Morning journal and courier., 1892-09-23
ST. COLUMBIA.

Scots During the Early Christian
Observation-Disclosures Address by
the Rev, MIR. Mulch Before the |
CaIedonian Club.
At the meeting of the Caledonian club
last night the Rev. Mr.. Mulch read very
paper on the dawn of Chris
tianity in Scotland. After the address
several songs were sung. A large audi
ence was present.
Mr.. Mulch in his paper said that Chris
tianity was brought into Britain by the
Romans. But in the year 40 Roman
troops and authority were withdrawn
from Britain. For nearly two centuries
there was no communication between
British and continental Christianity.
This was Christianity that stood in
some vital connection with Rome, but how
close or binding that relation was cannot
be made out from the records.
There was certainly a long period
during which there was no ecclesiastical
intercourse with Rome, and during that
time there occurred something like mis-
sionary effort, first among the Picts lying
on the northern borders of Roman Britain
and later among the Scots of Ireland
These were called barbarians by the Ro-
mans, as, indeed, were all people who
were not under Roman rule. We might
however, question the missionary motive
of st. Minian, who introduced Christianity
| among the Picts late in the fourth century
| if as Bede says, his object was thereby tt
mitigate their attacks on the provincial
Britons.
This same Minian may also have beer
| the one to introduce Christianity into Ire
land, but whether this be true or not, tn
greater work was done by St. Pat
rick, beginning about 425. From tn
character of the church which he estab
lished it is believed that he got his train
ing under st. Ninian at Candida Cas-
among the southern Picts, and SO the typ
of Christianity in the Dalriadic church o
St. Patrick is traced back through tn
church of the Britons, as it was first intro
duced from Rome,
The mission of st Patrick was largel
successful in his later life, but it was no
until long after his death in 513 that
Christian monarch is found ruling il
Ireland.
Then the speaker traced the development
of the early church, separated from cor
tinental Europe, and generally conducte
along monastic lines; and continued:
"One of Finnian's original twelve apo
ties of Ireland was COLUMBIA. A trsditio
} SAYS he disagreed with his master abo1
the ownership of q Psalm book, and tt
outcome was battle between the clans Q
southern and northern Hy Mill, to whic
: they respectively belonged, fought at Cui
dremhue in Connaught in 561. Columt
! was adjudged responsible for the slaughte
&C. loI hat he OF x,ir FRO
psganism as many souls as had been slai
in the battle, and he must be banishe
from Ireland.
COLUMBIA, with twelve followers, went
the Western Isles, and finally landed {
the little island of Iona, although the mo
| probable cause of the battle had been
violation of the right of sanctuary, whit
COLUMBIA and his race had resented. Ada
! | man, his ancient biographer, knows I
reason for his going but to carr
the gospel to the northern Pict
9 who were just then crushing out the 1ri
settlement of Dalriada from the land
4 the Southern Picts.
COLUMBIA aimed high and among his fiji
converts was Brude, king of the Picts, b
d the stories of his work are 80 intermingl
d | with miracles and wonders that it Is dit
cult to make out what his actual procedu
was. In the course of twelve years, no
ever, not only the king, but his natic
t. professed Christianity, the Scots of D
riada had been restored to their autono1
10 Independent of Ireland as well as of
8 Picts, and COLUMBIA found himself at t
y head of great monastery and welding
powerful influence in political as well
ir religious affairs
! The generation for COLUMBIA increas
steadily until the day Of his death in 81
g. when great sorrow filled all hearts. T
character, though covered with all mann
in of exaggerated stories, must have been G
~ of great nobility, beauty and force.
> was one of those inspiring leaders of M
N who have but to speak and legions inn
Of diately come to their support. 1t is C
tain that few Christian missionaries hs
~ ever done more to subdue paganlsm tn
did st. COLUMBIA.
no His relics were carefully treasured q
IT. finally enshrined and in after years "
ed carried to Ireland twice, to Dunkeld 9
back to Iona, before they finally dis
peared.
Iona was henceforth for nearly tn
at centuries the head of all the churches 6
lie monasteries which this mission had foul
Il ed, and Coiumba's successors in the abb
we're long appointed according to the +
or which kept the Office within the race
northern by Neill and the descendants
nm Conall Cuban.
Mr.. Mulch then traced the spread
ny Christianity from Iona, and then
81, gradual decline of the influence emanat
N. from this place. In conclusion he said
m It is morally certain that without
influence of the ancient Scottish chu1
of which st. COLUMBIA was the cen
ny figure, the races which were anna
m mated on the soil of Scotland in the
oaed;no centuries would either have
appeared entirely or else produced re-
'n' far Inferior to that which is actually &
tie and respected there to-day.