The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-17
ST. pATR1cK's DAY.

Preparations for les Celebration.
Today being the festival of Ireands patron saint the
sons Of the Emerald Isle in this city and In fact all over
the world wherever a sufficient number OF them are
gathered together win celebrate it, in accordance will,
their usual custom 1t is the among the Irish as
St. Georges day is among the English st. Dayid's
among the Welsh St. Andrews among the Scotch, or as
the I'D Of February, the birthday Of the immortal
Washington among all true citizens of our own favor
ed land II is the commemoration of Irelnd's CONVEX
sion from doatry to Christianit-the most important
event in the history Of that countryand it is but right
That should be celebrated by all the natives of that
country as great festival St. Patrick was one Of
The nrst and the most successful missionaries
ever sent among the Irish His birthplace is involved in
obscurity some historians giving that honor to Brittany
in France and others asserting that he was born at Kirk
patrick, Dumbarton Scotland on the 1st of April
573 We may state, however that the prevailing belief
among antquarans Is that he Scotchman However
that may be- there doubt with regard to the fact OF
his being of the most jealous and successful apostles
OF Christianity that lived His e like the lives OF
the patron saints of many other countries has been
made pretty free with by many Of his ignorant but
dent admirers and we think he would be somewhat
sed if be could be awakened from his long sleep to
hn .v of the marvellous stories which related of
him with these however, we have nothing to do; the
legends which are told OF hi only to prove the
great reverence and love which are entertained for his
memory.
St. Patrick we say, born, according to the most
reliable accounts, in Scotland, and his sgnied
that he of noble patrician family. When boy
he captured and held in state of bondage in Ire
lond for about six years. during which time he was the
slave of Irish chief called Mlcho Having the end
of this period conrived the of escape from his
servude, he returned home and about two years
after this the chronicle informs u.s. that he conceived
the design of converting Ireland. 1t was, how
ever, thirty five years before he could carry this
design into execution The whole of that tim
spent in the most unremitted preparation and train
ing for his great mission under his mothers uncle St.
Martin, Bishop of Tours by whom he ordained dea
He afterwards admitted to the order of priest
hood by st. German, and finally consecrated bishop
by the Pope Soon after he set out for Ireland where he
landed in 43 the coast Of Wicklow and Immediately
commenced preaching the doctrines Of Christianity His
FIRST the conversion OF Smell, powerful
chieftan, which followed by that Of large number
of others He met however, with great opposition in
his through the island the Druds having reused
against him the luminosity of the majority Of the people
It Is related Of him that finding it difficult to make his
hearers believe in the Trinity he illustrated the doctrine
by exhibiting the well known treol called the shamrock
which he had pucked from the green sward for the pur
pose This convinced the skepca and II has been
ever since by Irishmen the national festival in
memoration Of the incident.
It is enough to say here that st. Patrick succeeded in
Converting the whole island in the comparatively brief
period of thirteen years. and died at the remarkable age
of one hundred and twenty.
Great preparations have been made by the various
Irish societies to celebrate national festival There
win be procession Of the military, who will form
East Broadway at 10 O'Clock this morning. under COM
mand of Col B. Ferris.
The company of Light Artillery win parade under
inand of Captain Hogan the Cavalry under Captains
Kennedy and Nelly. The 9th, Goth and 72d Regiments
viii be out in force. The Emmett Guard Irish American
Guard Shields Guard, Carroll Guard, Irish Rifles and
the Jackson Horse Guards will join in the line Of march
The following the programme Of the procession drawn
mp for the civic and trade societies The place Of meeting
is in Second avenue, the right resting Tenth
The Shamrock Benevolent Society in Tenth street. west
@sal of Second avenue.
Hbernian Universal Benevolent Society Tenth street.
east OF Second avenue.
Irish American Benevolent Society in Ninth street. west
of Second avenue.
Hbernan Benevolent Burial Society in Ninth street. cas-.
of Second avenue
Hbernian Benevolent Society in Eighth street. west Of
Second avenue.
Quarrymens Union Protective Society in Eighth street.
east of Second avenue.
Laborers Union Benevolent Society in Seventh street.
west Of Second avenue.
Ancient Order Of Hbernans in Seventh street. east Of
Second usenue
Father Matthew United Benevolent Total Abstinence Soci
ETY., in Sixth street. west of Second avenue
Montgomery benevolent Society in Sixth street. east OF
Second avenue
New York Benevolent Society Of Operative Masons, in
Fifth street, west Of Second avenue
The Shields Club, horseback win meet in Fifth street.
east Of Second avenue
The procession at O'Clock precisely through
Second street to owery thence to Grand street. thence
to East Broadway to unite with the military thence
through Chatham street. entering through the gate
of the Pork to be viewed by his Honor the Mayor and
Common Council thence to Broadway through Broadway
to Fourteenth street. to Third avenue Bowery to Prince
street, and then dismiss.
The Friendly Sens of St. Patrick will celebrate the day
by dinner the Astor House. and the Young Friends
Of Ireland will wind up the day with supper and ball.