Part 47

“I state now definitely that the tune of ‘Yankee Doodle’ is Irish and was known before the year 1750 as ‘All the Way to Galway.’ The song of ‘Yankee Doodle’ was adapted to this Irish air in 1755 (1756?) and the earliest reference to it is in April, 1767, when it was included as the fourth air in the comic opera of ‘The Disappointment.’ Oliver Wendell Holmes rightly calls the air ‘a country dance,’ and a manuscript copy of the Irish dance tune dated 1750 is still preserved. It was first printed by Aird of Glasgow in 1782.

“‘Dixie’ is also an Irish air, merely arranged by Dan Emmett for Bryant’s minstrels. By the way, Bryant himself, who ran the Christy minstrel business in New York in 1850, was an Irishman. His real name was Cornelius O’Brien and he died in Brooklyn in 1902. There were three brothers in the family, Cornelius (Neill), Daniel and Jerry. Neill gave the Irish air to Dan Emmet, who sang it in New York in February, 1859.”

ARCHBISHOP McFAUL FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS.

Archbishop James A. McFaul, of Trenton, N. J., has announced that he has purchased a farm of 131 acres near Bennington, which will be opened soon as a refuge for the consumptive people of that section of New Jersey.

They will have the run of the farm, upon which cottages will be erected, without expense and will be cared for without regard to race or creed. Sisters of Charity will serve as nurses. It is the plan of the archbishop to secure additional lands as they may be needed.

Archbishop McFaul was chairman of the commission appointed by Governor Fort to lead the fight against tuberculosis in New Jersey.

GOOD MEMBERSHIP SPIRIT.

Breathing the proper spirit of enthusiasm, Hon. James M. Graham, M. C., 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.