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St. Patrick Day Banquet

St. Patrick Day Banquet image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
March
Year
1903
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

ST. PATRICK DAY BANQUET

Witty Speeches Were the Order of the Day

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Gave a Brilliant Banquet at St. Thomas Hall Last Evening

St. Patrick's Day was appropriately celebrated Tuesday night by a banquet given under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus, at their hall.

Five long tables extending the full length of the hall were daintily spread with all the dainties of the season. The tables were decorated prettily in palms and potted plants and American and Irish flags were festooned about the hall.

Covers were laid for 450 and every chair was occupied and about 50 were obliged to be re-seated.

After the material part of the banquet had been enjoyed to the full, Die intellectual part was begun. Rev. Fr. O'Rafferty, of Grosse Pointe, presided as toastmaster and filled his position admirably. He had an unlimited supply of anecdotes and stories which were sparkling with true Irish wit.

Mr. Fitzpatrick, of Detroit, was the first speaker and he made a most brilliant response to the toast "The Day We Celebrate." He said that St. Patrick's day was one which belonged to mother church. St. Patrick did more for religion than any other one man in the history of nations when he brought Ireland out from idolatry and paganism. He challenges the admiration and respect of the world and has no match in medieval or modern history. Ireland before St. Patrick's time was a land of ignorance, but from his teachings and examples the desire for knowledge sprang up. Mr. Fitzpatrick spoke feelingly of the position of Ireland under English rule and prophesied more freedom would come to the Irish in the next ten years than had been enjoyed for the past ten centuries. The fondest hope of the Irishmen is to be placed in the same position and have the same rights given the people as have been given to Australia and Canada.

Edward J. Kinney next responded to the toast "Our Country" and he said that there was a question in his mind which country was meant, Ireland or America, but as over ten million Irishmen had made this the country of their adoption he would speak of it. He said not all of these 10,000,000 who have come to this country have become policemen as the newspapers would lead us to believe, but many had risen to high positions. Americans enjoy the greatest of prosperity both industrially and economically and are recognized as a world power. Mr. Kinney touched upon the question of foreign possessions and said that the strong stand which America took for religious and personal liberty would do much to settle these questions satisfactorily.

Rev. Frank Kennedy next gave a brilliant toast to Leo XIII and paid a glowing tribute to this wonderful man. He said: "He has the most far sight of any man in history, a seer indeed."

After this toast, the toastmaster introduced James E. Harkins as "the friend and comforter of Dooley." Mr. Harkins sang an Irish song and was so heartily encored that he was obliged to respond with a negro melody which was very enthusiastically received.

M. J. Cavanaugh was the next speaker and his toast was "The Knights of Columbus." He told of the organization of the order by Rev. McGibbney in 1882 with six members and its growth from that to 87,000 members at the present time. He told of the aims of the society, both fraternal and charitably, and gave a glowing tribute to Columbus, who, by his discovery made this society possible.

Mayor Copeland closed the program with a toast to "The Ladies." He was a most witty and brilliant speaker. He said that he was surprised to see so many people were wearing the green, in fact the only person he had noticed who was not wearing it was his friend Judson and that was owing to his recent loss of the Ypsilanti general.

The St. Thomas orchestra gave musical selections between the toasts and made a pleasing variety in the program. Root's orchestra played during the banquet and gave a program of popular music.

Taken as a whole the banquet was one of the most brilliant ones which has been given here in a long time.