Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-03-16
st. PArR1cK,s DAY.

Tomorrow, wherever there are irish
men, will be celebrated the festival of Saint
Patrick. The occasion is one of peculiar
solemnity among Irish Catholics but
veneration is justly due the memory OF the
| great apostle, from every Irishman Of what
ever creed. Not only was he pioneer
missionary of the then only christian faith;
but he it was who lit the torch of civiliza-
ton among a people cropping i'll the gloom
of primeyal barbarism. The real history
of the Illustrious Saint is involved in
much obscurity. We have heard 1t learn
edly argued that he was a Frenchman and
a native of Boulogne-Sur-Mer, and there
is much authority to substantiate that be-
lief. The more commonly received tradi-
ton is that he was Scotchman, and that
he was born at Fitzpatrick at the mouth OF
the Clyde. The Nero 4mericdn CyclopeaiG
gives him the Scotch nativity, and says he
was born at Fitzpatrick in the year 3I2'
anu uleu aS DO"Ii, - ISlei' oOOut I01' ->s
the age of sixteen, he was carried captive
to Ireland BY band Of marauders, but
made his escape. after six months, and
reached Scotland. Carried off a second
time, and again escaping, he resolved to
become missionary to the Irish, was or
dained in Scotland, and after long prepa-
ration was consecrated Bishop. Having
previously, according to some accounts,
visited Gaul and perhaps Italy, he passed
over to his chosen field of labor about A.
D. 432, and preached the gospel with such
extraordinary effect, that although not alb
solutely the first to introduce Christianity
into that country, he has always received
the credit of its general conversion. He
baptized the Kings of Dublin and Mum
ster, and the seven Sons of the King of
Connaught, with the greater part of their
subjects, and before his death had con-
verted almost the whole Island 10 the
faith. St. Bernard testi6es that he fixed
his metropolitan See at Armagh, and it
appears that he appointed several other
Bishops. with whom ne held councils TO
settle the discipline of the Church which
he had planted. 4 popular legend as
cribes TO him the Punishment of all VEN
omous creatures from the Island by means
of his crozier on staff. which Ralph Hig-
den in his Polychronican," mentions as
being kept with great veneration in Dub
lin in 1860. This much is about all that
now stands recorded of Saint Patrick in
history but the veneration which has at
tached to his name for so long period
and has been transmitted unimpaired
through traditions that reach back into
darkness beyond the memory of man, and
beyond oil written chronicles, is proof of
the exalted estimation in which he must
have been held BY his contemporaries. The
Romish church has fixed his festival upon
the 18th day of March, and the day is OBJ
served by the Irish people universally, not
only as religious but national anniver-
sary. Tomorrow. both in this place and
at Virginia, the day will be observed with
imposing ceremonies, the programme Of
which will be found in our advertising
columns. In St. Patrick's Church in
Gold Hill, one of the most learned and
eloquent of the California priesthood will
preach a sermon upon "the Life and La
bors of the Saint" At the same time that
Irish-Americans show their loyalty to the
land of their adoption, it is eminently
proper that they manifest and keep alive
proper spirit of respect for the traditions
of their fatherland.