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AN GAOḊAL.
Captain Norris writes, —
At a regular meeting of the Philo-Celtic Society
of New York, held at its hall, 263 Bowery, on Sun¬
day, Jan. 14, President John Casey in the chair,
Captain Norris read the following letter which he
had received from Timothy Gleeson, Esqr. Lisquin¬
lan, Co. Cork, Ireland, inclosing a donation of one
dollar to our school association. —
LISQUINLAN, CASTLEMARTYR, CO. CORK,
Dec. 19, 1893.
My Dear Sir. — The August No. of the GAEL
with two enclosures, reached me some weeks ago,
but in consequence of the recent prosecution at Cas¬
temartyr Petty Sessions, for using the Irish lang¬
uage (in which I was defendent), I am receiving so
many letters on that subject, which have taken up all
my time to reply to them, that I found it almost
impossible to reply to your communication sooner.
It now gives me great pleasure to forward you a
post-office order for 4s. 2d. — equal to $1 00, as my
contribution to the Philo-Celtic Association, at the
same time regretting that I could not conveniently
subscribe more. Hoping that, under the circum¬
stances, you will kindly excuse my delay, and wish¬
ing you all the compliments of the season, I remain
my dear Sir, very truly yours,
TIMOTHY GLEASON.
Thomas D Norris, Esqr.
After the reading of Mr Gleason's letter, the foll¬
owing resolutions were offered and unanimously ad¬
opted. —
Resolved, That we accept Mr Gleason's gift with
thanks, and that we also tender him a vote of thanks
for his genuine patriotism and love of the Irish lan¬
guage. And be it further
Resolved, That the Secretaries of the association
be instructed to place Mr Gleason's name on the
rolls of the association, and that it be hereafter car¬
ried on the books as an honorary member.
1894
The Philadelphia Philo-Celtic Society for the
Preservation of the Irish Language held its ann¬
ual meeting for the election of officers last month,
at Philopatrian hall, 211 S. 12th St., when the fol¬
lowing were unanimously elected. —
President, Mr Thomas McEniry ; vice prest. J.
Mogan; recording secretary, James Hunt. cor.
secretary, Martin Welsh; fin. secretary, M Fa¬
hey; treasurer, Miss Lizzie McSorley: sergt-at-
arms, J Owens; librarian, Miss Mary Maloney,
and Exective Committee, Messrs. P McFadden, D
Gallagher, J J Lyons, J McCartney, P Lawless,
James J Hughes, Misses Ellen O'Connor, Brigid
Lynch, Mary Magee.
The Society is in a flourishing condition and
hopes to increase its usefulness during the coming
year.
Now that the Hierarchy of Ireland are taking
such an interest in the restoration and study of
the Irish language it behoves all her children in
this country to stimulate their exertions by be¬
coming members of and otherwise aiding the so¬
cieties organized for this purpose. One of the old¬
est of these is the Phila. Philo-Celtic Society.
Respectfully yours.
James J Hughes, Acting Sec.
Feb. 1894.
The St. Paul, Minn Philo-Celtic Society elect¬
ed the following board of officers last month. —
President, J Leyden ; vice prest. H McMann; sec
P M McRoney; treasurer and librarian, M Conroy.
Messrs. J Costello, H McMann, and M Conroy
were appointed instructor. This is a reorganiza¬
tion of the society. Messrs. R Vail and M F Mc¬
Hale of the Minneapolis society were present.
Meetings will be held in A. O. H. hall every
Sunday afternoon.
(We are of the opinion that our Western Philo-
Celts are A. O. H. men — the Language movement
is peculiarly theirs, and if they go into it it is a
success. We would say to all. — Let those too old
to learn be entertained as our Hartford Celts have
been — Ed G).
GÆLIC HISTORY.
A word on the Irish in America, founded on the
"Deserted Village." Some imagine that the great
influx of the Irish to America commenced with
the years of the famine; but Goldsmith wrote the
poem about the year 1770, and he says (referring
to emigration, —
Not so the loss. This man of wealth and pride
Takes up space that many poor supply'd.
And, again, as to where they went, he says, —
Ah! no. To distant crimes, a dreary scene,
Where half the convex world intrudes between,
Hence, no wonder that half the Revolutionary
army of 1776 were Irish, (as the records show) and
not North of Ireland Presbyterians either, as our
anti-Irish citizens would fain make them, but the
Catholic neighbors of this gifted, patriotic Prot¬
estant Irishman. We consider this poem the most
important and trustworthy document extant in
relation to the strength of the Irish element in A¬
merica, for Goldsmith wrote on and painted the
actual condition of things as they then existed.
Fully one-half of the white population of these
United States are Irish-American, a fact which the
A P As and others should remember
Newsdealers need not return unsold Gaels, but
hand them in rotation to appreciating customers,
sending occasionally 60 per cent of what they sell
to us, their own honor being their only check.
The Philadelphia Hibernian, issued
at first as a monthly, as shown its ra¬
pid progress in the public favor by be¬
coming a bi-monthly. It is full of truly
patriotic, well-chosen articles. The
Gael wishes it good luck.
The Gael reciprocates the Irish
Pennsylvanian's undoubted friendship
for it. Pittsburg Gaels should second
its efforts to form a Gaelic club.
