Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-17
THE CITY.
Its Origin and mis,o--

This being Saint Patrick's Dav IL mav
not be amiss to furnish our readers some
facts concerning the same. In the LARGE
and populous cities the various societies
composed Of our Irish citizens mite in oh.
serving the day as a general festival Their
PROFESSIONS are imposing and the exercises
pleasing, entertaining and instTncfivs
Inc PROFESSIONS and demonstrations on
such occasions are exceIled by few exbibi-
tons of a similar character dnriney tba ~,
tire year. The Saint Patrick Festiv.I !.
regarded as among the noted annivsrsar;oe
of the Catholics, and general evarc;so- -
one sort or another are kept up from morn
ing TIL evening, and often are nrotractad
lar INTO the night. The exercises af The
onufcnes are often as solemn as the street
oel m are grand and imposing.
Inc day and the festival is in comm en-
Grafton OF Saint Patrick, the traditions of
%hom partake OF both the wonderful and
Ihe miraculous. He is recognized as the
fatron oalnt OF Ireland and was born ac-
cordlngiy to the best authorities near The
sue OF hlIpatnek at the mouth of the
Dlyde, IN Scotland IN 372, and died i'm
ulster IN the year 464. st the age Of I6
ne was carried captive to Ireland by band
OF marauders, but made his ESCAPE after
SIX months and reached Scotland. Carried
on second time and again escaping. he
resolved to become a missionary TO the
lrlsh, was ordained in Scotland and after
long preparation was ordained a Bisb,n.
Having previously, according to some &C
counts visited Gaul and perhaps, Italy. he
passed over to his chosen field of labor
about 432 and preached With such extraor-
binary effect that, although not absolutely
the first who introduced Christianity into
that country, he always received the credit
ior It's general conversion. He baptized
the kings OF Dublin and Munster. and the
seven sons Of the king Of Connaught, with
the greater part, of their subjects and before
MS death had converted almost the whole
Island to the faith.
st. Bernard testifes that he sxed his
Metropolitan See at Armagh. and II an
pears that he appointed several other
bishops, with whom he held councils In
settle the discipline of the church which
ne had planted Ia his old age he wrote |
what Is puTported to be his '.oonfassionn |
though Its authenticity is highly oues-
toned
An old and popular legend ascribes To
nm the Punishment of all venomous orea-
lures from the island by means of bis Gro
sler or staff, which it is said was Kent for
centuries In Dublin with great veneration
from TINS Patron Saint, then. Saint Pat |
rIcks Day derives its name. and tbonob |
much OF the traditional hyperbolism at |
tachlng to it In the earlier centuries has
been dissipated, still, the day as a festival
Is held IN high esteem. It is generally oh.
served, too In a most BETTING manner.
Preparations have been made for an An
propriste celebration here TODAY. The
celebration will close with reunions and
festivities at night; and from the well
known character of our Irish friends va
are sure the day will pass of in a manner
9Yery way worthy of their nationality and
their religion, the free institutions Of o1r
country, and the reputation of our goodly