Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-04-02
GRAFTON
CF
NJ. p. CARROLL, ESQ,
DELIVERED BEFORE TIE
augusta, Ga. March l7th, 1874.

Ladies ard Gentlemen:
Fifteen hundred years ago when impc-
rial Rome was shaking in the ugonics OF
dissolution when her majestic form was
gradually losing lis luge proportions by
the at,rsiun of fcrc,s such rs have never
been brought to bear uTon any country
fefcre or since; when every treasure of
ert and literature. tha, had hccn carrcrcd
fu.m The schools ol Greece aud Rome in
unison with tie doctrines of Christianity.
we're guarded by the va!our and iron-haul
Of the Emperor Valentinian; when Com
iinental Europe was heavirg and tremb-
ling with the tread of the Northern bar
barian there was born cl.ill Of noble pa
rcn'agc. WHO was destined to be the nu-
clcus around which all this art. all this
literature and all this Christianity would
one day gather. when nearly extincuished
elsewhere. and send the penetrating rays
Of their salutary influence into the Grim
mcrian darkness in which the human race
would be cnvclorcd This child was the
great ST. Patrick the patron saint OF ire
land. the man at whose name every son
of Erin lift> his voice in praise AMI bows
Ii. head with respect. love and gratitude.
II is not alone h,rc in the city ot Augusta
,ha; this assembling of lrishmcu crccts
the eye or this l1th Gay cf March. but
ever, where where u son of Lin is TO be
found, or | may say. whore civilization
has stretched its arms You find them
gracirg The courts Of Eurorc laundering
Il. - Il Ill r IL
ican Congress striking for liberty where
liberty is in danger and Drawing the
storms Of oIitical and religious pcrsccu.
iicn OF the sunny feds Of historic Italy
In the language Of the great Roman poet,
when speaking Of the Tr jams after the
destruction Of Troy. "ona, rcgio an tcrris
nosfyiHon plcna i.Lors!" To-day you
orc assembled not only to reverence and
honor your grea, St. Patrick. bu, also
your dearly loved, foudly cherished Green
Isle Of the Ocean. To-day ycu bring
fresh offerings aud lay them upon the al
tar Of patriotism, bedew them with tear
of sorrow and seal them with common
bond Of hope tha, the future is not far
distant when this burning zeal will mel,
the chains that bind your native land and
her harp will again rrsound with joy di-
vine, and her shamrock shake the tear oI
sorrow FROM its emerald form as in III.
DAYS Of Brain Boru!
To ecnien.e into one srccch all that i.
Interesting in the history OF ireland would
be beyond The finite power of man: and
~hen atisnr, TO interest YOU on this oc.
casion hy rcci,inc some Of the salient fea-
turcs il lt;sL history, aud speak to you
Of lrcland's erea, heroes. | feel as If were
touching uron sacred ground. feel
when my memory recalls those in whose
footsteps | sm trcaIing, that my there
has already received the impress of mas
ter-ninds. and hal!owed by the inspira
sious of genius. The task is mine to.
day. aud can tru,hiully say i, has N,
whole soul. for American though l am
,La, dear old Island is the sro, from which
my ancestors srrurg.
|, vas said ty The crea. Shakespeare
that ''ihsre Is diyirity that shapes oul
ends, rough htw them how we may" anc
never vas there better illustration Of ,hi
msxius ,haa in the case Of ST. Patrick. -
Mall ghe Great. then monarch Of Ireland
10 Que of his expeditions TO the North o
frsree. captured this boy tina, have men
tioned. Who had reached his sixteenth
year. aud carried him of from his parents
into slavery. Dcliea,,ly and ,cnderl
reaIed ty fo:isl.d. rcfuded aud relisiou u
parents. be was as little suited TO act i,
che csfaei,y Of n msnial as any one pos
sibly could be but, fortunately he fell in,
che hsuds Of people whose nobility M,
grca,ress Of soul needed only tha, whic
tLis boy slave afterwards brought then,
60 s,aa p the highes, type of nobility 0
their brow. They. his masters. were nc
blss rot BY letters patent; no, By th
weight Of gold. IN, mobiles made so D
unbicnished characters. reaching bae
through the avenues Of time. aud Of who's
.peestors arc recorded long suecessio
Of virsnoas actious which attract the a,
senticn Of mankind. Into the hands
these people he fell. and tended the hero
.fa kind master through the burning sur
sf Summer. aud biting, searching cold
seven Winters. IL was there ,ha, b