Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-17
ST. PArklCK'S DAY.
Some Account of the Great Apostle and ths
Introduction OF Christianity into Ire
Land fSefOro Hts DAY.

Some Account of tho Great Apostle and the
Introduction OF Christianity into Ire
land before Hts Day.
st. Patrick's day in the morning opened
raw and cloudy, but, for a wonder, not
stormy. There is no special observance
of the day in this city, though in many of
the larger cities parades, dinners, Orations
and other festivities are being had.
It is not known positively where or
France and Scotland claim him.
He was born about the year 372. At the
age Of sixteen he was captured by band
of marauders, carried to Ireland, sold into
slavery and escaped tO.Scotland. Carried
off a second time and again escaping, he
visited Italy. became a devoted Christian
and was finally sent by Pope Celestin, in
the year 439, as archbishop of Ireland,
where his preaching was SO effective that
the whole people were soon converted
from Druidism to Christianity, and he
was recognized during his life as the great
apostle, and after his death, which occur
red at Down, Ulster, in AGA, as the patron
saint of Ireland.
1t is not true, however, as many people
suppose that Christianity was introduced
into Ireland by Patrick, and that until his
arrival, the natives were ignorant and
illiterate heather. On the contrary. they
were long before the time of Patrick
among the most polished and enlightened
people on earth, and it is to this fact that
their ready acceptance of the truths Of
Christianity as enforced by the wonderful
eloquence of the illustrious preacher, is
attributed.
OHalloran, in his History of Ireland,
offers many curious proofs to show that
Al L., - Z,
we'll known in Ireland long before the in.
carnatiOn Of Christ, and that the Christian
religion was in q: tiourishing condition in
Ireland long before the arrival Of St. Pat
rick. During the long reign of Cormac,
which terminated A. ID. 2J9. the historian
informs us that Cormac, "aided by the
light of reason and assisted 10y some pious
Chrstians-fOr there is no doubt, as we
shall show, but that Christianity made
some progress in Ireland before this time
he became convinced Of the absurlty
of DruiLism and disclaimcd it.. That he
dicda Christian we are furnished with two
strong proofs. First, thOugh he was chOked
10y a bone of a salmon sticking across the
HsOphagus, which wouldn't be pushed
either up on down, yet he made dying
request not to he inferred in ROilicl na
Riosh, the royal sepulclIre. as he wished
not that his ashes should mix with those
of his heathen ancestors Secondly, the
place of his interment was, near three CEN
turies after, sought for and found out by
st. COLUMBIA, who said thirty masses over
it, and chapel was soon after erected
there. 1t Were absurd to suppose that this
renowned apostle of the P,cts and of his
own blood, would celebrate masses for the
soul of Cormac if it were not known that
h. died a Christian" Page 1913.
Further Oh (page 146) the historian con-
tinues :" At a very Carly period Christian
ity was preached in ireland. The constant
cnmity between this country and ancient
Rome, prevented any kind Of friendly in
tercOurse. This doctrine came not i'm
mcdiately from thence here but from the
churches of Asia Mansu-
ctus an Irishman. the first bishop and
patron of TOul, and canOnized by Leo IX.,
is said to have been disciple of St. Peter
st. James, the son of Zcbedee, it is af-
firmed, also preached tile gospel in Ireland.
TO me it would rather seem that Mansu-
ctus and the other carly Christians were
rather the disciples of st. John the Evan
,gelist."
1t was not until the year 431 that Pope
Celestin sent P:illadius, arch deacon of the
Roman church. as archbishop and apostle
Of Ireland. His mission was attended
with no great success, and OH his death
Patrick was appointed his successor. and
landed in Ireland in 432, and on visiting
Munster, some years later, found many
churches and mOnasteries which had been
established long before the Roman pontitf
was known as such, or his authority ac-
knowlcdgcI.