The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-18
Charleston, and not only of that great Chris

tian community, but of the whole Slate AM
country. He greeted, first, the st. Patrick
Benevolent Society, society which wa
truly benevolent, not only In name, but deed
and whose members DOT only practlced chart!
among themselves, but beyond their OWL
numbers, and had become renowned for acts
of far-reaching benevolence, 30 that the Sis
ters OF Mercy, whose own works OF self-sacri
hcing charity were go we'll known and deserv
Ing of the gratitude oil the whole world, hat
thought 1t worth while to work the beautiful
banner which had been presented to them
and consecrated that morning. There was
also the st. Joseph's Beneficial and Total Alb
slinence Society, an association which had
already accomplished great good in the com
munity, and which he Was to have tho honor
and the pleasure of addressing more partlcu
larly in few days. He welcomed, also, the
Irish Rifle Clubs, which were composed oi
generous, noble men, who were associated
not only for the purpose Of defending The
peace of their adopted land, If need be, but
also to preserve the traditions OF their own
beloved country; and the Irish Volunteers
whose name was known here and abread,
whose deeds had been spread throughout the
length and breadth of the whole country, and
whose flag had been carried on hundred
American battle fields. The subject OF his
discourse, he said, was one that was great
and dear to every Irish heart-the glories OF
their country aa brought to it by one OF her
glorious sons, the great prelate who was
! pleasing to God, and who In the day of wrath
became an alonement-and he need not say
to them with what consolation he spoke,
when he knew that every word would find an
echo In the hearts of his auditors. st. Patrick,
he said, was not only the great patron of their
| nation, but great apostle. All the charac-
terstIc marks of an apostle were united In
him. The great Saint Bonaventure,
the franciscan, the monk OF that
| order which, with the children Of st. Dominic,
were the great instruments of the faith In Ire
| lsnd at er SC. Patrick, had said that the true
signs of the apostle We're, first, that he must
be sent by that one who holds here on earth
the authority OF the Lord Jesus Christ; second,
that he must manifest the true apostolic zeal
in all his missionary labor; and third, that he
must produce the effect, bring forth the irnie
that always follows true ap ostolic labor. Tried
by these tests, 1t was with pride and noble sat-
ldsfactlon that they found that they all united
In st. Patrick, and proved that he was truly
the great Apostle OF Ireland. Briefly sketch
ing the history of st. Patrick, he said he was
the son of noble Briton, and was related,
| through his mother, 10 st. Martin de Tours.
Bis father a noble, and his mother
child of long race of virtuous men
| distinguished throughout Gaul, he was
prepared BY his birth for the great work that
was before him. Ills education was truly
Christian and truly evangelical, and he was
early distinguished for his great gifts. In his
early youth he performed miracles as was re-
lated bg Catholic and non'Catholc authors,
and while he was in his Infancy he restored
sight to blind man. When he was slxteen
wears OF age he was taken captive, probably
by pirates In the pay of one OF the Irish
princes, torn from his family, his native land
and all that he held dear, and carried on ship
board to Ireland. Then IL was that he turned
to God aud devoted his life to His service. In
Ireland he devoted the six years OF his cap
tivlty to repentance, meditation, prayer ana
preparation for the great work OF his
life. Then he had vision In which an
angel appeared to him saying that his name
was Victor, and he had been sent as MIS-
guardian angel, to he with him at all times to
defend him. He told him also to 90 to GER
tain pllce on the shore. where he would hnd
vessel that would take him home. On going
to the shore, he found the vessel, but was at
first rudely repulsed. and was about turning
back to his captivity, when one rude SAILOR
called him back, and he was taken on ooara'
Afterwards they had reason to bless the ProVi-
dence that had brought him to them, lor ne
was the cause of the preservation OF their
lives. They were driven on shore Ia strange
land, aud had wandered fer many days With
out food and almost Without hope,
when he prayed to Heaven for as
sistauce, and food was sent to them to
sustain their lives. Then st. Patrick found
bis way to his home, and again all the pleas
ures of the world were offered to him, but they
did not influence him. He felt that he had
been chosen by God fer great work, and ne
had another vision in which great multi
tude of youths and children implored him,
with outstretched arms, saying, "Come to us
and save u.s." Then he bowed himself and
said, ssHere am. Let me be an apostle to
| Ireland" He went 10 Gaul and entered O
famous seminary where he completed his edu-
cation and his knowledge Of religion. At that
time the light of religion had not penetrated
to Ireland. One mission to Ireland had been
attempted, but it bad failed because the mis-
sion was reserved for st. Patrick. he deemed
it his duty to repair to Rome to receive the
true mission from the head of the church, and,
going to Rome, he was commissioned by
Pope Celestne, and his name was changed to
that of Patrick, as In the old dispensalion the
name of Abram had been changed to Abra'
| ham, and Saral to Sarah, and In the new dis
pensatlon the name OF Simon had been
changed to Peter. Thus was one of the char
acteristic marks of an apostle found In st.
Patrick-in his being sent by the head OF the
church on earth. The zeal of st. Patrick when
he began his labors In Ireland was like that Of
the first apostles of Christ. When that little
band went into the world to preach the gospel
to all people, the world laughed at them, oul
they spread Christianity over the Whoie lace
OF The earth, and when we reflect that tnere
are ,o-day three millions OF men under arms
IN Enronp. not engaged IN war, but mere