the day, Mr. Barry Sullivan Mr.. John Brousham
and Dr. Carnochan, and on the left Rev. DR.. McGlynn
and Father McAuley


After dessert the chairman spoke the address Of well
come, which sparkled and gstened with the orators
famous wit


Mr.. Sullivan then arose amid great applause, and
said in substance, that surrounded he by men
distinguished for learning and talent 1t would be out of
place to make speech, and he therefore begged to
give his most sincere grateful thanks for the kind re-
ception rendered him on this occasion. He believed
that when the people of this metropolitan city and the
speaker knew each other they would profession
ally speaking) esteem each other more


The chairman toasted the "Church and the Drama y
and in few appropriate remarks called upon Dr. Nc
Glynn TO respond.


DR.. McGlynn expressed his great pleasure to find
himself here TO help honor distinguished guest and
in his person to do honor TO most honorable profess
sion. Were il for that national bashfuness which
is characteristic of Irishmen it would afford the
speaker every pleasure respond in the name OF re-
lgion to the Of the 'Church and the Drama "
Thanks to he.Innate energy and good sense displayed
by the acknowledged leaders Of the stage the DRAMA
with or without the Church, could hold its own. II
was sad thing that there ever had been divorce or
antagonism between the Church and the drama. AS a
of history the drama its origin to the
! ugious sentiments of mankind He would say word
of excuse for members of his profession
who discouraged and berated the drama This on
account long ago. Of the pagan idolatrous and immoral
customs which had crept into it and which it was
necessary at all hazards denounce But in the dark
ages religion brought the drama into her sanctuaries
and made those well remembered passion plays to sym
boically represent the suerngs and death of the
! God. Much Of the glorious panopy Of our modern
stage is borrowed from the ancient of the Chris
tian Church. and it would now be a mistake if the
Church refused take to her heart her offspring;
for she is the mother and patroness of the arts music
and the drama (Appause.) In later times the
Church turned against the drama, not because of
innate wckedness in the thing ITSELF but account of
its abuses and for would not condemn the drama





take the drama anything else unhoy and
sprinkle it, not indeed with Cologne, but with holy
water The whole scheme of religion to make men
more human and less animal Therefore the drama, if
properly applied aid purified powerful agent of the
Church. The denuncation of the drama frequently
INDUCED in is a bugbear in the hands of those who
know nothing about it. AS for professional players,
there are those who think them corrupt mere vaga-
bonds, outcasts and wicked people; but matter Of
fact think the true actors and actresses possess the
capacity of being ennobled and elevated in practising
the wonderful works of the immortal Shakespeare
Dramas are sermons wondrous sermons; and the soul
stirring words of 'Hamletn make man more Chris
tan and more humane than many other amusements
that he could engage in. Great applause)
"The Stage" responded to by Mr.. John
Brougham.


To the toast, The English Parliament and Irish Rep
resentatives y Mr.. John O'Connor Power responded
Before he began speak much the chagrin of Irish
natonaliss present. the band persisted in playing
God Save the Queen,' The representative gentleman
said shat he felt highly honored in being permitted,
under any circumstances to address the company,
who are here to do honor to man of whom Irishmen
| had right to feel proud. 1t was kind in the
chairman to introduce as member OF the British
| Parliament; but will say that if member
with steady hope to the time perhaps not far distant
when shall be member of an Irish Parliament.
Applause The speaker then referred in compliment
ary terms 70 the guest OF the day. and congratulated the
| Irish people through him that il is not in the
early days of 0'Counel when the Liberator in common
with many others similarly situated, had to seek an
education the hospitable shores of France,
or elsewhere TO develop his ana their great natural
abilities 1t was thenit is even nova work of great
difficulty for lrshmen to achieve distinction vet Mr.
Sullivan has accomplished this without stopping to
anything that would debase the country in which he
| was born.


| 1t about five o'clock when the band struck up
| |'Home, Sweet Home"