The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-17
DR.. N N'LEOD'S ADDRESS
His Brilliant Effort at Young Mems Chris.
tial Association Hall.
The Character OF ST. PATRICK
Speaker Pays an Eloquent Tribute to
lt--Sad He Was Good Enough to
Belong to Any Church-Sunshine
and Shadow Of lreland's History
Graphically Portrayed in Beautiful
Language.

Rev. James Mcleod, D. D., delivered
an interesting address at Young Mems
Christian association Hall last evening
on 'St Patrick. ireland and the Irish. |"
Thele was large audience present
and it listened with great attention to
the speakers remarks. The proceeds
Of the lecture were given to tho associ-
ated charities
Col. II. NJ Boies introduced the
speaker Of the evening as a representa-
tive of a nation that had contributed
more to the United States in numbers,
ability, workers. achievements and
rulers than any other nation.
Rev. DR.. Mcleod was greeted with
round of applause as he came forward.
He stated that his subject was timely,
as March II was close at hand. day
cherished by millions Of our citizens
He then said:
| 1t commentaries one of tho no.
blest men Of whom christendom can boast
The name Of st. Patrick has been house
hold word for fourteen centuries and
will continue so until the end Of
| time. The miracles attributed by
Jocelyn to st. Patrick deserve little
consideration. Ignorance and super.
stitiOn even when joined with piety are
not always a trustworthy source Of infOr.
nation, and have been fruitful sources Of
mischief. Patrick was Il saint of right
royal Christian type He had his faults
aud they bring him near to us, nearer his
humanity and enlist our respect. He was
u man Of great hope great faith fand great
charity. He gave his heart to Christ and
he loved him supremely and labored for
God and the salvation OF his felowman in
a Christianly and Christly way.
His birthplace Is unknown. France,
Switzerland, Holland, England, Wales
and Scotland claim him as one Of their ma
tive sons. He was not born in Ireland.
The latest and best authorities say he was
born in Scotland. He went to Ireland as
Il captive OF barbaric chief. For 81 K
years he was a shepherd for Druid chief,
and while here he was converted to Chris
tiAnity. He escaped to his home on the
banks Of the Clyde While there he re-
ceved his call, not unlike that of st. Paul,
in n heavenly vision to preach the Gospel
in Ireland.
In the first instance he was an lrishman
by compulsion, but afterward he became
an lrishman by his own free will and by
adoption. He was not the first to intro
duce Christianity into Ireland. 1t has
been said the Gospel was preached in Ire
land In the first century. There was a
Chri stian church there in the time OF
Tertell ion, when Patrick claimed Druid
ism was the prevailing form Of religion.
THREE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
These documents of st. Patrick are i'm.
portant, his confession his hymn called
''St. Patrick's Armor," and his letter to
Corotydus. From these we can form an
idea of his religion and his character. His
letter to Corotydus is testimonial of his
patriotism and his piety. His confession
and hymn convince rs that his creed was
exceedingly simple and thoroughly evan.
gelical. Baptists, Methodlsts, and Episco-
palians claim him as one Of their fold.
Having been born in Scotland he must
have been a Presbyterian, but Of course our
Roman Catholic friends claim him all fol
themselves.
St. Patrick was good enough to belong
to any church. There is no record that st
Patrick was ever married. His father and
grandfather were clergymen, Patrick
paid no attention to consuls or bulls OF
DEGREES. At that time the Irish believed
in home rule in both religion and politics
There is no record of his ever receiving 6
commission from Rome. pr. Lanmgan, tn,
celebrated Catholic historian, regrets hi
inability to find any authority for such al
inference. He was always happy. Away
busy, always orthodox. His illustration
of the Trinity by the shamrock has beer
handed down from generation to gener a
tion and the sons of Erin will never forget
it, In his hymn he desires to be near Christ
Patrick's love for ireland knew no limit
From 440 A. D., when he landed in lrelant
as a missionary, to March II, 493, when hi
spirit took its flight to glory, he never lef
his loved land, but was continually engage
in labors abundant for the salvation Of tn
Irish people. He died at Down Patric
in County Down.
Through him ireland became a land o
schools and colleges, aud her sons wen
forth to enlighten the world Scotland
gave Patrick to Ireland and ireland CAV
Columbine to Scotland. The latter estab-
lished the monastery at Lough Foyle, ant
established the Culdees on the Island o
1onia. The ruins of Ionia were exquisite
ly commented on by DR.. johnson in III;
while gazing on her ruins.
From the year 440 until 1l55 Ireland wa
, a land Of plenty and happiness. In tina
year Henry ii and Adrian ~, an Englisl
king and an English pope, conspired :
subject Ireland to the rule Of England
This was done by the pope for the feC
known as Peters pence. In this instance
; Adrian was not infallible. Catholics say
} he was acting ex cathedra. and acts don
) while acting In that manner are not infal-
lble. This act Of Adrian was severe
criticised by Donald ONeel in 1918 Il
quote Daniel O'Connell from that tim
Ireland was a land OF war, rapine and mas
sacre. From the twelfth to the sixteenth
q centuries 1relan has been treated shame
fully and unjustly by the English govern
ment.
, IRISH EMANCIPATION.
Daniel OConnell was the first Roma
Catholic to take q seat in the house o
! commons, he fought for Catholic emnnci
patton and won the day and Irish Presby
terians assisted him. On the 18th Of April
1929 the act was signed and religion
liberty was secured to Catholics, Presby
terians and Methodsts. Religious com
, pusion originated in hell ana its chic
supporter is the devil. lie urged Phil
and Alva 800 years ago to attempt to fore
the Lowands Of Holland to Roma
Catholicism, but 1t failed. He urge
% Henry VIII to enforce Protestanism /
,s Ireland and that failed ignomineously. n
religion Of Jesus Christ can be enforced b
the bloody sword
England has been making some restitu
. tion lately to Ireland for her wrongs
u She now shows disposition t
treat Ireland as an equal. Gladstone ha
compelled England to listen to Ireland
grievances and the sympathy of the who
world indorses his action. He has righ
and justice on his side and he stauds to
day the most conspicuous figure In I'll
d English speaking world. So may he col
tinue until he sees his brightest hopes fc
Ireland realized. believe In the utmos
religious liberty, but believe that it is
49, historical fact there has been too nluu
~ mixing up of Irish politics with Irish re
- ligion.
An Irish lender must be clean handle
and clean hearted They will not allo,
any man, however great his position, I
= enter the sacred precincts OF an Iris
home, to destroy IL; but as they have don
lately they will hurl him instantly from IL
platform and bury him in dishonorab
~ grave.
q Ireland has been sadly divided when 81
III ought to be united. Ireland has been II
juted greatly by Irish whiskey. Althoug
her clergy has worked heroically anothe
= Father Matthew or st. Patrick Is needle