Fred Walsh presided and delivered the following pleasing address of welcome:

"Brothers of the A.O.H., sisters of the Ladies Auxiliary and invited guests: I suppose it would become me in accepting the chair and presiding at this meeting to assert that in choosing me you have made a very poor selection as chairman of this meeting, but this would be a reflection upom your judgement, and you will doubtless discover it soon enough. I have one consolation in taking the chair -- the presiding officer is not expected to make speeches. It is his business to listen. However, ladies and gentlemen, upon this glorious ocassion and in honor of St. Patrick, our holy patron saint of dear Ireland, whose memory we celebrate this night, I cannot refrain from wishing you all a caed meia-falthe, hoping that the memory of him in whose honor we are here tonight, will be forever kept green in the hearts of all the Irish people."