of Springfield, Illinois, writes to Mr. John J. Lenehan, chairman of the
membership committee, in part as follows:
“Your kind letter of the 7th inst. notifying me of my election to
membership in the American-Irish Historical Society, and the
accompanying pamphlet, are received.
“I am delighted to be a member of your splendid society and I assure
you when you express the wish that I will become interested in its
work, you tell but half the truth. I have been intensely interested in
this work for many years and I never expected to lose interest in it,
but now I feel that interest will be immeasurably stimulated by
association with your organization.
“The great influence of the Celt on American History and American Life
has not only not been acknowledged or made manifest by the historians,
but a deliberate and quite successful attempt has been made to prevent
its recognition. Ordinarily, when one robs and injures another he is
bound in self-defense to give the injured party a bad name and to
prevent him from getting a hearing as to the true facts in the case.
On this theory English History and English Literature for several
centuries past have been little more than a conspiracy against our
race. They were careful that they did not tell the truth to the world,
and equally careful to arrange it so that we could not.
“We are now, however, at the beginning of a new era in that regard and
it behooves every man of Celtic strain, indeed, every man who loves
truth, to put his shoulder to the wheel and help to get the machinery
in motion so that credit will be given where credit is due.
“I assure you that the pleasure you have in welcoming me to membership
in your society is but a tithe of the pleasure which I have in
entering it.”
BY COURTESY OF MR. FISKE O’HARA.
Mr. Fiske O’Hara, the talented actor now playing Irish drama, extended a
few of the Rhode Island members of the Society the courtesy of a box at
the performance in the Empire Theatre, Tuesday, November 16, 1909.
There were present Col. John McManus, Hon. P. J. McCarthy, Francis I.
McCanna, Esq., Thomas F. Kilkenny, Esq., Dr. Michael W. Maloney, James
H. Hurley, Esq., James H. Coyne, Esq., Col. John A. O’Keefe, and
Lieutenant-Governor-Elect, Hon. Zenas W. Bliss.
The performance was excellent and the members present enjoyed it
greatly.
SENATOR GAMBLE’S ABLE ADDRESSES.
Hon. Robert Jackson Gamble, United States Senator from South Dakota,
made several interesting and well-prepared speeches in the Senate on the
consideration of the tariff bill. On May 21, 1909, the subject matter
was concerning mica, which is mined in large quantities in South Dakota,
and during Senator Gamble’s remarks, a colloquy took place between
Senator Aldrich and himself, which terminated with honors all in favor
of our fellow member. On May 29, 1909, and June 22, 1909, the subjects
under discussion were barley and hides respectively, and on August 4,
1909, while drawback on flaxseed was under consideration, Senator
Gamble’s speech was replete with sound argument and a multitude of
statistics which spoke volumes for the labor and research entailed in
their preparation.
The Senator’s learned and forceful address at our Eleventh Annual
Meeting in Washington, January 16, 1909, will long be remembered and may
be found complete in Vol. VIII. of the Journal at page 152.
HON. LAWRENCE O. MURRAY ON PROBLEMS OF THE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE.
Hon. Lawrence O. Murray, LL. D., Comptroller of the Currency, read a
most excellent paper entitled “Some Problems of the Comptroller’s
Office,” before the American Bankers’ Association, September 14 last, at
Chicago. It was later published in Rand-McNally Bankers’ Monthly and
circulated throughout the country. Dr. Murray takes a natural pride in
seeing the banks of the country grow in number, strength and popularity;
but believes expansion should be along normal, safe and conservative
lines. “If we are to have a great system of banks, sound, well managed
and prosperous,” says Dr. Murray, “the greatest attention and scrutiny
must be exercised before the government issues a charter. In the
national system we want banks organized in places where the demand is
spontaneous and originates with the people living in the place who feel
an actual need of banking facilities. I do not believe in the
organization of banks by promoters who go about the country, calling
public meetings, and by methods of advertising characteristic of the
circus, endeavor to arouse enthusiasm for the organization of a bank.”
MAILING LIST OF THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
_Public Libraries._
Arlington, Mass.
Augusta, Me.
Baltimore, Md.
Bangor, Me.
Binghamton, N. Y.
Boston, Mass.
Bridgeport, Conn.
Brookline, Mass.
Brooklyn, N. Y.
No. 26 Brevoort Place.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Cambridge, Mass.
Charleston, S. C.
Chelsea, Mass.
Chicago, Ill.
Cincinnati, O.
Cleveland, O.
Columbus, O.
Concord, N. H.
Cork, Ireland.
Dedham, Mass.
Denver, Col.
Detroit, Mich.
Dover, N. H.
Elizabeth, N. J.
Elmira, N. Y.
Fall River, Mass.
Fitchburg, Mass.
Hartford, Conn.
Havana, Cuba.
Haverhill, Mass.
Holyoke, Mass.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jamestown, N. Y.
Lawrence, Mass.
Leavenworth, Kan.
Los Angeles, Cal.
Lowell, Mass.
Lynn, Mass.
Malden, Mass.
Manchester, N. H.
Manila, Philippine Islands.
Medford, Mass.
Melbourne, Australia.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Nahant, Mass.
Nashua, N. H.
New Bedford, Mass.
Newburg, N. Y.
Newburyport, Mass.
New Haven, Conn.
New London, Conn.
Newton, Mass.
New Orleans, La.
New York, N. Y.
Norwich, Conn.
Northampton, Mass.
Oswego, N. Y.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsfield, Mass.
Peabody, Mass.
Peace Dale, R. I.
Peoria, Ill.
Peterborough, N. H.
Plymouth, Mass.
Portland, Me.
Portsmouth, N. H.
Providence, R. I.
Quincy, Mass.
Richmond, Va.
Rochester, N. Y.
Sacramento, Cal.
Salem, Mass.
San Francisco, Cal.
Saratoga, N. Y.
Savannah, Ga.
Sidney, Australia.
Somerville, Mass.
Springfield, Mass.
Stamford, Conn.
St. Louis, Mo.
St. Paul, Minn.
Syracuse, N. Y.
Taunton, Mass.
Troy, N. Y.
Toledo, Ohio.
Utica, N. Y.
Waltham, Mass.
Waterford, Ireland.
Watertown, Mass.
Woonsocket, R. I.
Worcester, Mass.
Yonkers, N. Y.
_College and University Libraries._
Boston University, Boston, Mass.
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me.
Brown University, Providence, R. I.
Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C.
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
College of the City of New York, New York City.
Columbia University, New York.
Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H.
Dublin University (Trinity College), Dublin, Ireland.
Georgetown University, Washington, D. C.
George Washington University, Washington, D. C.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
Irish College, Rome, Italy.
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
Leland Stanford, Jr., Stanford Un., Cal.
Manhattan College, 130th Street and 10th Ave., New York City.
New York University, New York City.
Princeton University, Princeton, N. J.
Seton Hall College, South Orange, N. J.
Simmons College, Boston, Mass.
St. Francis Xavier College Library, No. 32 West 16th St., New York
City.
St. John’s College, Fordham University, Fordham, N. Y.
St. Laurent College, St. Laurent, near Montreal, Canada.
St. Paul’s Library, East 117th St., near Lexington Ave., New York
City.
Trinity College, Washington, D. C.
Tufts College, Medford, Mass.
U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
University of California, Berkeley, Cal.
University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
University College, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, Ireland.
University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.
University of Laval, Quebec, Canada.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.
Wellesley College Library, Wellesley, Mass. Professor Emily G. Balch.
West Point Military Academy, West Point, N. Y.
Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
_Other Libraries._
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticano, Roma, Italia.
Biblioteca National, 20 Paseo de Recoletos, Madrid, Spain.
Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France.
Boston Athenæum, Boston, Mass.
Carnegie Library, Order Department, Schenley Park, Pittsburg, Pa.
Cathedral Library, 123 East 50th Street, New York City.
Catholic Club, 120 Central Park South, New York City.
Chase Library, West Harwich, Mass.
Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.
Fraser Institute Free Public Library, Montreal, Canada.
Howard Memorial Library, New Orleans, La.
Irish Dominicans, St. Clement’s Church, Rome, Italy.
Irish Franciscans, St. Isidore’s Church, Rome, Italy.
Library of the British Museum, London, England.
Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill.
New Hampshire State Library, Concord, N. H.
New York State Library, Albany, N. Y.
Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg, Pa.
Providence Athenæum, corner Benefit St. and College Hill, Providence,
R. I.
Redwood Library, Newport, R. I.
The Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Md.
[Illustration:
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS H. BARRY, U. S. A.
Copyright, 1909.
By Harris & Ewing.
]
_Societies, Etc._
The Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society, No. 125
Washington Avenue, Albany, N. Y. (Cuyler Reynolds, Curator.)
American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.
American Catholic Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pa.
Association for International Conciliation, Sub Station 84, New York
City. (F. D. Keppel, Esq., Secretary.)
Bar Association, No. 44 West 44th Street, New York City.
Cambridge Historical Society, Cambridge, Mass.
Catholic Club, 59 Jackson Street, Providence, R. I.
Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Conn.
Cooper Union, New York City.
Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kan.
Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Md.
Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Mass.
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minn.
New England Historical Genealogical Society, 18 Somerset St., Boston,
Mass.
Newport (R. I.) Historical Society, Newport, R. I.
New York Historical Society, 170 2d Ave., New York City.
Rhode Island Citizens Historical Association, Providence, R. I.
Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, R. I.
Society of the Cincinnati, Providence, R. I.
Society of Colonial Wars, Providence, R. I.
Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wis.
NECROLOGY.
REV. DANIEL H. O’DWYER.
BY JOHN J. LENEHAN, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE.
The Rev. Daniel H. O’Dwyer, an esteemed member of the American Irish
Historical Society and pastor of St. John’s Church at Kingsbridge Road
and 232d Street, New York City, died on Sunday, November 14, 1909, of
apoplexy, at the home of his mother, 122 Fordham Road West, New York
City. His death occurred in the very room in which his father died on
the previous Thursday night, at the age of 81 years.
Father O’Dwyer was a brother of Chief Justice Edward F. O’Dwyer, of the
City Court of the City of New York; also a member of our Society, and a
son of John O’Dwyer and Catherine Ryan, who came from Ireland to America
in the early part of the last century.
Father O’Dwyer was born in New York City, in 1862, and was forty-seven
years of age at the time of his death. He was educated at St. Francis
Xavier’s College, West 16th Street, and entered Fordham University in
1882, graduating from the latter institution two years later. After
graduation he entered St. Joseph’s Seminary, Troy, and was ordained on
December 22, 1888.
From 1890 to 1893 Father O’Dwyer labored as assistant priest in St.
Raphael’s Church, West 40th Street, and later went to the Church of the
Blessed Sacrament, where he remained until 1903, when he became pastor
of St. John’s.
He found St. John’s Church a frame building, unimposing and
unattractive. His first effort as pastor was the establishment of a
church fund to improve the place of worship of the fast growing
congregation. St. John’s had been established in 1870 as a mission to
the parish of St. Elizabeth at Fort Washington and was made a separate
parish in 1886, sixteen years after. He immediately set about improving
the parish generally. He changed and renovated the old church and began
the erection of a new one. The new church, built on the site of the old
one, was begun about four years ago. At the time of his death it had
been finished but not yet dedicated. He devoted himself without reserve
to the work of raising this splendid monument and labored tirelessly for
the accomplishment of his great purpose. The result was a structure
magnificent for the surrounding territory, and worthy of this great
Metropolis. A spacious chapel occupied the basement, and in the rear was
a Lyceum or club for boys, with athletic apparatus and other attractions
for entertaining the youth of the neighborhood.
This soon became a social center. The young men found themselves in
possession of a club with pleasant adjuncts and friendly companionship.
He organized numerous societies for both men and women and threw his
great energy into the effort to make the hall a center of interest, with
such force and vigor that it soon became the meeting place for the youth
of the vicinage and elevated the moral and social conditions of the
parish, which grew and strengthened with his success, kindling ambition
and toning up the character and bearing of the neighborhood. That parish
ceased thereafter to be listless or easy-going. It blossomed with
animation and interest. He called the hall St. John’s Lyceum. The new
church, with its various attachments, cost in the neighborhood of
$200,000; but there was entertainment and amusement for all the young
men and women of his parish; and as they saw it grow in beauty and
utility, witnessing the excellence of his ideas and the splendid manner
of their execution, they knew their pastor worked unselfishly for them,
and the amelioration of all conditions in his parish, uniting
entertainment and instruction in his devoted purpose.
To aid the speedy completion of the church, he sought the help of a host
of lifelong friends. Willing responses to a cheery appeal brought
assistance from every side; and the work, ordinarily of years, grew to
fruition within a few short seasons. His tireless efforts probably
undermined his robust constitution. But loving his work and his people
with all his golden heart, he cast himself with streaming courage into
the battle, to win, in one brief spell, a victory that was fitting crown
for a lifetime’s labor.
Everywhere Father O’Dwyer went he endeared himself to all with whom he
came in contact. In appearance a striking figure, handsome, tall,
well-proportioned and instinct with nervous force, he was a charming
companion and a delightful speaker, versatile, amusing, instructive or
learned as suited his varying purposes or the needs of the hour. Jovial
and sympathetic in ordinary intercourse, he never forgot the necessity
of inculcating at the proper times the sterner duties. Yet he was always
the same wholesome force for the cheerful as well as the simple life.
As sunshine broken in the rill,
Though turned aside, is sunshine still.
An enthusiastic admirer of athletics he ever sought to perpetuate and
assist in the games of his college as well as of his parochial school
and the Lyceum.
He was elected President of the Fordham University Alumni Association
for two terms, 1899–1901, and materially aided the work of the
Association with his usual irrepressible zeal.
The funeral took place from St. John’s Church on Wednesday, November 17,
1909. His Grace, the Most Rev. Archbishop Farley, celebrated a Solemn
Mass of Requiem. The church was packed to its utmost capacity and a
multitude unable to gain admittance lined the outer roadway. A large
attendance of clergymen and well-known laymen included many members of
our Society, among them being Hon. John D. Crimmins, Justices Edward E.
McCall, and John W. Goff. Monsignor Mooney preached a touching sermon
wherein he spoke eloquently of Father O’Dwyer’s zeal and attainments.
Many were visibly affected to tears. He said that although a
comparatively young man his work was of the highest and most
praiseworthy order.
“Today,” said the Monsignor, “a mourning people and weeping children,
all must send up not the exultant song of fondest hopes fulfilled, but
the low, sad plaint of sorrow for the soul of him who was their pastor
kind and true. Twenty-one years ago he came forth with anointed hands
from St. Joseph’s Seminary at Troy to begin the work that was appointed
for him. His first labors were served in St. Raphael’s, where he spread
the seeds of Christianity—seeds which quickly took root. None of the
vigor and zeal of that manhood were lost which characterized his early
work when he was transferred to the Blessed Sacrament church. A thread
of gold seemed to run through his life. It was in the city of his birth
that the whole years of his labors as a priest were spent. Six years of
unabated toil marked his pastorate at St. John’s—six years spent in
constant labors of love till God called him forth. He gave the best that
was in him, he did the best for you, while he was permitted to remain
with you. All the splendid manhood he brought with him when he came—his
excellent equipment of mind and heart—he used to foster in his
congregation the love of God. He knew no bounds in his devotion to you
and your little ones. The anguish of that awful morning was so deep, so
sudden, that as yet we are not able to take in its full realization.
“It was not deigned by heaven for him that he should ascend this altar
and offer sacrifice—alas!—the first ceremony enacted within these walls
was over his own remains. His life labors are done; well did he perform
them. The God of Justice called him away, but you shall never forget
him, his memory will be to you a proper inheritance till time shall call
you on into eternity, where united with him there shall be no suffering
in the everlasting Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”
GENERAL ST. CLAIR A. MULHOLLAND.
BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL.
General St. Clair A. Mulholland, one of the best known and most highly
esteemed men in public life in Pennsylvania, and a life member of the
American-Irish Historical Society, died on Thursday, February 17, 1910,
after an illness of less than a week’s duration. Stricken on the 11th
inst. in his office in the Federal Building, General Mulholland battled
bravely to regain his health, but his advanced age—he was almost
seventy-one years old—proved too great a handicap. Physicians ascribe
his death to a general breakdown.
Brevet Major General St. Clair A. Mulholland, who at the close of the
Civil War was one of the youngest of the major generals created during
that struggle, was a native of the County Antrim, Ireland, where he was
born in 1839. He came to this country with his parents when but eight
years old. While still a very young man he became connected with the
Pennsylvania militia, and when the Civil War broke out he entered the
service. For a brief period he was a recruiting officer, but in 1862 he
went to the front with the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania
Volunteers, which he helped to organize, as lieutenant colonel. This was
in June, 1862, when he was only 23 years of age.
Subsequently he was promoted to the colonelcy. He took part in the
fights at Charlestown and Ashby’s Gap, Va., in October and November,
1862. He commanded his regiment at Fredericksburg, in the famous charge
of the Irish Brigade, of which the regiment formed a part, and was
severely wounded in the gallant attempt to storm Marye’s Heights. On
February 27, 1863, he was appointed major of battalion. In the battle of
Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 3 and 4, 1863, he led his regiment, and
distinguished himself in saving the guns of the Fifth Maine Battery,
which had been abandoned to the enemy. For this he was complimented in
general orders. In this campaign he was selected by General Hancock to
command the picket line of the Second Corps, and while performing this
duty covered the retreat of the Army of the Potomac from
Chancellorsville across the Rappahannock, for which service he was
awarded a Congressional medal of honor.
He participated in the fight at Thoroughfare Gap, Va., June 25, 1863. In
the battle of Gettysburg he again led his regiment, which was
practically annihilated. He then took command and led into action the
One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was
engaged in the fight at Jones’ Cross Roads, July 10, 1863; at Falling
Waters, July 14, and in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, where
he was again wounded. For his gallant conduct on this occasion he was
made brevet brigadier general. He was in the fight at Tod’s Tavern, May
10, 1864, and in the battle of Po River, where he was a third time
wounded.
Having been sent to the hospital at Washington, he remained only ten
days, and then resumed his command. He was engaged in the fight at North
Anna and on the Pamunkey River, May 28, 30 and 31, 1864. At the battle
of Topotomy Creek he was dangerously wounded by a musket ball through
the groin.
He commanded his brigade in all the actions around Petersburg until the
end of the war. He particularly distinguished himself during this time
by storming a rebel fort in front of his brigade, and for this he was
brevetted major general October 27, 1864.
When, in 1868, Daniel M. Fox was elected Mayor he called to his aid as
chief of police General Mulholland, and it was due to the discipline
which the latter inculcated that the force, before that time in some
disorder, was brought to a fine condition.
After the election of President Cleveland General Mulholland was
appointed pension agent at Philadelphia, a position he held continuously
since 1894.
The activities of General Mulholland covered a large field, and he was
known all over the State. As a speaker at Grand Army celebrations and in
educational institutions he was always welcomed, and his vivid
descriptions of events in war times were listened to with interest.
For many years he was a member of the Board of Prison Inspectors, and it
is said of him that he personally helped more unfortunates to start life
anew than any other man in the State. He made the subject of prison
discipline and its reform a study, and it was he who formed the
committee that drafted the new parole law, as presented in the
Legislature by Senator Ernst L. Tustin.
He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Loyal Legion, life
member of the American-Irish Historical Society, Medal of Honor Legion
and Friendly Sons of St. Patrick (of which he was president from 1892 to
1894). He was chairman of the committee of the Friendly Sons which had
charge of the erection of the Barry monument in Independence Square, and
at the time of his death chairman of the commission appointed by
Governor Stuart to provide for the erection of the monument to the
Pennsylvania soldiers participating in the battle of Gettysburg. He was
a former president of the Catholic Alumni Sodality, and at the time of
his death, as chairman of a committee of the sodality, was working to
raise funds for the erection of a monument to Rev. William Corby,
chaplain of the Irish Brigade, showing Father Corby in the act of
administering absolution to the soldiers about to enter into battle at
Gettysburg.
Himself an artist in water colors, General Mulholland during his trips
abroad gathered many valuable paintings, which form a collection of
worth at his home.