duty, he still found opportunities to turn to the field of letters of a
more enduring character. A writer of virile and picturesque prose, James
Jeffrey Roche will always be best known as a poet whose verse is marked
by beauty, sweetness, lyrical quality and a _belle esprit_ all his own,
and ranging in scope from the light, brilliant and witty _vers de
société_ to such serious and compelling poems as his “Babylon.” His
“Songs and Satires” is a volume that sparkles with wit and rapier-like
touches. His “Ballads of Blue Water” is a book for American men and
patriots, unique and stirring; the ballads will live while Americans
look back with pride to the deeds of an heroic past; and no American
singer has written any better ballads of action than “The Armstrong
Privateer,” “The Constitution,” “The Alamo” and other stirring songs.
His “Life of John Boyle O’Reilly” was the tribute of a devoted friend
and admirer to a man and comrade he loved and labored with, and is a
biography whose literary excellence is amazing when we consider the
pressure under which it was written. His other prose work varied from
the brilliant accuracy and gravity of “The Story of the Filibusters”
(republished by the Harpers as “The Byways of War”) to those airy
medleys of fun and philosophy “Her Majesty the King” and “The Sorrows of
Sap’ed,” which have made the world laugh and think.
A close personal friend and admirer of President Theodore Roosevelt, he
was appointed by him American Consul at Genoa, Italy, in 1904, when his
health being precarious, a change of work and climate became necessary;
and in 1907 the President transferred him to the capital of Switzerland,
Berne, where he lived until the final call came to him.
When in 1896 I broached to a few interested friends the project of
establishing an organization which would bring together men of the Irish
race interested in gathering and perpetuating the record of the
achievement of that race on this American continent, and preserving it
in such form that historians could utilize it and thus ensure us our
share of the honor and credit of upbuilding the American Republic, I
found him sympathetic and enthusiastic in the matter; and out of those
gatherings and discussions sprang the movement which resulted in the
foundation of the American Irish Historical Society. James Jeffrey
Roche, John Linehan, Hamilton Murray and I drew up the call, signed it,
secured other signatures, called a meeting at the Revere House, Boston,
Mass., 20th January, 1897, and the Society was born. He became one of
the members of the Executive Council and for many years we attended its
meetings and outings until conditions and circumstances stopped our
attendance without attenuating our interest in its progress.
Personally, James Jeffrey Roche was one of the most lovable and charming
of men, who carried under a surface of wit and joyous frivolity a nature
whose depth, sincerity, devotion to ideals, capacity for friendship,
passion for freedom, love of race and motherland, high-minded patriotism
and loyalty to duty and honor, were understood only by those who knew
him intimately. He hated all meanness and dishonor; friendship was a
sacred thing to him; and he had that clairvoyant vision of the poet
which saw the humbug and pharisee under the skin of the charlatan, when
many a reputedly wiser and more sophisticated man accepted the demagogue
and pretender at their own valuation.
I knew him for many years; to me he was as my own flesh and blood; I
could not love a brother more; and his death was merely the final
chapter in the grief I experienced when he went from Boston to represent
the Republic abroad, in such physical condition that I knew I would
never look upon his face again in life; and I know that in voicing my
own sorrow I am but expressing the feelings of those who were comrades
in the past and lovers of him always. He had reached the zenith of his
literary powers before he left the land of his adoption and love
forever; and he himself realized that his work was done, and that only
the official duties of his consular position remained to preoccupy him
until the final call.
Besides a host of friends, he left a wife, a son and a daughter to mourn
his passing; and while the idle reader of contemporary literature may
time and again derive pleasure and profit from his joyous wit, and
gentle philosophy, his intimates and brothers in soul will seldom meet
without recalling with a hush and a sigh the friend and comrade who has
passed and who awaits them where work and worry, sweat and sorrow, are
no more forever.
He was buried in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Mass., within a stone’s
throw of the spot where sleep his comrades in the flesh, John Boyle
O’Reilly, Thomas J. Gargan and Patrick A. Collins, his grave marked by a
handsome granite column adorned with a bronze tablet, erected by a group
of friends who loved him in life and mourn him in death. May he sleep in
peace; for no gentler, sweeter spirit was ever added to the company of
Heaven than James Jeffrey Roche.
The following list of applicants for membership in the Society was read
by the secretary-general, and by unanimous vote they were duly elected
members:
John J. Kenney, New Brighton, Staten Island, N. Y. (proposed by J. J.
Lenehan).
William Gilbert Davies, 32 Nassau Street, New York City (proposed by J.
J. Lenehan).
Martin Hughes, Hibbing, Minn, (proposed by Hon. C. D. O’Brien).
Patrick F. McBreen, 404 Munroe Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. (proposed by J.
J. Lenehan).
Thomas Murphy, Irvington-on-Hudson, New York (proposed by Francis J.
Quinlan, M. D.).
Dr. Thomas E. Dolan, 250 Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth, N. J. (proposed by
James L. O’Neil).
Jeremiah D. Leary, 246 Clark Place, Elizabeth, N. J. (proposed by James
L. O’Neil).
Rev. Cornelius F. O’Leary, Wellston, St. Louis, Mo. (proposed by Michael
J. Jordan).
Frank L. Tooley, D. D. S., 157 East 79th Street, New York City (proposed
by J. J. Lenehan).
Martin I. J. Griffin, 1935 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
(proposed by J. J. Lenehan).
John C. McGuire, Hotel St. George, Brooklyn, N. Y. (proposed by J. J.
Lenehan).
Rev. Thomas J. McCarty, 1011 Douglas Street, Sioux City, Iowa (proposed
by Bishop P. J. Garrigan).
William J. Delaney, Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Patrick L. Hughes, 1 Blackstone Street, Boston, Mass.
Edgar Stanton Maclay, Standard Union, Brooklyn, N. Y. (proposed by
Thomas Z. Lee).
Michael W. Norton, Narragansett Hotel, Providence, R. I.
Dr. John P. Reilly, 215 Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth, N. J. (proposed by
James L. O’Neil).
Joseph F. McLoughlin, attorney-at-law, 2 Rector Street, New York City
(proposed by T. Vincent Butler).
Peter J. Dufficy, 120 West 59th Street, New York City (proposed by T.
Vincent Butler).
Joseph Murray, 1245 Madison Avenue, New York City (proposed by Edmond J.
Curry).
Rev. James J. Murphy, Ph. D., 1011 Douglas Street, Sioux City, Iowa
(proposed by Bishop P. J. Garrigan).
J. C. Delaney, Department of Factory Inspection, Harrisburg, Pa.
(proposed by Francis J. Quinlan, M. D.).
Peter J. Gibbons, M. D., 49 Park Avenue, New York City (proposed by
Francis J. Quinlan, M. D.).
Charles J. Perry, World Building, Park Row, New York City (proposed by
J. J. Lenehan).
William T. A. Fitzgerald, Court House, Boston, Mass. (proposed by James
H. Devlin, Jr.; seconded by Michael J. Jordan).
Edward Hamilton Daly, 54 Wall Street, New York City (proposed by T.
Vincent Butler).
John B. White, 121 East 86th Street, New York City (proposed by T.
Vincent Butler).
Edward D. Farrell, 158 West 125th Street, New York City (proposed by T.
Vincent Butler).
Col. P. J. Nevins, Haverhill, Mass, (proposed by J. J. Lenehan).
William F. Downey, 1622 L Street, Washington, D. C. (proposed by J. J.
Lenehan).
Richard J. Donovan, 170 Broadway, New York City (proposed by Francis J.
Quinlan, M. D.).
John E. McGuire, Haverhill, Mass, (proposed by Dr. M. F. Sullivan).
Constantine J. McGuire, 120 East 60th Street, New York City (proposed by
Francis J. Quinlan, M. D.).
Jeremiah A. O’Leary, 38 Park Row, Manhattan, New York (proposed by John
J. Daly).
Gen. Michael Kerwin, Broadway Central Hotel, New York City (proposed by
Francis J. Quinlan, M. D.).
Edward Tingent, 68 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N. J. (proposed by Francis
J. Quinlan, M. D.).
James P. Conway, 296 East 3rd Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. (proposed by John
J. Daly).
Leo F. Farrell, 171 Westminster Street, Providence, R. I. (proposed by
Francis I. McCanna).
Dennis A. Spellissy, 302 Broadway, New York City (proposed by J. J.
Lenehan).
Rev. John Brosnan, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York (proposed by J. J.
Lenehan).
Peter L. Keough, 41 Arch Street, Pawtucket, R. I. (proposed by John T.
F. MacDonnell).
John E. Murphy, Bretton Hall Hotel, New York City (proposed by John E.
O’Brien).
Rev. William A. Keefe, Norwich, Conn. (proposed by Edmond J. Curry).
Michael W. Sullivan, Century Building, Washington, D. C. (proposed by
David Healy).
Joseph E. G. Ryan, Chicago Inter Ocean, Chicago, Ill. (proposed by Frank
S. Colton).
William Gilshenan, New York City (proposed by T. P. Kelly).
Rev. M. A. McManus, Newark, N. J.
Thomas F. Kilkenny, Providence, R. I. (proposed by M. W. Norton;
seconded by John F. O’Connell).
Thomas F. Mulry, president Immigrants’ Savings Bank, Brooklyn, N. Y.
(proposed by M. E. Bannin).
Hon. Lawrence P. Lee, Ellis Island, N. Y. (proposed by Thomas Z. Lee).
John Woods, 297 Broadway, South Boston, Mass. (proposed by Michael
Maynes; seconded by Michael J. Jordan).
John Howlett, 49 Portland Street, Boston, Mass. (proposed by Michael
Maynes; seconded by Michael J. Jordan).
M. J. Sheehy, merchant, Foot 39th Street, New York City (proposed by
Henry L. Joyce; seconded by John F. O’Connell).
[Illustration:
PETER FENELON COLLIER.
Late Editor and Publisher of Collier’s Weekly. Deceased April, 1909.
]
James C. Shannon, vice-president David Shannon Company, New York City
(proposed by Henry L. Joyce; seconded by John F. O’Connell).
William C. Burke, contractor, 143 Liberty Street, New York City
(proposed by Henry L. Joyce; seconded by John F. O’Connell).
James F. Mack, attorney-at-law, New York City (proposed by Henry L.
Joyce; seconded by John F. O’Connell).
Joseph Rowan, attorney-at-law, New York City (proposed by Henry L.
Joyce; seconded by John F. O’Connell).
John L. Murray, 223 West 42d Street, New York City (proposed by M. H.
Cox; seconded by Bernard J. Joyce).
Major Thomas F. Lynch, United States Army Building, Whitehead Street,
New York City (proposed by John J. Daly).
Daniel S. Mahoney, 131 Charles Street and 277 Broadway, New York City
(proposed by John J. Daly).
Charles B. O’Connor, New York State Construction Company, Broad Street,
New York City (proposed by John J. Daly).
Frank T. Molony, 70 Jane Street and 277 Broadway, New York City
(proposed by John J. Daly).
Joseph T. Ryan, 149 Broadway, New York City (proposed by Henry L.
Joyce).
Patrick J. Haltigan, editor _Hibernian_, Washington, D. C.
Stephen McFarland, 44 Morton Street, New York City (proposed by John Jay
Joyce).
Stephen McPartland, 134 W. 92d Street, New York City (proposed by H. G.
Bannon).
Stephen J. McPartland, 391 West End Ave., New York City (proposed by H.
G. Bannon).
P. J. Nee, 1341 Girard Street, Washington, D. C.
John J. Buckley, 99 Nassau Street, New York City (proposed by John J.
Daly).
In addition to the above, Ernest Van D. Murphy, first lieutenant,
Twenty-Seventh Infantry, United States Army, Havana, Cuba, was elected a
life member of the Society.
Mr. Michael F. Dooley, Treasurer-General of the Society, presented the
following report, covering the period from January 28, 1908, to January
15, 1909, and the same was adopted by unanimous vote:
PROVIDENCE, R. I., January 15, 1909.
AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Amount on hand at last report, January
28, 1908 $2,003.05
RECEIPTS.
1908.
Feb. Received on account of N. Y.
dinner $297.00
Feb. Membership fees 105.00
March Membership fees 100.00
May Membership fees 180.00
June Membership fees 35.00
July Membership fees 280.00
Aug. Membership fees 285.00
Sept. Membership fees 280.00
Oct. Membership fees 520.00
Nov. Membership fees 500.00
Dec. Membership fees 520.00
Dec. From Western News Co., for one
Journal 2.00
Dec. From Secretary-General,
contribution for Sullivan
Memorial Tablet dedication 112.00
1909.
Jan. Membership fees 230.00
Interest from bank 29.19
————————— $3,475.19
—————————
Total receipts $5,478.24
DISBURSEMENTS.
1908.
Feb. 4. Jas. J. Armstrong, quartet at
New York banquet $30.00
Feb. 7. T. P. Kelly, expenses at New
York banquet 352.57
Feb. 17. T. H. Murray, salary and
postage 55.00
Feb. 28. Rumford Printing Company 24.50
Feb. 29. Anna M. Burns, clerical work 8.00
Feb. 29. T. H. Murray, postage 5.00
March 16. T. H. Murray, salary and
clerical assistance 60.00
March 25. T. H. Murray, postage 5.00
April 9. T. H. Murray, clerical
assistance 16.00
April 29. T. H. Murray, salary and
postage 55.00
May 16. T. H. Murray, salary and
postage 62.00
June 10. Mrs. T. H. Murray, expense for
two years, messenger,
telephone, telephone tolls
and postoffice expenses in
forwarding mail 168.00
June 17. Geo. H. Chandler, funeral
expenses, Thos. H. Murray 307.15
June 17. Michael J. Jordan, expenses at
funeral T. H. Murray 15.47
Nov. 6. Michael J. Jordan, carriage
hire at funeral T. H. Murray 5.00
June 18. Mrs. Murray, salary 50.00
July 11. Mrs. Murray, salary 12.00
July 11. Gerry & Murray, supplies 4.00
July 11. Thos. Groom & Co., supplies 2.95
July 18. Livermore & Knight Co.,
stationery for
Treasurer-General 3.50
July 18. Mrs. Murray, salary, postage
and telephones 67.45
July 24. Postage, Treasurer-General 2.00
July 24. Rumford Printing Company,
printing of year book 679.49
July 24. Rumford Printing Company,
general printing 10.81
July 29. A. W. Lang, stationery for
Treasurer-General 7.50
Aug. 13. Mrs. Murray, postage 10.00
Aug. 19. Mrs. Murray, salary and
telephone 55.00
Sept. 1. Rhode Island Printing Company,
circular letters 14.60
Sept. 10. Thos. Groom & Co., supplies .75
Sept. 10. Rumford Printing Company,
general printing 6.32
Sept. 10. Postage, Treasurer-General 1.00
Sept. 17. Mrs. Murray, salary, postage,
telephone and other expenses 64.80
Oct. 10. Express on box from Mrs. Murray .60
Oct. 17. Mrs. Murray, salary, postage
and telephone 60.00
Oct. 23. Postage for Treasurer-General 1.00
Oct. 27. M. J. Jordan, expense incurred
at Mr. Gargan’s funeral 46.75
Nov. 7. Snow & Farnham Company,
printing, Secretary-General 9.98
Nov. 7. Snow & Farnham Company, postage
stamps and envelopes 40.00
Nov. 13. John J. Lenehan, expenses
incurred as chairman
membership committee 28.78
Nov. 13. John J. Lenehan, printing bills
for membership committee 100.90
Nov. 13. Mrs. Murray, salary, postage,
messenger and telephones 63.00
Nov. 21. Remington Printing Company,
general printing for
Secretary-General 4.75
Nov. 28. John J. Lenehan, expenses
incurred by membership
committee 74.10
Dec. 2. Thos. Z. Lee, expense incurred
as Secretary-General 20.26
Dec. 15. Mrs. Murray, salary, postage
and telephone, etc. 59.00
Dec. 18. Postage, Treasurer-General 1.00
Dec. 18. David B. Hall, lunch in
connection with dedication of
Sullivan Memorial Tablet 109.80
Jan. 8. John J. Lenehan, committee on
new members, clerical help 28.00
Jan. 8. John J. Lenehan, committee on
new members, postage 15.00
Jan. 8. Preston & Rounds Company,
record book for members’ dues 1.00
Jan. 14. Thos. Z. Lee, typewriter and
table for Secretary-General 99.50
Jan. 14. Snow & Farnham Company, general
printing for
Secretary-General 43.85
Jan. 14. Snow & Farnham Company, general
printing Secretary-General 51.20
Jan. 14. Services of stenographer
reporting in typewriting
dedication exercises Sullivan
Memorial Tablet 20.00
Exchange charges on checks .40
————————— $3,309.73
Balance in National Exchange
Bank 2,438.51
—————————
$5,478.34
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
From January 28, 1908, to January 15, 1909.
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand January 28, 1908 $2,003.05
Received from membership fees, old
members $2,220.00
Received from old member life membership
fee 50.00
Received from new members annual fees 515.00
Received from new members, life
membership fees 250.00
On account of New York dinner 297.00
For one Journal 2.00
Special contributions for Sullivan
Memorial Tablet dedication exercises $112.00
Interest from bank 29.19
————————— $3,475.19
Total receipts $5,478.34
DISBURSEMENTS.
Salary secretary $550.00
Printing Year Book 679.49
Balance on New York dinner 382.57
Funeral expenses of Secretary Murray 327.62
Expenses incurred at Mr. Gargan’s funeral 46.75
Lunch on occasion of dedication of
Sullivan Memorial Tablet 109.80
Expenses of Membership Committee 246.78
Expenses of Treasurer-General:
Stationery $11.00
Postage 5.00
Book 1.00
Exchange .40
————————— 17.40
Expenses of Secretary-General Thos. Z.
Lee:
Typewriter and table $99.50
Printing 109.78
Postage 40.00
General expenses 20.26
————————— 269.54
Stenographer, special report Sullivan
Tablet Dedication
Exercises 20.00
Expenses Secretary-General’s office, Mrs.
Murray:
Boston postoffice forwarding
mail $6.00
Express 2.40
Clerical help 34.00
Supplies 7.70
Printing 56.23
Postage 88.00
Telephone 67.45
Telephone tolls 60.00
Messenger 68.00
————————— $389.78
Balance in National Exchange Bank,
Providence, R. I., January 15, 1909 $2,438.51
—————————
$5,478.24
PERMANENT FUND AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1909
Jan. 15. Amount of deposit with the
National Exchange Bank,
Providence, R. I. $127.56
A motion was made that the next annual meeting of the Society be held in
New York City, at a time and place to be later appointed, and after some
discussion the motion prevailed.
The meeting thereupon adjourned.
ATTEST:
THOMAS ZANSLAUR LEE,
_Secretary-General_.
[Illustration:
MICHAEL FRANCIS COX, M. D., F. R. C. P. I., M. R. I. A., 26 Merrion
Square, Dublin.
Vice-President for the Society for Ireland.
]
ELEVENTH ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 16, 1909.
The Eleventh Annual Banquet of the American Irish Historical Society
took place this evening at 7.30 in the magnificent banquet hall on the
tenth floor of the Hotel Raleigh, and over two hundred members and
guests were present. The arrangement of the tables, floral decorations
and candelabra was commendable, and was a great credit to the efforts of
the Dinner Committee.
President-General Quinlan presided and acted as toastmaster for the
evening.
With him at the head table were seated: Hon. Edward D. White, Justice of
the Supreme Court of the United States; Hon. Thomas H. Carter, United
States Senator from Montana; Hon. Robert J. Gamble, United States
Senator from South Dakota; Hon. Joseph A. O’Connell, Congressman from
Massachusetts; Hon. William Sulzer, Congressman from New York; Hon. John
J. Fitzgerald, Congressman from New York; Hon. Michael F. Dooley of
Rhode Island, Treasurer-General; Rear Admiral John McGowan of
Washington, former President-General; Mr. Francis I. McCanna of Rhode
Island; Hon. John D. Crimmins of New York, former President-General;
Hon. Patrick J. McCarthy, Vice-President for Rhode Island; Hon. Victor
J. Dowling, Justice of the Supreme Court of New York; Mr. Patrick Carter
of Rhode Island; Hon. Edward A. Moseley of Washington, former
President-General; Mr. David S. Barry of Washington; Hon. Maurice T.
Moloney of Illinois; Rev. M. A. Quirk of Illinois; Mr. Michael H. Cox of
Massachusetts; Mr. W. J. O’Hagan, Vice-President for South Carolina;
Hon. Thomas B. Fitzpatrick of Massachusetts; Hon. Lawrence O. Murray of
Washington; Mr. Bernard J. Joyce of Massachusetts; Hon. John F.
O’Connell of Rhode Island; Hon. John Hannan of New York; Mr. Humphrey
O’Sullivan of Massachusetts; Rev. Michael A. McManus of New Jersey;
General D. F. Collins of New Jersey; Mr. Michael J. Jordan,
Vice-President for Massachusetts; Mr. John L. Murray of New York; Mr.
Patrick J. Haltigan of Washington; and Mr. Thomas Zanslaur Lee,
Secretary-General of the Society.
The press was represented by the following gentlemen: Jerome S.
Fanciulli, Associated Press; John Monk, _New York Sun_; A. P. Arnold,
United Press Association; David S. Barry, _Providence Journal_; J. W.
Bathon, _Washington Post_; Archie Jamieson, _Washington Herald_; James
R. Quirk, _Washington Times_; and W. H. Landvorgt, _Washington Star_.
Divine blessing was invoked by Rev. Dr. Joshua P. L. Bodfish of Canton,
Mass., after which a flashlight picture of the assemblage was
successfully taken by the National Press Association of No. 1423 F
Street, Washington, for the benefit of those who wished a photographic
souvenir of the occasion.
The menu, which was finely served, was as follows:
Martinis
Lynnhavens
Clear Green Turtle
AMONTILLADO
Celery Salted Almonds Pim-Olas
Medallion of Bass a la Marguery
CHATEAU PERRON
Pommes a l’Etoile
Sweetbreads a la Conti
PONTET CANET
Petits Pois
Fresh Mushrooms sous cloche
Sorbet Renaissance
Quail Piquee sur Canape
CHAMPAGNE
Salade Romaine
Biscuit Tortoni Petits Fours
Camembert
Cafe Noir
White Rock Cigars and Cigarettes
After substantial justice had been done every part of the dinner, the
President-General asked for attention and said:
“_Ladies and Gentlemen, as well as Honored Guests of the American
Irish Historical Society_: If I feel somewhat overawed, somewhat
oppressed, by the consciousness of standing in the place formerly
occupied by a man of such national, nay, international, reputation as
the President-General whom I succeed, all the more is it incumbent
upon me on this occasion to take my duty very seriously, and endeavor
to discuss with the sobriety and earnestness appropriate to one of my
profession the aims which this organization has in view, and the
things to be sought after or avoided in prosecuting those aims.
“Let me call your attention, particularly the attention of the many
new acquisitions whom I am so happy to see here tonight, to the five
words which form the motto upon our corporate seal: ‘_That the world
may know._’ The interpretation put upon that legend by another former
President-General, Thomas J. Gargan, of whom I must speak later on,
was this: ‘To place the Irish element in its true light in American
history.’ It is not necessary to warn you, at this stage of our
existence as a body, that the American Irish Historical Society does
not live either to pick holes in the coats of others or to trail its
own coat over the sod by way of challenge. Rather, I may say, the
purpose of our organization is defensive; to employ the armory of
historical truth in vindicating for men of Irish blood that place in
American history of which it has been defrauded either wilfully or
through ignorance. Many causes have contributed to create
misrepresentation on the one hand and honest misconception on the
other. We need not discuss these causes in detail just at present. I
am here to deliver a general address and not a special lecture in
history. But we all know, and every well-informed American is aware,
that the ignorant and the vulgar not so very long ago had but two
well-defined ideas about Irishmen: One, that they wore red whiskers
and carried hods; the other, that they loved a fight. The former of
these errors we strive to dissipate—and I think we have succeeded
notably—by the very fact of the Society’s existence and by the
publication of the annual journal with its roster of membership. As to
the latter, we are not, I fear, in a position to deny it without some
reserve. It may, however, be fairly claimed that this Society has
already done much to proclaim its sympathy with the arts of peace in
electing a member of my profession to be the immediate successor of
such a man as Admiral McGowan.