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EVENING SESSION.
Mr. Bonner:
The convention will now
come to order. We will be led in prayer by Rev. Dr. Richmond, of
Louisville.
Dr. Richmond:
Lord, Thou has been our
dwelling-place in all generations. "We adore Thee as the God of creation,
the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of Moses and the prophets,
the God of the Bible and of the Church in all ages, the God and Father of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and our God forever and ever. Bless, we
beseech Thee, Thy servants assembled here, and those whom they represent.
Grant, O God, that we may receive in the spirit humility and meekness for
the welfare of our own soul, for the advancement of Thy kingdom in the
world, and the glory of Thy great name. Grant, O Lord, to guide us this
night; may Thy blessing rest upon this assembly ; prepare us for the
duties of the coming Sabbath; may we be in the spirit on that day, and may
the approaching service in connection with this Congress be the crowning
glory of these meetings. And when Thou art done with us here on earth,
receive us into Thy general assembly on high, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Mr. Bonner:
A poem entitled "A
Scotch-Irish Welcome," written by a Louisville lady, will now be read by
Prof. Hawes, of the Baptist Theological Seminary.
Prof. Hawes:
The poem which I will read,
entitled "The Scotch-Irish Race," has been written by Mrs. Sophie Fox Sea,
and is dedicated to the Rev. T. D, Witherspoon, of this city, who is a
lineal descendant of John Knox.
THE SCOTCH-IRISH RACE.
BY MRS. SOPHIE POX SEA.
[Dedicated to Rev. T. D. Witherspoon, D.D., LL.D., a lineal descendant of
John Knox.]
Fair, fair, those historic
hills and valleys
Where the shamrock and thistle grew,
Where over the slopes and battle-crowned heights
The breath of the heather blew,
And a green isle shone clear as a jewel
In a setting of crystal dew;
But fairer the light of immortal deeds
That shineth eternal through.
Illumined, in the fane of
ages,
God's thinkers and workers stand.
He calleth them, as the chieftain calleth,
Trusty ones in his command,
To lead in the thickest of the combat,
With foes on every hand.
As such we cry: Hail, comrades, and welcome,
Welcome to our dear Southland!
Yes, hail to the race whose
childhood saw
God's truth like a rush-light shine,
Till Iona's grim walls on Scotia's shore
Glowed with effulgence divine.
Still that light shines like the star's fixed splendor
Still the great heart of mankind
Reaches to it through the mists of ages,
Claims its heritage sublime.
True hearts of old Irish
fire, was your flame
Kindled at Tara's shrine,
And nourished by Scottish strength of will,
Rare union of soul and mind;
Something akin to the power that holds
In check the wave and the wind,
Was that dauntless race no fear could tame,
No earthly fetters bind.
Worthy they of all hearts'
true homage,
Worthy they that which is best
And grandest and noblest in words that burn
In thoughts to this sad earth blest.
Statesmen, warriors, God's thinkers, God's workers,
To-day they stand confessed
As men, in manhood's broadest manliness,
Women, by womanhood's test.
O land, our land, withhold
not thy fullness
Of honor : to death they wore,
Like a garment well-fitting, thy purpose,
For thy weal their blood did pour.
Withhold not thy love: those spirits of fire
Upward like eagles did soar,
Those wills of iron kindled the flame
Of liberty on this shore.*
* The fate of the
Declaration of Independence was trembling in the balance. Witherspoon rose
to his feet and said in solemn, earnest tones: "... To hesitate is to
consent to our own slavery. That noble instrument upon your table, which
insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning
by every pen in this house. He that will not respond to its accents, and
strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy of the
name of freeman." This eloquent burst of patriotic fervor, there is every
reason to believe, bore with telling effect upon the fate of the
Declaration, which was passed two days after, settling at once the
momentous question of the nation's independence.—Dr. William P. Reed,
Centennial Address, 1888.
Still the fire burneth, we
thank Thee, O God,
Truth, virtue their guiding star,
Tenderest when humanity calls them,
Sublimest in needs of war. Hail, hail,
Green Isle in thy crystal setting,
Hail, stern rock-bound coast afar,
Our birthright of historic memories
That glorious, eternal are.
Mr. Bonner:
No man has worked harder,
or devoted more time, or brought more intelligence to the building up of
the Scotch-Irish Society of America than the Rev. Dr. John MacIntosh, of
Philadelphia. We are now to have the pleasure of listening to him. His
subject is "Our Pledge to Posterity, or the Scotch-Irish of To-day and
To-morrow."
(For Dr. Macintosh's
address see Part II., page 2. 3.)
Mr. Bonner:
We are now to have a few
words from Mr. McKeehan, the energetic Secretary of the Scotch-Irish
Society of Pennsylvania.
Mr. McKeehan:
Mr. President, Ladies, and
Gentlemen: I came from Philadelphia to this Scotch-Irish Congress, and
brought with me my much better half and several friends to look at this
live State of Kentucky and this beautiful city of Louisville and attend
this meeting. I came not to make any speech. In that line Philadelphia is
well represented. We have had here in making addresses the silver-tongued
orator of the Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Dr. Macintosh, and he
has left but very little for me to say. I am a little afraid that some
congregation will try to induce him to remain here. All I have to say is,
any congregation that attempts it will have a lively time. I feel like
congratulating myself and the Congress and everybody else on the good time
we have had. I think we ought to feel grateful to our President. Mr.
Bonner. He holds the reins over this Congress as he does over Maud 8., as
she does a mile in 2:10. I feel like congratulating myself and the local
committee for the delightful way they have managed affairs, and then we
ought to thank the citizens of this beautiful city and this entire State
of Kentucky. Didn't they send their distinguished Governor to throw wide
open to us the gates of their city, and, with their proverbial
hospitality, tell us we were welcome, and that they hoped we would have a
good time. I was taken out riding by a gentleman, and saw $10,000 and
$20,000 horses that we in Philadelphia don't see, and nobody in New York
but Mr. Bonner. This Congress is about to come to an end. We have met kind
acquaintances; we from the North have met those in the South, and those in
the West have met those in the South and East, and I agree with my friend
Dr. MacIntosh that one of the great and important purposes which must be
subserved by this Scotch-Irish Society here and elsewhere, will be that,
on my North and on my South, and on my East and on my West, nevertheless
there shall be no sectional feeling or sentiment, which should be the
prevailing sentiment in every true American heart which knows no South nor
North, no East nor West.
Mr. Bonner:
Letters of congratulation
and resolutions will now be read by Col. John W. Echols, of Pittsburg.
Col. Echols:
It gives me great pleasure,
my friends, to read to you the following communications which have been
received both by wire and mail at this meeting of our Congress from those
who are unable to attend and unable to be present.
(For these letters and
telegrams, see pages 18-22.)
And now, as Chairman of the
committee to draft resolutions regarding our Congress here, I beg leave to
report the following:
Resolved, That the thanks
of this Scotch-Irish Congress be respectfully and cordially tendered:
1. To Gov. Buckner, for his
presence and valuable and eloquent address of welcome.
2. To the Board of Trade,
the Commercial Club, the Scotch-Irish Society of Kentucky, Helm Bruce,
Esq., the Local Secretary; to James Ross Todd, Esq., Chairman of the
Reception Committee; and the other citizens of Louisville who have
sumptuously provided for our accommodation and entertainment.
3. To the members of the
press, for their full and accurate reports of our proceedings.
Whilst thus gratefully
acknowledging our debt to our fellow-men, we would look up to God, Who is
the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and acknowledge Him as our
fathers' God and our God, and we earnestly pray that He may make this
Society His own instrument for the spread of truth, for the defense of
liberty, for the development of the widest brotherhood, and for the
extension of that Kingdom which is righteousness and peace and joy in the
Holy Ghost.
I now, Mr. Chairman,
present this resolution and move its adoption.
Motion seconded and
question put and carried unanimously.
Mr. Bonner:
To-morrow evening at 8
o'clock, at the Auditorium, we will have an old-fashion Scotch-Irish
service, at which Dr. Hall will preach the sermon. Dr. Hall will now lead
us in prayer and pronounce the benediction.
Dr. Hall:
Almighty God, our Father in
heaven, we worship Thee and glorify Thee, with thanks and praise to Thee
through Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Every good and perfect gift comes from
Thee. How many of those gifts we have received is of Thy sovereign
goodness, and unto Thee we render thanks and praise. Again and again we
have presented our united supplications, invoking Thy presence and Thy
favor. And now, as these proceedings come to a close, we commit ourselves,
we commit our work, we commit the unknown future to Thy fatherly guidance
and care. Favor, we pray Thee, this Society; let it perpetually continue,
let it be increased, make our efforts a blessing in the land, let us
receive good from year to year, and let us be led to do good. Let Thy
favor rest upon us who are gathered together here. Let Thy blessing rest
upon this city; continue its prosperity; direct all who have to do with
its interests. Bless its churches. Let the people in this city, knowing,
and feeling, and trusting Thee in Christ, be prepared for citizenship in
the glorious Jerusalem above. Forgive our sins, and fill our hearts with
Thy blessed peace for Jesus's sake, and may the grace of the Lord Jesus,
the light of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with us evermore.
Amen. |
