The Placer herald., 1860-03-24

times, was condemed to servtude for period
of years.
Whichever of these accounts is the cor
rect one, suppose it is not doubted that he
was
"Sold into bondage and unworthy tols,'
that during bis term of bondage the nat
ural powers of his great mind sumbered not
that even while obeying the behess Of his
worldly task MASTER he was employed in the
service of one greater than man. While
employed in his occupation Of shepherd. his
thoughts were devoted to higher and nobler
things. BY PRAYER and deep meditation,
while attending his masters flocls, he WAS
laying the foundation to that monument of
fame, and preparing himself for the accom-
pIishment of those glorious Deeds which
have, for hundreds Of years endured in the
memory Of mankind, and which will remain
vivid in the knowledge of men throughout
all tme;-and which prepared the way for
his glorious birth into that world "wtere the
wicked cease from troubling, and the weary
are at rest"
The day we celebrate is not, as is supposed
by many, the anniversary Of St. Patrck's
birth into this world, but it is the annver
sary Of his birth into higher and hoIier
state Of existence, but the conclusion of his
pilgrimage here below.
Upon returning home after bis term of
bondage had expired he renewed his efforts
in preparing himself for the labors before
him, and for which he eminently fitted him
self. Subsequently, in obedience to the voice
from Heaven. which sounded in his ears in
his midnight slumbers, lie returned to the
green isle of the ocean," and there com
menced those hercuean labors which he in
time so successfully accomplished and which
were the GROWING g'ory Of his earthly
pilgrimage.
What is more noble, more godike. than
the plain, unvarnished picture presented in
the history of his life? A boy, sixteen years
Of age, made prisoner, and conveyed by his
captors to strange land, and among
strange people, between whom and him there
is no similarity Of manners, habits, language,
or religion, and there sold as slave, and
compelled to labor during the sprng-tme of
his existence, in the service of idoaers The
period of his servitude past, he returned to
the country which gave him birth, with a
mind stored with the riches of thought, and
bic with christian purposes-a mind, which
the bonds of bodily servitude could not
fe,lcr: purposes, to which toll and degradation
themselves gave birth, His wrongs have
engendered no bitterness 10 his mind, and in
his heart ranllles no desire for revenge
Grander, nobIer far, are the motives by
which he is governed, and the thoughts with
which his very being teens. He obeys the
commands of his Heavenly Master, which
are, to love your enemies bless them that
curse you; do good to them that hate you;
and pray for them which desptefuIy use vou
and persecute YOU" During the period of
his compulsory sojourn in Ireland, he had
acquired knowledge of the character,
habits, and religious views of the Irish peo
pie, and with these aids he crosses the water
and commences the Heaven rewarded labor
Of disseminating the truths of christianity
among the benghted minds, the uneulight-
eued understandings of an idolatrous people.
The Drui,ls the Celtic or Gaulish priests
whose fa's religion, he, as an instrument
in the hands OF God, was about to undertake
to overlurn, were believers in the ,ransrl
and were also aStrologers, magcans, and
sooth h-sayers and also, withal, were the most
learned, and the most firmly welded to their
religious errors, of any people Of that day.
Their temporal and spiritual power was un
limited. They performed all sacrifices, ap-
pointed the highest officers of cities. 'In.
etluction," says Julius Caesar, sin religious,
and all other kinds of knowledge, except that
of war, was entrusted to them alone."-
Whoever opposed their decision was excom-
municated by them, and thereby deprived Of
all share in religious worship-and they
could even pronounce the curse against
whole people; and in fact their power was
almost unlimited.
Here, then, and among such as these, was
the theater of St.. Patrick's labors. He went,
not
"With banner, brand and bow
to conquer, to coerce, to subjugate-as has
been too often done in later periods of time
but, looking with christian charity upon the
mistaken opinions of those whom be sought
to instruct, he mildly, but earnestly, taught
them Divine truths, pointed out to them, in
a spirit of love, the errors of their religious
views, and supported his teachings with an
eloquence so fervent, so convincing and the
example of life so pure and stainless, that
it required but to hear and see to believe.
That beautiful island, rich in all that nature
could bestow - that people, possessed OF
minds containing every element of greatness;
through the great medium of which am
speaking, became emancipated, disenthraled.
Kings and commons rich and poor, the
learned and unlearned hocked to the stand
ard of the cross, renounced the errors to
which they had so long been subjected, and
became Jealous supporters of the religion of
Joe,e Christ Tho eoaJc La slant a1 Onrp1 n