The Shasta courier., 1866-03-17
St. Patrick.

The early history of Ireland, is so meager
and so confined to legends and fabuous ac
counts. that historians, differ much in re-
gard to facts, and are obliged to give much
upon supposition founded upon the facts,
which have come to their possession That
ST. Patrick, was the great reformer, who
first introduced Christianity into Ireland,
oyerthrowing the idoatrous worship of that
people, who had been living in heathenish
darkness for years, is conceded by all. OF
his origin, there are various and conflicting
reports 1t is generally believed however,
that his father was Roman, and his moth
er of Gallo extraction, and that he was born
in Ancient Gaul, now France, in the year
3S7, after the commencement of the Chris
tian Era In the year 404 Nal, then Mon
arch of the Irish Nation, having laid waste
the coasts of Great Britain, extesded his
ravages to the maritime districts of Gaul.
st. Patrick was taken captive bv him, at
the age of sixteen, and carried into Ireland,
where he was sold as slave, to one Malcho,
who employed him in herdng sheep At
the expiration of six years servitude, the de-
sire to escape filled his mind or as some
historians have it, he was allowed to 90 by
the limitation of the time of service, accord
ing to law, after seven years, as that was
the limit of the time, when a slave was entitl.
ed to his freedom. He succeeded in making
his escape in the 7th year of his servitude,
and embarked on board of ship for Gaul,
where he spent his time among his friends,
fitting his mind by study for future use
fulness Having had a dream, which ad-
monished him that he might do good in
ireland, he felt a strong desire to return to
the country of his captivity, and accordingly
embarked for Dublin, where he arrived in
due time, and commenced bis travels, to that
portion of the Island where he had served as
a slave, preaching his religion. and convert
ing large numbers to his faith. By his
efforts churches were soon established in
every part of the country. the temples OF
idolatrous worship were converted to places
for the worship of the living God, and the
false gods and idols, which that people had
so long worshipped, were overthrown and de-
stroyed His labors were, however, not un-
attended with difficulties, and several times
he narrowly escaped death at the hands of
his enemies, who feared the consequences of
his teachings, upon the people. But he
went on with his work and established his
religion, in spite of all opposition, and re-
generated Ireland from the benighted con-
dition. in which she had been for several
Centuries. In the early port of his mission
he spent the Lent season, on Mount Cruach
Phadruic now called Mount Eagle, or
St. Patrick, in fasting and prayer, and from
this circumstance and the fact that no
venemous reptiles exist in Ireland, has
grown the legend that he drove them all into
the sea. while upon this mount. He died in
the midst of the scenes of his labors. on the
18th of March. A. D. 465, in the 18th year
of bis age As soon as the news of his death
became known, all the ministers and mem
bers of the churches which be had establish
ed. focked together, and celebrated his
obsequies, for two days, with great display
of ceremonies. This day has been celebrat
ed by that people ever since, and is called
St. Patrick's Day.