THE IRISH LANGUAGE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 5

THE IRISH LANGUAGE.

AN INTERESTING LECTURE. Auekland, May 8. The Rev. Chas. Jordan, 8.A., and exIrish Scholar T.C.D., gave Ms first lecture on the Irish language last evening, in St. James’s Hall, Wellington - street, and created a most favourable impression. There was an excellent attendance, chiefly, as one could see, natives of “the old land,” but including many, also, of other nationalities, come to hear the claims of Ireland to a national literature and a national life in the “ ould ancient days.” Mr Jordan’s manner was excellent, and he soon got in full touch with the sympathies of _the audience. His own enthusiasm for his country’s language and nationality quickly roused the enthusiasm of his hearers, and during the progress of an interesting and instructive lecture, he was greeted with round after round of applause. His quotations from the old writers were as so much Hindostani to the majority of his audience, but none could fail to note the musical rhythm of the poetry; and there was many an old man or woman whose eyes brightened as they heard again the accents of their childhood’s tongue. The chair was taken at about 8 o’clock by Sir G. M. O’Rorke, after an introductory pianoforte selection by Miss D. Lynch. With Sir Maurice on the platform were Messrs F. J. Moss, M.H.R., J. A. Tole, J. D. Conolly, W. J. Speight, P. Danaher, J. O’Meagher, W. McCullough and P. Gleeson. At intervals in the lecture Irish musical selections were given. Miss Swan sang in her usual pleasing style “The Isle That’s Crowned With Shamrock,” and as an encore “ Old Ireland, You’re My Darling.” Mr Mitchell sang “The Harp That Once,” accompanied by Mrs Mitchell, who showed perfect command of the piano. Miss McCormick quite took by storm the feelings of her audience in “ The Vale of Avoca,” and as an encore song gave “ Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms.” We can give but briefly the substance of the lecture, which was most instructive throughout, but of which a considerable part consisted of references to old books and readings from them very interesting to the hearer, but likely only to bore a reader. Mr Jordan commenced by expressing his disappointment at having to speak in what was to him a foreign tongue—the English. But he trusted that the Irish language and literature were dear to the hearts of most of his hearers, as they ought to be dear to the heart of every man with a drop of Irish blood in his veins. During this century great interest had been taken in antiquity ; and to Irishmen no antiquity could be so interesting as that of their own country. The olden state of their country could only be understood and explained through a knowledge of its ancient literature : and as yet comparatively little has beendoneto disclose the treasures of that literature,though workers such as Dr. Jno. O’Donovan, Professor Eugene O’Curry, the late Dr. Todd, Dr. Graves (Bishop of Limerick), Dr. Petrie and the late Archbishop McHale, of Tuam, had worked lovingly in this field. Even a very imperfect knowledge must show in what honour the man of learning was held by the ancient Irish. He was not only put in a position of independence, but if ho held the highest position in his work, was privileged to sit next the king. The learning of the day consisted in law, history, philology, music, Druidism, poetry, and the art of reading and reciting aloud—the latter art very important in those days when the reciter was the only chronicler of news. Nob only were the professors held in high honour, but their wives bad special privileges. And it is to be remarked that in the old literature of Ireland there is not an instance of disrespect or insult ottered to a woman. Surely Irishmen of the present day, considering the honour paid to their literature in the past, and the knowledge to be gained from that literature, should do all in their power to become possessed of a thorough knowledge of it. The history of ancient Erin is yet unwritten, and can only be written from her old books, many of which are now lost. Mr Jordan then went on to prove from quotations the existence in Ireland of a style of writing antecedent to the introduction of Latin characters. He showed that a legalsystemandadistinct written system of government must have existed in Ireland long before St. Patrick’s advent. Bub that ancient literature and the transcripts of many of its books had been destroyed by the Danish invasions, the Anglo-Norman invasion and the protracted conflicts that followed, and by the change of feeling in the Irish gentry after they became somewhat Anglicised. References to old books were found in modern works. Mr Jordan gave a list of works still in existence, and concluded by reciting a number of stanzas of old Irish poetry.

SECOND LECTURE. The Rev. C. Jordan pave his second interesting lecture last evening in St. James’s Hall on “ Irish Literature ” before a very fair audience. As before, the lecture was thoroughly appreciated. It dealt chiefly with the specimens of ancient Irish literature still existing, with the lives of the annalists, and with their services to literature. Mr Jordan showed also how extensive was the range of that ancient literature, and how it was fostered in the olden times. The lecture concluded with an eloquent peroration in which the speaker drove home his arguments in favour of Ireland’s claim for a national life and literature. At the close Mr YV. J. Speight proposed, and Mr T. Thompson, M.H.R., seconded a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried with hearty applause. In putting the motion Mr J. D. Conolly, who, in the absence of Sir G. M. O’Rorke, took the chair, expressed appreciation of the lecture, and of the extensive and thorough learning of the lecturer. He thought the words that fell from his lips were far more valuable than if uttered by priest or bishop, because the lecturer was a living refutation of the vile calumnies spread throughout the land. He thought it was a happy augury of the time when the troubles of Ireland should be over, and Catholic and Protestant should march shoulder to shoulder in the attempt to rule their common country. "" Musical selections were given during the evening by Mrs Mitchell, Miss Lynch, Miss Swan, and Mr Mitchell.