Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-04
] AMERICAS DIsCOvERER.
Historical Evidence That 81. Brendan Was
the First European Here-He Taught
the Natives Chrlssianity Before Cortez


ancient Irish names, and that Fhearghal
surnamed the Geometer, better known in
history by his Latinized name of Virgillus
native of Ulster, and scholar Of the great
school of Armagh, had demonstrated the
sphericity of the earth over 500 years before
the birth Of Gallileo, to whom generally the
| credit of the discovery is given.
Columbus was indeed very extraordinary
man, and fully deserves to fill prominent
place in history. for his ability and perse-
and geographers of his day that Cathay, oi
China, could be reached by sailing direct
west instead of going round the Cape OF
plorers Of the time i'm been in n'1 the cha habit Of DO
| ing. In the pursuit OF this purpose he was
intercepted by the American Continent
which stretches from north to south; so that
as far as he was concerned, the discovery OF
! America was purely accidental, because
China was the object of his voyage; and as
he was by no means the first white man to
reach the Western World, he is not Justly en-
titled to be called its discoverer.
Irishmen Were Hero Ages Ago.
| The Irish, the Northmen, the Welsh and
the Basques were there ages before he was
| born; and it is almost certain that those an
| cient sea dogs known as the "PhBnicians''
| crossed the South Atlantic from the West
| Coast of Africa, where they had strong col
ony y and where very large ruin OF o one OF
| much indeed to the amazement of the scien-
tif1c and archaeological world
Some few years ago. when travelling in
| Ireland, says writer IN the Irish CdnoQid,s,
| my attention was directed to st. Brendan's
| claim of being the discoverer of the New
| World, through pontifiCal mass celebrated
| by the Bishop of Kerry in the open air on
St. Brendan's Head, bold promontory
| forming the south side of Tralee Bay,
| whence, in the year $50 OF 55l Brendan sailed
away to discover the Thalluv Hearh, or
| Western Land, of which tradition had ex-
| listed among the ancient Irish, and does
more or less still in the Irish LANGUAGE On
| subsequent visits to Ireland, often listened
| with pleasure to stories and legends recited
| in the mellitiuous tongue of the Celt by un-
| educated peasants, to whom the traditions
| had descended from remote ages, being
| transmitted from sire to son in the language
| in which the Brehan Code was written,
| and in which Patrick delivered his message
| to the Irish Monarch and his Feis More, OF
Parliament, at Tara. These circumstances
awakened in me an interest in St. Brendan
and his remarkable voyage, and as a result
| of that interest have, for the last three or
four years. in my humble way been collect
am fairly astounded at the amount of it
there is in existence, and might by society
be easily brought together for publication.
Reference to Brendan's Voyage.
This evidence of classification might, in q
general way, be divided somewhat as fol-
lows: that found in the Skeal- al-Fheanaehtheds
or ancient stories of ireland, still existing in
the Irish language-as for instance, the
legend of the Caunech Fuenh, in which there
is a pointed aIlusion to the voyage of Bren-
dan to the Dhounh Hearh, or Western World,
as there are also in the beautiful poems of
Ossian. or, more correctly speaking, Ussheen,
one of the worlds greatest poets, whom the
Scotch writer, Mcpherson. tried hard to man.
ufacture into a Scotchman, but failed.
Ellank BRASIL, or as it is called in English
books, "Hy BRASIL" /" was the traditional en-
Oh. ,A41 oil ~ 1s1 IT,
of an island of joy occasionally seen when
Learn, the Irish Sea God, was in good humOr.
The imaginary island, which was placed in
the ocean off the Galway coast, in after ages
gave its name to Brazil, in South America, as
the Portuguese were well acquainted with
the story of Brendan's voyage, and Brazils
being in all probability the first portion of
the New World upon which his eyes had
rested.
There is also evidence to be found in
ancient Irish books and manuscripts, many
istence, notwithstanding the wholesale de-
struction of schools and libraries in Ireland
by Danes and Normans-the first out of love
of pillage and rapine, and the second in
order to, as far as possible, destroy every
vestige and trace of Ireland's early learning
and civilization Evidence in favor OF
Brendan's voyage is to be met with in most
large libraries. such as those Of Trinity Col
lege, Dublin, British Museum, London, the
Bodlean at Oxford, the libraries of Stowe. of
Cambridge, of the Scotch universities and
Irish-written books and manuscripts.
Searching in the Libraries.
The inquiry might also be prosecuted on
the continent of Europe and more espec-
tally in such Libraries as those of Paris, Lon
vain. Bruges, Naples, Pavia, Vienna, Saltz-
burgh (of which Virgilius, the geometer,
already alluded to, was bishop Salamanca,
Florence, Rome and other ancient seats Of
learning, some of which positively owe their
origin to Irish missionaries who left Ireland
when she was, as Montalembert SAYS, "the
School of the West"
In these libraries there are treasures of
Irish literature written in various periods by
natives of Ireland, as well as priceless books
and manuscripts taken for safety at different
times to the continent by Irish monks and
other exiled scholars. The libraries of Nor
way, Denmark and Sweden also contain evi-
Danes did not destroy all the beautifully
illuminated books and manuscripts which
they found in the schools of Ireland; but, on
the contrary, a. deal of them were saved and
carried away by the invaders to their
northern homes. In 759 they plundered
Mungret and other monasteries and schools
on the River shannon and along the west
1ngs they generally carried away the valu-
ables, of which the splendidlv-bound and
illuminated tones and documents formed
treasures are safe in the libraries OF Copen-
hagen. Stockholm, Upsal, Christian SAND, and
other northern schools and cities.
He Taught the Natives Christianity.
According to eleven different Latin man.
uscripts in the National Library Paris, one
of which dates from the eleventh century,
St. Brendan left Tralee Bay about $50 A. D.
on mission to the undiscovered country
which he believed to exist beyond the At
lantic. The vessel he embarked in with
his companions and provisions, including
five pigs, was caught in q current. and, after
voyage of many weeks, he landed in a
strange country, where he taught the
natives the truths of Christianity. After
seven years he returned to Ireland, and sub
sequently tried . second voyage to the same
country, as he bad promised to revisit it,
but was bafied by the wind and tide
He died in the odour of sanctity in 57s. |
aged ninety-four years. The curious thing |
is that when Cortez invaded Mexico he |
found the natives in possession OF some OF |
the doctrines OF Christianity, which they |
said had been taught them by q stranger |
the Holy Island beyond the sea in a "boat |
with wings" many centuries before, and pro- |
missed to return to them. The advent of |
Cortez was. in fact, hailed as q fulfillment Of |
this tradition.
The strange country referred to was the |
west of England to which, st. Brendan was
carried by the gulf stream, and where. dur
ing his stay, he founded the Church of Bren- |
dan, around which village subsequently, |
clustered that still bears his name.
Has a Presidential Bearing.
Telegraph
Viewed from n national standpoint the |
elections of this month are of especial |