The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-16
THE SEVENTEENTH OF MARCH

THE SEVENTEENTH OF MARCH.
Tomorrow Irish men and women, wher-
ever two or three OF them can gather to-
gether, in Asia, Africa, Australia, Amer
lea or Europe, will commemorate the life
and services OF st. Patrick, the most re-
nowned aud most successful OF the early
missionaries who carried Christianity 10
Ireland. No other nation or people thus
celebrate an event or commemorate man
whose results or labors were purely spir-
itual in their tendencies, and II is espe-
cially worthy of note in an age and time
when materialism is 80 Astounding and self
assertiye that there are 2i,00O,0O0 Of Irish
people who take time from the daily grind
OF labor TO which most Of them are COM
mitted to renew their gratitude for the la
bors OF the man who rescued their ances'
tors from the brutal barbarism and perhaps
cannhalism that was for so many centuries
propagated by the Druid priests. The faith
to which St. Patrick summoned the scanty
population OF Ireland has nowhere been
maintained in ls pristine vigor as il has in
the island which became the reslingplacc OF
the most sanity men Of the early church,
aud a great school of missions whence
Christianity was spread by devoted mis-
sionaries 10 every part OF Northern Eu-
rope, and there is reason to believe, to
Mexico. All along down through the
centuries the Irish people have been con-
spieuous as aids in the propagation Of the
gospel OF Christ, and they have been will
ing martyrs for the faith in the presorya-
ton OF which they have met and over
come hate, obloquy, malice aud the direst
forms Of persecution. They have chung
with tcn-iold tenaciiy to the Church be-
cause Of this persecution, and in il through
q priesthood the most devoted on the
earth have found comfort and sustenancc
4 simple hearted, genial, quick witled
and very intelligent race. tho Irish are
characterized by devotion TO creed and
country that challenges the admiration Of
all fair minded men who know how to
value the qualities Of patriotism and con-
acIcntious conviction. Patient as they are
brave, their history Is full OF fine examples
OF the seli-denial aud scli-abnegation that
are the sustaining qualities OF the true pat
riot and jealous, honest priest Thus at
the fircsldc and thcaltar are kept alive the
noble example Of 81. Patrick. who went
TO Ireland a stranger and died there,
not only the chief priest. but the leader Of
the Irish people. Theimprcssion Of duty, Of
obedience aud OF love Of God and country
that ho made has been transmitted from
sire 10 son and with IL the feeling Of graft.
tudc that came 10 the first converts for
their rescue from brutalizing system Of
religion. No saint In the calendar Of Rome
occupies 80 high a position rs st. Patrick.
aud not one Of them all has maintained
his place through the succeeding with
such an increasing strength Of fame and
name, cmbodying the spiritual promptings
u vast number Of people now spread to
every part Of the globe. The Irish people
viii be as enthusiastic and dcvout tomorrow
in celebrating ST. Pairick's day rs they
we're last year, or rs their ancestors were
one hundred or one thousand years ago.