The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-18
ST. PATRICK'S DAY--ITS ORIGIN
Life of st. Patrick Celebration of the
Day in New Orleans.
CHURCH SERVICES -sANauET-BALL.

Yesterday, March 18th, dswned fair and beauti.
full as if specially to afford to every lover of st.
Patrick, whose day 1t was, an ample opportunity
to do honor to the occasion and the occasion was
one that demanded honor, for st. Patrick's Day Is
one that should claim at least thought from
every man. 1t is the anniversary of the death of
one Of the purest and best of men-ofa a man who.
almost unaided, converted whole people to
Christianity-ofa man who, having spent long
life in the service of God. died in the midst OF a
nation which he had Christianized. But the bet.
ter to give readers, some OF whom may know
but little about the life and deeds Of this extraor
cinary man, an insight into his history, we subon
brief biography of him:
St. Patrick was born 9TH April A. D. 373, at
KIk.Patrick, near DumbartoD, Scotland. He
came of good family. He was duly baptised
under the name of Succeeth, British name sig.
nifying valiant in war. At the age OF sixteen,
during one of those raiding expeditions SO fire.
Quent in those wild times, he was taken prisoner
by band Of Irish aud carried across the channel,
where he was bought as a slave by one Milcho,
who having bought him of three different persons,
called him Cothraig, or Claythur- Tigh, which
means four fdnliles. at the end OF six years
hus passed in seIyitude, and having mastered
the Irish language, he managed to escape from
captivity and returned to his home. Here he re-
maiued two years, when his soul became filed
with the grand design of converting the Irish peo-
pie to the sublime tenets of Christianity. rhe
better to qualify himself for the arduous and i'm
portant mission which he assumed, he Travelled on
the continent for thirty-ive years, studying first
under ST. Martin, bishop of Tours, who ordained
him deacon, and after his death, under 81. Ger
maine, bishop Of AnXerre. who gave him his third
name of Mawn of Maginm. By him he was
sent TO Pope Celestine. who consecrated him as
bishop, at the same time clubbing him Patricius
on account Of his honorable family; it is by this
n1me that he is now best known to the mass OF
| G lTisfisps.
St. Patrick, at last duly qualified for the mis-
sion OF his iie landed the shores of Ireland at
what was then called Evolein, but is now known
as wicklow. A. D. 43l, and Immediately COM
mehced his resching. His FIST convert was an
| important one, being no less parsonage than
Smell eight in descent from Comac, king of
Lenster. After spreading the gospel truths
| through that portion of the country. aud sewing
| well the good seed, be proceeded TO Du0nn and
thence to Ulster, everywhere announcing his
| mission, and everywhere enlisting new hosts be-
meath the banner of the cross. At Ulster he
| founded q church, which afterwards became
| famous the Ab0y of Saul, in the county OF
| Doron visiting different parts of Ireland, aud
making conversions at every step, he lsb0red
| iaithfully for seven years. when he passed over
TO Britain, where the celebrated Arian and Pela-
gian hei estes beginning To attract attention.
BY his zeal, eloquence and learning, be succeeded
in completely destroying the progress OF the
heresies. Engaging several eminent Christians
| to accompany him, he next visited the Isle OF
| Man and in 440 we are told completed the con-
version of that island. Bat his thoughts still went
| back 10 Ireland, where the tree that be had
| planted, although it lourished, yet needed
T, his protecting and fostering care to grow
into a fair and gOodly tree, whose branches should
ogersaadow the whole island SO ia 44S, he turned
| hs face again towards the Green Isle, which he
was not to leave until he had beheld it completes.
| ly Christisnized This great work he entirely sc-
| complished in the next thirteen years, at the end
| NJ uyhi VI
| Munster, and the seven sons of the king of Con.
J Esught and all their subjects. had been admitted
| within the Christian fold. Returning to Rome to
| lay before the pontif full account of how he
| had discharged the great work intrusted to him
thirty years before, he did not remain long in the
| capital, but soon was again in Ireland, where he
| passed the remainder of his days between the mo-
nssteries of Armagh and Saul, enforcing and ex.
| planning those doctrines which he had been the
inst TO teach In Erin. Finally, after life of l20
| years spentin the service of God he died on the
7th Ma ch, A. D. 493 which day has ever since
been held sacred to bis memory by all Christians,
and more particularly by the descendants OF those
| whom he rescued from heathensm, and led into
'he broad light Of gospel truth AS TO the spot Of
st. PatrIeks burial. it has been a constant source
| Oi discussion amongst antiquarians. The inhabl-
| tsnts of Down, Ireland, claim the honor Of his
tomb for their county, the authority of the fol-
| lowing verses, said TO be of great antiquity:
''These three in Down lie in tomb one,
b idget, Patricius, and Columbia, pious."
Glastonbury, England, claim it. from inscrip.
tions in ancient churches in that place, while some
| Scotch writers contend that the saint was born
| aud buried at Glasgow.
During the last years of his life St. Patrick is
| supposed to have written his Confession" but
its authenticity is much doubted, and it is q seri-
Gus question whether any genuine writings of st.
Patrick are now extant.
| To st. Patrick, by popular tradition, is ascribed
the casting of all snakes, toads, and other ser.
pents out of Ireland. This, it is said, he accom-.
plshed by means Of bis cousecrated staff; aud
| indeed this relic, this staff according TO one
authority, preserved at Dublin till 1860, where
| IT vas looked upon with great yeneration.
| However these traditions may be, certain II Is
that st. Patrick undertook great work for Chris.
snity and executed IL well, and that man
tbolsands, ay, millions of men have had cause TO
| bless bis name for the work of salvation he
wrought or caused TO be wrought in them.
He was one of the mightiest of the heroes of Code
| warfare on earth and the record Of his deeds and
heir results will outlast those OF the actions of
many men who have filled larger space in his
| tory's page.
St.Patrick's Day has never lacked observance In
| New Orleans for the sons of the Emerald Isle are
numerous here. and they are not men who are
| likely to forget to honor the patron saint OF the
Green Isle or to pass by in disregard, the day
which is specially dedicated TO him Early in the
| morning quite number OF persons, principally
| boys might have been seen on the street, each
with sprig of green in his hat, as indicative that
| lie had not forgotten the custom "at home "
| which If 10 wear spTig OF snamrOck all Ol.
I Patrick's day. The invitation too, to take
Patrick cup" was frequently given and as
often accepted by votaries of the saint so that.
had there been nothing else to mark the day il
would still have been one Of unusual hilarity.
Bot there we're other things to remind the be-
holder of st. Patrick's Day.
PROCESSION,
Consisting of some 300 boys, pupils of st. Mary's
| Academy (Foucher street) preceded by their own
band and that of1he orphan boys asylum of the
Third District, marched gaily through the streets.
The green flag of Erin and the stars and stripes
waved over the ranks. AS the procession neared
St. Patrick's Church it became merged in the tide
of worshpers setting toward that grand old
temple.
THE SERVICES AT ST. PATRTCK's
Began at 10 O'Clock. This spacious old edidce was
crowded by the faithful. The congregations OF
the other parish churches were represented in
large numbers. There was also quite asprinkDg
of nstioDsites other than the Irish, proving that
the confessor-pontif is honored of all men. This
large attendance was somewhat remarkable, for