Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-18


styled the Father of his Country. On that
memorable day for this city, past unpleas-
antness and present differences were sWal-
lowed up in patriotism ano love for our
common country, and the immortal Wash
ingtOn lived over again in the hearts and
on he lips Of his grateful cnuntrymen.
To-day We have met TO celebrate the an
niversary Of a cOnqueTor and a herO-one
who waged no bloody war; nor led an
armed sOldlery to battle. Almost single
handed and alone st. Patrick oyercame
idOlatry and converted a whole nation from
Paganisn to Christianity. IT'S, therefore,
Of him, and the services, and Of the coun-
try in which be Wrought them, shall
speak.
The nativity of our Saint is enveloped in
doubt. Some historians say he was born
in Britain, others in Scotland and others
in France. 1t is certain, however, thai in
his sixteenth year he was taken prisoner in
the latter country, and by hs captors car
ried into Ireland, and there sold as a slave.
His master, MilchO, gave him the care Of
his fiOcks, at the foot Of the mountain
Sleir-Mis, which he tended for about seven
years, when he made his escape and re-
turned to his native country, and the home
Of his youth. Patrick was of noble birth
and Of Christian parents, and during his
slavery, witnessed with much sorrow, the
false worship Of the Irish Pagans. Shortly
after his return, be heard, in a dream, the
voice of the Irish calling 20 him to come
back to them. On awakening, he was
deeply impressed with the voice be had
heard and which still rungin his ears, and,
thereupOn, formed the resolution to return
to the isle Of his captivity and rend asun-
Ger the aims that bound them TO idOlatry.
But first he must qualify himself for the
great work be is about TO undertake, and
hence, he at once repairs tC, the most noted
school Of his time, from whence, after
years Of aSsiduOus study and the practice
Of piety, he turns his face to imperial
Rome, the fountain head IF Christianity.
From her pure and holy fountain be drank
Of the waters Of piety and learning. At
length he is cOnSecTated bishop by his Ho-
illness st. Celestine, and be departs for the
scene Of his future la6Jrs. Oh, happy
day for Ireland when this holy man,
panoplied with more than regal power,
set foot on her virgin shore. His ad-
vent was like the rising of the sun,
it dispelled forever the darkness Of the
Pagan night and reinstatsd instead the
glorious light Of Christianity. The cross
is planted upon her imperial soil, the Cos
pei IS preached within the walls of ancient
Tara TO mOuarchs and lords, and Ireland
intuitively turns from her Pagan affairs TO
the worship of the true God. As the ivy
was wont TO twine around the DFuidical
oak, the warm affection Of the Irish heart
entwined itself, but with more enduring
embrace, around the cross Of Jesus Christ,
and 20 that cross they have chung with ali
the zeal OF their nature and all the ardOur
Of their souls.
The career OF St. Patrick in Ireland is
without a parallel in history. Everywhere
he is we'll received, and makes hundreds of
conversions. He builds churches, schools
and mOnasteries in every province of Ire
land, and in a comparatively short time the
island that had been all darkness looms up
in the horizon Of civilization as the seat Of
learning and Of sanctity. The CONVERSION
Of Ireland by St. Patrick vas most CON-
plete. To use the words Of the historian,
she found her universally Pagan and left
her universally Christian"
Ireland's moral and Intellectual growth
under Christian sway was most rapid and
grand. Her name became synOI ymous
"-NAA NNA-AeAA anu AelAall AAELN LA4E MOLlu
over, and to her classic shores flock
thither great numbers from many nations in
Europe TO drink from the redundant foun-
tains Of Armagh and LisnOre. So many
were the scholars and holy men she sent
out under the auspices Of the Holy
Catholic ChuTch-"the pillar and ground
Of truth'-tO teach the way of salvation to
men, that she was given by other nations
the distinguished title of ''the Island Of
Saints" The greas Saint who had sowed
the seed that yielded such an abundant har-
vest was permitted TO live to the great age
Of l20 years and witness much OF the pro-
gress l have been depicting. Twas in the
year 493 this venerable SAINT went 10 his
rewards, after having, it is said, built 365
churches, cOnsecrated almost as many
bishops and ordained nearly 5000 priests.
No marble monument Tears its spiral
shaft where repOse the ashes Of the be-
loved saint, to tell the pssser-by that the
ground upon which be trsads is holy; but
in every Irish heart at home and abroad
there is eIecteu to him a monument more
enduring than marble anc more expressive
Of lOye-the monument Of blessed memory.
THE DANISH INVASION.
For three hundred years Ireland's star
shOne with great splendOr, but an evil day
dawned on her and her star did pale. The
barbarians Of the north, cItching a glimpse
Of the luminous light it emitted, swOOped
down upon her, pillaged her towns, robbed
her inhabitants, burnt her churches and
destroyed her mOnasterles and then fed
the country to return again. For nearly
three hundred years the Danes continued
fHafv srrrrr--soug INT. 10 -v,I
aggressive aud formidable that one of her
princes, Turgins, succeeded in placing him !
self upon the Irish throne. He did not rule |
long, however, or, rather, he did not rule at |
all, as the Irish would not recognize him. |
and the first opportunity they had they de-
ihrOned him and made war upon his fol- |
lowers with success, though they were not |
fully vanquished until the celebrated battle |
Of ClOntaTf, when the valiant Brian Born |
gained a complete victory over them.
THE sAXONs.
After the expulsion of The Danes,
"Grim visag'd war had .smoOth'd his wrinkled |
'front.'"
and Ireland had enjoyed a brief interval of |
repose, when 10. the SaxOns appear upon /
her shores. Aud here, my friends, come /
10 period in the old lands history that l /
am at q loss what TO say ID you about on an /
occasion like the present. l cannot speak |
10 you in detail Of the / fferences between !
England and Ireland, for to do that would |
take volumes, nor can | even note the more /
important epOchs in their history, as my /
time will not admit of il. 1t is, however, |
a story that has oft been told, and one 1
with which you are familiar, and hence | !
will content myself with casting a hasty
glance at the vain and bloody attempts Of
he one country to subjugate and Ell slave
he other.
In the 18th century the Anglo-Normans
anne to Ireland and from the day they first
yet foot on her soil there has been 70 peace,
no happiness for unfortunate Ireland;
hOugh she valiantly anC bravely resisted
heir acgressiOnS upon a thousand well
ought battlefelds and the blood of her
heroic sons flowed in rivers-she is still en-
ilayed, she is still unhappy Ireland. Under
he feudal system she was robbed of her
ands and when she refused to abandon the
aith St. Patrick taught her and recognize
hat inSatiate monster henry VIII as the
head Of the3ChUrch ins5ead of the Holy
'Ontiff who sat in the chair of Peter, then
vas she put to the sWOrd-then did the
work Of determination tegin.
The Irish Catholic was prescribed in all
he avenues of life. He was made ineOm-
)etent to hold Office, and had no voice in
he administration of public affairs, yet he
vas taxed to support and maintain the
Eaor eoF-ore 20 The Euu1ich n /