The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-16
ST. PATRICK.
Rev. DR.. Mcleod Discusses the Life Of
Ireland's Great Apostle.

AAc tAiht AsCfs 1Ns
would take for the theme Of his pulpit dis
course last evening: "St. Patrick, the Apostle
Df Ireland" called together an unusually
large congregation even for the Second Pres
byterian Church. AmoDy the number
assembled were many members OF tbs
Catholic Church, and lovers Oh st.
Patrick. in whose honor the cele-
bration will take place on Tuesday.
The Doctor selected his text from Acts
xvi, ., the well known words, Come oyer
into Macedonia and help u.s."
He said that the event was timely one,
zhe 18th Of March being close at hand and
day that is fondly cherished by millions Of
our fellow Christians and fellow-citizens. 1t
IS day linked in their minds with one of
the modest men of whom Christendom can
boasi and in every Irish home the name Of
81. Patrick has bean household word for
many centuries. If ST. Patrick had lived in
Bible times we may be sure that bis pame
would be found among the Bible worthless,
bDI while his name is not recorded
In the Bible his faith is found there. False
Dotions about the old saint, said the speak
or, are by no means uncommon, and we
must therefore be on guard against
Them. BE was great and good man, and
devoted his life to the veal OF the Irish ma
tion. The stories of the miracles performed
by him have, OF course, no truth In them,
and the saint appears better when consid-
cred as he really was, a good man; nor is be
10 be held responsible for the rubbish which
ignorance and superstition, combined with
Plety, have heaped upon his memory:
While ST. Patrick was certainly saint of
the Billie type, he had his faults, and these
brig him close to US. He had great
difficulties to overcome, great temptations
TO resist great trials and hardships to endure,
hut be also bad great faith, great hope ana
great charity, and his saintSood c0nsisted in
1Eving given his heart to Christ, aud in
living and laboring for God and humanity
in manly and Christian way.
Concerning his early life very little is
known, bat il is certain that he was not
born IN Ireland. The best authority seems
TO be that he was born IN Scotland aud was
Kidnapped when sixteen years old and sold TO
one OF the Irish chiefs, whose flock he was
made TO tend. be remained a slave for six
years and during this period was converted.
After SECURING bis liberty he returned 70
Scotland. Soon after he saw 'in vision OF
the night q man whose name was VictO-
ricius, coming Is il from Ireland, with let
letters, one of which he handed to me-" The
letter read: THE voice of the Irish people
We entreat thee, holy youth, to come and
walk among u.s." He went in obedience TO
the heavenly vision, and expressed the mo.
tive which actuated as follows: II bear wit
ness befose God and His holy angels that |
never had any motive except the gospel and
Is promises for returning to that nation
from which l first escaped" st. Patrick be-
came an Irishmsn by compulsion, yet after
wards be became an Irshman by divine
grace and adoption. From this time his lie
vas that OF pure Christian, aud was spent
In doing good among the people OF bis
''st Patrick lived to grand old age, and
no cloud obsoured his letting sun. lie lived
long enough to see the fruit OF his laborS.
Not only did he win over TO Christ King
Laoghaln and the Druid Chiefs, bat ali the
people became Christians. OF hina IL might
be truly said that he subdued q kingdom,
wrought righteousness, quenohed the VIC.
lenee OF fire, out OF weakness was
turned TO flight the armies OF the
aliens. When his werk was done he retired
TO y sacred spot, which he might we'll call
his Own, and there he fell on sleep, leaving
behind him n name and n fame which the
world will not willingly Lot die"
The speaker then alked the question,
why II 10 that in land capable OF pro.
duelng plenty there has besn found
sneh deatitution2, A people pro
verbal for their hospitality and gen.
with 90 pitlesslyg Have va not heard OF
those terrible times when tho tongue OF the
smoking child oleayed 10 the roof OF ltu
mouth for thifstl and how, when the youoe
children asked for bread, no man gave II
unto them Whv oil this misery during
the eenturies2 Who IL 90 blame for itgf
The answer 90 these questions, the sneaker
said. IL thfee.lold England Ia 10 blame.
Rome IL 90 blame, aud Ireland herself 10 10
blame. The speaker then referred 10 the
compact between Henry H. OF England aud
Pope Adrian H., In which the latter gave
over 10 England the country OF Ireland,
Henry Atlpuatlng 10 give tho Pope In 70.
iatn one penny FOE each house In the
oeun'ry. lie declared that what,
relative 10 Ireland before the Reformation
there eau be no doubt that sinee that event
England has treated lFelaud M cruelty ~
ever tyTant master treated alave. "Hhe
has bought her aud aod her aud tyhtppsd
her, aud tortured her, and then she wonder
eel why Ireland did not love her. hha oon.
hsoAted her lands, robbed her OF her
language DESTROYED her commerce. peraeouted
her on account OF her religion, and then she
wondered why Ireland did not love her. Shs
lnaeled haFharons penal laws, khe wnked
nj lie eruelties OF landl orde che treated Ire.
lana asa vassal aud not ~ on equal, she
tried 10 force npon her, at the point OF ma
bhyonet religious ayetem which aho an.
ho,tsd. and then ehe wondered why Ireland
did not love herr hat for her sad oondl.
tion Ireland herself IL largely TO blame,
IN tho first place, she abandoned
the religion OF -. Patrick, and embraced
another religion, which, whatever lie spirit
nai advantages, has helped TO keep the
masses In ignorance and poverty II has,
moreover. helped 10 foster q faotloua spirit,
and has been anything but promotlve OF
orotheflv love, Again, Ireland hai suffered
from inlo,nal strife and unwiss leaders.
Perhaps the miaeriea OF Ireland In recent
years are attributable more 20 the
irish IN this country than 10 any ono cause
boyoetling and agfaranism, the murder OF
landlords and the internal usa OF DYNAMITE
am rer.naded, would scarcely have been
heard OF v the irish In this country had not
given 10 their friends nj home aid and com.
fofL They furnished the sinawa of war with
laulah hand Moi thai The ant,l L. =. -. =.