Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-17
sr. PArarcK,s DAY.

Nr. PArRICK's DAY.
In every cline on the habitable globe
the seventeenth of March is observed
by tho sons and daughters Of the
Green Isle with as much fervor and
enthusiasm q usually characterizes
the celebration OF the Fourth Of July
by the most patriotic Of American
citizens. History furnishes no we'll
authenticated account Of this being the
natal day of Ire,and's patron Saint;
yet, by common concent, or more
probably, perhaps. through the recon-
mendation OF some ancient ecclesiasti.
cal council, precisely a. was fixed the
time of the birth of The Savior, the sew.
enteenth Of March has been sacredly
com memorated by all the generations
Of the Irish people since about the be-
ginning Of the sixth century. There
10 also some uncertainty concerning
his nativity, though a majority of au-
thors hold, we believe, that he was
bern near the site Of Fitzpatrick, scot
land, and Of Scottish parents. The
time Of his birth IL v%ariously assigned
to the years 377 and 3s7, Of which the
latter, II not indeed a later date, is more
probable. His father was a deacon
and small farmer. In his sixteenth
year he was seized, while at his faith
er's farm, by a band OF pirates, and
with a number of others, was carried
to Ireland and turned over to the SER
vice of q petty chief, who ruled one
of the provinces at that time. He re-
manned there six years, when he suc-
ceedsd in making his escape, and,
probably after " second captivity, went
to France, where he became a monk,
first at Tours, and afterwards, in the
celebrated monastery Of Lerins. In the
year 43l he went to Rome, whence he
sent by the Pope Of the day, Celes-
tine. to preach In Ireland. Such. At
least, is the generally accepted
Of his mission, though DR.. Todd, his
latest biographer, regards this state
ment as erroneous, and likes the date
Of his coming to Ireland eight years
later. He was ordained in France and
from the time of his arrival In Ireland
his mission was eminently successful.
1t cannot be doubted that he accom-
pltsh much in the direction Of Chris
tianizing the ancient Irish system Of
belief and of practice. by degrees he
visited q large portion Of the Kingdom,
and baptized great numbers as well of
tho chielains rs of tho people. Ac-
cording Ia the accounts of his Irish biz
ographers, he founded S65 churches,
and baptized with his own hand $1,000
persons. Heal~o ordained q vast num-
Der Of priests and established a large
number OF schools and institutions Of
learning. His mission continued 40
years, and tradition attributes to
him. various miracals, particularly
the expulsion Of all venomous
creatures from ireland. He died
It place called Saul, near
Downpatrick, and his relics were pre-
served down to the period Of the Re-
formation. The place Is still
ated by tho people. Tie date of his
death, like that Of his birth, is much
disputed; the Bollandists placing it in
AGO, while Usher holds it to have been
in 493. DIR. Todd inclines strongly to
the latter opinion, In which case he
would have been 1l6 years old at the
time OF his decease. There can be no
question, we think, that he zealously
devoted the best years Of his life to the
cause of morality and social and intel
lcctnal advancement, succeeding in
this regard in = broader and mere
marked degree than has ever charac-
terized the labors of any missionary
vef0rmsr since his time. It ~ nut
strange, therefore, that his memory
should he cherished and honored by
the descendants of . people for whom
he accomplished 20 much. St. Pat
Day In Eureka will b observed
by . public parade Of the members Of
the Ancient Order Of Hibernians, re-
llgious services in the Catholic Church,
and ! ball in the evening At Criterion
Hall