“Finally, gentlemen, it is in no perfunctory spirit that I here publicly render thanks to the members of our official staff, without whose zealous coöperation our year could not have been brought to the happy and glorious conclusion in which we rejoice tonight. Since the death of our beloved Secretary-General six months ago Judge Thomas Z. Lee of Rhode Island has fulfilled in large measure the colossal duties of that office, and to whom the Society owes more than mere words of thanks. With him I associate in my heartfelt gratitude our esteemed and respected Treasurer-General, Mr. Michael F. Dooley, whose devotion to our work and our interests has been, I may say without exaggeration, heroic. And, gentlemen, I must not conclude without expressing in both my own behalf and that of the Society as a whole those thanks which are fairly due to the various committees who have so successfully carried out the work of organizing this meeting. I hold that the manner in which that labor of love has been performed has been in itself a very positive demonstration of the faculty of concerted action which belongs to our race, at least on this side of the Atlantic, if not everywhere and always. And now I conclude with my personal thanks to all who are here tonight, especially the ladies, who have given a fine atmosphere to this occasion and without whose hearty and sympathetic countenances our gathering could not have been, as I am confident it will be, a memorable one in the history of the American Irish Historical Society.” HON. PATRICK J. MCCARTHY: “Rhode Island proposes three cheers for the ladies.” This suggestion met with a hearty response, and was quickly followed by similar proposals from representatives of Boston and New York. PRESIDENT-GENERAL QUINLAN: The first toast on the program is “The President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.” This was drunk standing and was followed by three ringing cheers. The orchestra then played “The Star Spangled Banner,” which was sung by the assemblage. PRESIDENT-GENERAL QUINLAN: We will now turn to the serious aspect of this page in our history. This evening we are especially honored, ladies and gentlemen, by having at this table one of the most distinguished men, not only in the United States, but in the world. Without further ado, without further expression, because it is like carrying coals to Newcastle, I will go on and introduce to you Hon. Edward D. White, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Mr. Justice White was greeted with hearty applause and cheering as he arose, and, after order was restored, he spoke as follows: