Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-28
The Life of st. Patrick.
BY REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG, BELFAST

The name of Patrick has been so
long associated with superstition and
error, that many believe that this
truly and evangelical missionary was
Romish priest like those who have
cursed Ireland and every other land
where they have obtained supremacy.
In the following article, extracted
from a more extended work, Mr..
Armstrong ably vindicates the memo
ry of the Rev. Succat MacCalpurne,
otherwise Saint Patrick. He writes
as follows:
"This great and eminentiy useful
man, according to DR.. Usher and 9TH
er learned men, was born about A. D.
372, near Dumbarton, at that time re-
garded as a part of North Britain
1t would thus appear, that whilst Ire
land had the advantage Of his minis
terial services, Scotland had the hon
or Of giving him birth. His father,
.Calpurnius, was a deacon or Office
bearer in the Christian Church, and
his grandfather, Potitus, was Pres
byter or minister. There is no doubt
that he received a Christian education,
although, by his own admission, he for
a time neglected to improve the les
sons Of his youth. He was named
Succat by his parents, but afterwards
took the name Of Patrick-in Irish,
Fadruic. This name he probably
received in Gaul, where he studied
for the ministry; and it is not unlike
! ly that it was adopted in honor of
some kind benefactor, as Saul is sup
posed to have done when he changed
his name to Paul. The term Saint,
so commonly added when Patrick is
spoken of, was given a: a much later
date. Canonizing was not then
thought of, either by Eastern or West
ern Churches. Patrick was saint
in the same sense as the primitive be-
levers, who are called Saints and
faithful brethren in Christ. lie was
q Christian, which in this world must
ever be the highest style Of man.
The account so generally received,
regarding his being brought to Ire
land as prisoner, is the most prob
able. Nal, an Irish king, having
made a successful raid into North
Britain, took a number of prisoners,
and large amount of spoil. Return
ing soon after to his own country, he
disposed Of the prisoners in the usu-
al way-presenting a number of each
to his subordinate kings and chiefs,
and selling the remainder as slaves.
Patrick became the property of Mil
choin, called also Milcho, a man of
some rank in the country now called
the Braid, in north Daiariada. He
was at once put to the duties of a
herd-boy, being then about fifteen
years of age.
"After six years hard service, Di-
vine Providence opened a way for
Patrick to return to his family in Scot,
land. Nor had his long absence and
various privations been without a
profitable influence. The religious
impressions OF his early days revived
he was led to a serious review of his
state in the sight Of God, and, through
grace, was brought to repent and to
believe the Gospel. Having dedica
ted himself unreseryedly to the faith
and service of Christ, he expressed a
desire to prepare for the Christian
ministry. Arrangements were accord
ingly made for his going to France
where many Of the youth of that pc
riod pursued their studies. During
his entire course of study, it is saiC
! of him, that 'he eagerly applied hi;
mind to the attainment of wisdom
and the learning of the Holy Scrip
, lures. Patrick remained Severa
years on the Continent, maturing hi.
views and increasing his knowledge
by intercourse with eminent Christian
: men. After receiving ordination, il
the simple and Scriptural form tha
characterized the Churches CT Gau
and of Ireland, he returned to Ireland
He was accompanied by a band 0
missionary brethren, filled with tht
. noble ambition Of diflusing the knowl
edge of salvation through every par
:, of the land.
"The date Of Patrick'8 entering up
;, on his truly apostolic labors in Ire
4 land, is not exactly known. There /
:. reason to believe that he commenced
o 4. D. 412, when his powers were un
impaired, and his pious soul was We
f warm with the freshness Of q frs
!, love. The place where he lande,
and commenced his evangelistic Ia
: bors, is said to be in the parish Q
Saul, on the border of Strangfor,
9 Lough. By the Divine blessing,
. number were converted under hi
/ preaching, and a church was soon a
ter erected. Among the convert
), was Dichu, an influential man in tn
q district, who gave him every encoul
y agement in his good work. His frs
q church was long known as Sabha
Fa~dric (Patrick's barn) because th
gables were placed north and soutl
I. "And here it may be proper to n
Ia fer to the fact, that Christianity ha
place and a name in Ireland belor
~ the era Of Patrick arrival. Irenau
who wrote early in the second cent?
j. ry; Tertullian, who wrote in the thir
century; and Chrysostom, who wrot
# in the fourth century, make referenc
I to the fact in language that places
beyond doubt. Nor should it eve
a be forgotten, especially by Irishmel
r. that the grosser errors and invel
70 tions of Romanism, were neither d
10 vulged nor enforced, till after tt
q time of Saint Patrick. Whilst it
10 admitted that there were Christia
IS teachers and Christian people in Ir
IN land before his arrival, it is equal
~ true that great part of the inhab
N tants were still in the darkness
80 heathenism. Sun-worship was tt
* prevailing form of idolatry, as prove
by the numerous cairns and altal
that still exist, bearing names that il
#. dicate plainly the purpose for whic
- they were erected. Druid prizes
~ y conducted the cruel and imposing ritz
> of their system, and exercised a pov
arfu1 IN fin opca ovor tba conduct IN