The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-20
THE 18th OF MARCH.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN THE MORNING.
81. Patrick Was to Ireland What ~
Paul Was to Greece.

The material for writing the lives Of men
who lived, Iabored and died In the ages pre-
vous to the invention OF printing, wnen
knowledge became easily disseminated, are
necessarily scHnt, and more especially OF
the missionaries who counted everything
else almost lost If they could only bear the
light OF truth 10 those who sat in dark ness.
It Is difficult in this enlightened period to
realize that we are descended from fierce,
warlike tribes, whose delight IL was TO make
war upon their neighbors, and sci into slav-
cry the unfortunate yonths who fell into
their hands. Yet this and much more is
true. During the terrible persecutons of the
earlier centuries Of the Christian era many
who escaped martyrdom found shelter In the
distant lands. Coasting along In their frail
barques, looking to God for protection and
guidance, some anchored in friendly harbors
along the Mediterranean Sea, while others
drifted beyond the Pillars Of Hercules, and
even TO the great isles beyond the sea, )"
whose rocky inlets opened the doors Of their
caverns TO give them shelter. Here they,
lifted their hearts and voices In prayer and
praise, till the air became pregnant with true
wisdom, and the music of Christs teachings
found response in the hearts OF the savage
natives.
In hamlet along the western coast Of
Britain lived youth named Succat In
whose heart had been planted some germs OF
truth. Taken n prisoner in one OF the fierce
forays OF the Picts from across the sea, he
was sold into slavery when he was fifteen
years of age, and in the northeastern part OF
made u herder Of cattle. No doubt he often
thought of those from whom he had been 20
ruthlessy torn perhaps In his dreams he
saw the iair-haired mother who told him of
God and The Savior, mourning for the son
who In youth and beauty was snarched from
her arms 10 be exposed 10 storm and tempest,
to hunger and! thirst, to nakedness and
stripes, But year alter year went by and he
patiently performed his laborS, waiting and
hoping that means Of escape would open 10
him. From the rugged mountain slopes he
could see the sails OF the sea.rovers as they
searched for prey, and thoughts Of home
TO risk all for freedom! Providence favored
him. and ere long tho welcome sight OF his
native land burst upon his glad vision.
He was kindly treated by his relatives, and
doubtless many an evening hour was spent
in hearing from his lips the story of his liie
az slave, but now great and holy thought
takes possession Of his mind, and his heart is
filled with Chrisi.like piety aud forgiveness
the news OF the Savior who died for them.
His friends plead earnestly against him
going among those with whom he had suffer
ed great tribulation. II tavailed nothing. Al
night he dreamed dreams, and In the day he
saw visions. In one of these man OF noble
aspect, named Victorious, came to him bear
ing many epistleS one of which was given
voice Of the Irishw While repeating these
words he heard the sound of many voices
that seemed the voices of those In the wood
near the sea where he lay waiting for deliv-
erance, and they cried: I'VE pray thee, Ho-
Iy Youth, to come and henceforward walk
among u.s." How his heart beat! 1t was his
call from God, and he gladly obeyed the man.
date. Feeling the necessity of preparation,
he studied faithfully for six or seven years
under learned monks of eminent piety and
when about thirty years old, after being or
dained TO the priesthood. started forth on his
mission of love.
Alter many difficulties he reached Ireland,
the ancient IIibernia, which the older Greeks
had pictured as fertile beyond comparison,
"where the grass grew SO luNuriantly that
the cattle burst with fatness."
Ina few years he had established church,
was afterward made bishop, and before his
death had redeemed large portion of the
Island from organism, baptizing In all with
his own hands 200 souls OF every station
and degree, from king TO peasant, besides
olher work travelling from one end OF the
land to the other often In spite OF opposition
and persecution. preaching the gospel OF
Paul was TO Greece, and has been known for
fourteen hundred years as st. Patrick, the
tutelary saint OF Ireland. Surely the man
who gave the best years Of q long and holy
life TO the lifting up Of a bepighted people by
the use Of his lands (granted by the Roman
PontifD for the establish ment Of schools and
the founding OF churches, deserves gratitude
and love at their hands, and to-day his hold
upon the warm Irish heart Is strong and
steadfast. The 18th Of March, with its crowds
of enthusiastic Irshmen in grand procession
and packed congregations all over this ls.
land, where so many thousands have come
for refuge from oppression and misrule, testl.
fieS TO this; and wherever an Irish mother
clasps her babe 10 her bosom she nils It's In.
FAINT mind with legends of the good saint " nc
drove every serpent from the green land o1
Erin across the sea.