OCR Text |
Show ; 1111.' ' : BUTTE. Office of The Intermountain and j Colorado Catholic, 47 East Broadway, j Butte, Hont. F. Campion, General Agent. St Patrick's Day Fittingly Observed By Erin's Sons. (Correspondence Intermountain Catholic.) Butte, Mont., March 24. The anniversary anni-versary of Ireland's great Apostle and patron Saint was this year celebrated in Butte with more than usual pomp and splenaor. It was a gala day for the Sons and Daughters of Erin residing in this great mining camp. The weather for this time of fhe year was exceptionally line and thus in a measure contributed to the grand success of the day's celebration. celebra-tion. The street parade was magnificent and imposing. The Hibernians, decked with the national color and bearing aloft the Irish Hag, side by side with lh Stars and Strinps. nresented an ex- : cellent appearance in the procession. The Meag'her Guards under the com-i com-i mand of Captain S. J. Jeans made a . line showing. They marched in good L ordpr and with military percisioru i The procession formed at Hibernia hall and proceeded through Centerville and Walkerville and countermarched down Main and through the principal streets of Butte to the parochial school, where the column broke and the exercises exer-cises of the day were carried out. The order of march was: Grand Marshal Michael McKevitt and John Coakley and Mayor Deeney and Aides. Copper Hill band. Meftg'her Guards, under the captaincy of S. J. Jeans. Parochial school cadets. Division No. 1, A. O. H., J. J. O'Meara captain. Division No. 2, A. O. H., John Ferns captain. The Catholic clergy came in carriages. car-riages. On the steps of the school house stood thirty-six little girls and fifty little boys of the school. On either side of the main entrance stood Miss Stella O'Donnell, representing America, and i Miss Catherine Cleary, representing Erin. They were gowned in the regulation regu-lation dress, appropriate, and held aloft the emblems of their respective nations. na-tions. After a song by the children, Edgar Andrieux, a graduate of St. P" 'rick's delivered the oration of the da.t. The young orator made a brilliant address and was heartily applauded. The feature of the exercise3 was the crowning of the banners by sixteen young school girls, who, in turn, as the banners were dipped, fastened a wreath, of white flowers to each. After the close cf the exercises the procession proceeded to St. Patrick's Church, where Solemn High Mass was sung. Father Callahan celebrant. Father Fa-ther Blaere, Deacon, Father English, sub-deacon, and Father Harrington, master of ceremonies. The music by the choir, was exceptionally fine and was the subject of .much favorable comment com-ment by many in the Church. After the first Gospel Rev. Father O'Farrell of Helena ascended the pulpit and edlivered a most powerful sermon, which was listened to with rapt attention atten-tion by the large congregation. He told in simple, but in graphic language the beautiful and touching story of Ireland's conversion to the true faith. He spoke of the wonderful deeds achievements, virtues of Ireland's great Apostle to whom our country is indebted in-debted for tlut precious gift of faith. He reviewed those glorious centuries I immediately succeeding the conversion of the Irish propio, when Ireland was the school 'f Western Hut ope, the mother of Saints and scholars. And not contented with receiving strangers and giving them instruction in their ow n land, the Irish priests and monks went abroad as teachers and missionaries mission-aries to other nations, and left their footprints in every land from Italy to Norway, and from France to Germany. He spoke feelingly of the religious spirit rhat has ever inspired the Irish people and their steadfast loyalty and devotion to their Church and religion, so that when persecution came o'er the land, they refused to renounce their Church or abandon those others fcefore which their fathers had prayed, and later days when famine nd pestilence made their appearance, and in the midt or direst woe and sorrow, the Irishman had still one comfort left in all those scenes of desolation and misery mis-ery he found a soothing balm in the principles of his religion. which strengthened and supported his wounded spirit and cheered him with the consoling hope of a fairer and a lovelier home beyond the grave. In conclusion the Rev. speaker recommended rec-ommended that' the true way to honor our rational Saint was to imitate his virtues. He was t?ober, chaste, fond of PTayer, zealous for rhe glory of God and burning with love for the salvation of souls, as his faithful and spiritual children chil-dren let go and do likewise. After the religious services at the Church, the parade lead to St. Joseph Hospital, where a salute was made, the i column then returned to town and die- I banded for the day. In the evening three magnificent balls were given at HIbemla hall. Miners' Union hall end Pcnshaw. |