Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-03-17
ST. PaTRICE's DAY.
The Patron Saints Origin His
Good N Great work-His "COn-
fessiOns" And Their Authenticity
The stories of His MfracIes-Etc.

heSshons Anu tnetr Authenticity
The stories Of His MiracIes-Etc.
The Irish heart pulsates with a warm
glow to-day. Although we may not see a
grand procession marching through the
muddy streets, see the emblem Of Erin
alongside Of the stars and stripes, and
hear the soul-stirring music of Wearing
OF the Green" we nevertheless know that
the sons Of the Green Isle resident on the
Base Range are imbued with the same en-
thusiasm as their brethren in more favored
chimes. Wherever beats the Irish heart.
there st. Patrick's Day is honored and
revered.
ST. PATRIcK's ORIGIN.
According to the best authorities, Patri-
cius, the Latin name of Succath latter
wards st. PATRICK was a farmers son,
and born near the site of Fitzpatrick, at the
mouth OF the Clyde, in Scotland, though
some writers say he was born on the coast
of France, in the year 372, and that he
died at Down, Ulster, probably in AGA, in
his ninety-second year. At sixteen he was
carried captive into Ireland, and was in
slavery for six years. While serving as a
herder in comparative loneliness in the
woods and wilds, the Christian truth of
his early days came to his mind. He
prayed, meditated and believed, and when
liberated, returned to his home what would
now be called a converted, actively religi-
GUS man. He remembered with pity the
heather among whom be had lived, and
studied hard to become
A MISSIONARY AMONG THEM.
He was ordained in Scotland, and after
a long preparation was consecrated a
Bishop. After visiting Gaul (now FIance)
and perhaps Italy, he passed over to his
chosen field of labor about 432, and
preached the gospel with such extraordin-
airy effect that, although not absolutely the
first to introduce Christianity into that
country, he has always received the credit
OF its general conversion. He baptized the
Kings Of Dublin and Munster, and the.
seven sons Of the King Connaught, with
the greater part Of sheir subjects. st.
Bernard ~testifies that he fixed his metro
politan See at Armagh, and it appears he
appointed several Bishops, with whom he
held councils to settle the discipline of the
church which he had established.
HIS COMMISSION"
In his old age, it is said, he wrote his
confession" but the authenticity Of the
book is doubted. The following are
claimed as his own words, rendered into
English from the stiff Latin, tinged with
Celtic, in which the confessions" are
written II am greatly a debtor to God,
who has bestowed His grace so largely upon
me, that multitudes should be born again
to Goo through me M that of these,
clergy should be everywhere ordained for
a people lately coming to faith, whom the
Lord took from the extremities OF the
earth. \ n \ The Irish, who never
had the knowledge OF God, and hitherto
only worshiped idols and unclean things,
have lately become the people OF the Lord,
and are called the sons of Gods"
LITERARY TREASURE.
The confessions the shortest, She
genuine work, without later interpretations
ARE in the "Book OF Armagh" one OF the
richest literary treasures of the Irish IL
braries. 1t is specially to be observed that
Protestant and Roman Catholic writers
agree in their view Of the genuineness Of
this work. Tillemont, Lanigan and Dol
linger are as confident as Usher, Ware,
Todd and Neander. 1t is minute enough
describes his father as a deacon, and his
grandfather as a clergyman and presents
a fair view Of his doctrines, policy and
standing. No educated Irishman need be
ashamed of the true st. Patrick.
THE STORIES OF HIS MIRACLES.
While the wonderful miracles which we're
formerly accredited to him, and which are
still firmly believed in by many devout
Catholic Irishmen, must be set down as
mere f~ictions, the fact still remains that
Saint Patrick did more than any other
man to Christianize the Irish and prepare
a virtually barbarous people for the better
performance of their duties as men, and q
realization Of the heavenly beatitude in
the future beyond the grave. 1t is not
necessary to invest this man with divine
or supernatural powers in order to admire
him. 1t is enough to know what authentic
history undoubtedly teaches-that q poor,
despised slave, torn from his friends by
the enemies Of his country, turned his
servitude to 30 good account that he became
the spiritual master Of his earthly masters,
and is to-day worshiped by the land in
which he served as q bondsman. His
memory is amply worthy Of the respect
shown to 1t by Irishmen everywhere.
THE DAY IN EUREK
Although there will be no parade or lit
erary exercises here, the Eureka Branch OF
the Irish National Land League will give
a ball at the Opera House this evening to
commemorate the anniversary OF Ireland's
Patron Saint. Extensive preparations have
been made for this event by the proper
committees, and our Irish fellow citizens
and their friends will no doubt turn out
in large numbers to grace the occasion and
make ii q merry one.