The Newtown bee., 1895-03-22
AT ST ROSES CHURCH.
AN ELOQUENT ADDRESS BY REV FATHER
 SMITH.

A
 SMITH.
 A good sized audience was present at St Roses on Sunday night to listen to the lecture by Father Smith, who spoke eloquently and held the close attention of his hearers. He chose for the text ot his discourse "The memory of Him shall not pass away, and His name shall be ip request from generation to generation" :" ''SG Patrick" said the speaker, was born in France toward the close of the fourth century. Nothing remarkable is re- corded of him until his 18th year, at which time be was snatched from happy childhood's home by rowing band of marauders who carried him captive to Ireland, where he was sold as slave to petty chieftain. For six long years did this unhappy youth, w.o was raised in luxury under the care of kind aud in- dulgent parents, suffer the greatest hard ships and privations. Abandoned by all the world, happy necessity compelled him to turn his thoughts to God. He prayed to God and God heard his prayer and now the light of the Divine Spirit beams upon his soul. By this light he sees the vanity of all earthly things, by it he learns that life is but the passage to eternity, that the road to Heaven i~ rough and rugged and those who wish to enter there must follow the example of Him whose life was sorrow and suf fering. No longer did Patrick repine al his miserable life, but added voluntary priyations and penances to the many and severe ones imposed upon him by his cruel pagan masters. Often would he prostrate himself on the wintry noun tain and spend whole nights in commu- nion with his Lord. Had not Patrick -uffered the privations of captivity at an age when intercourse with the gay world makes such an impression on the heart, he too like many others might have spent his life in the pursuit of ambition and Ireland might have remained for centuries unconverted to the faith of Christ. At length Patrick was freed from servitude. Admonished by God he made his way to the sea coast, where he found vessel bound for France. Years pass by and we find our saint ap- preaching the shores of Ireland never to | leave until he has transformed and sub- jugated a nation which the Caesars with | all their power could not conquer, until he had illumined by the golden rays of Divine truth a people long buried in spiritual darkness. Consecrated bishop and commissioned by Pope Ce1estine he at once enters upon his labors. lie | goes from hut to hut, from castle to cas- | tie, everywhere preaching Christ crucI- | fled. His labors in every part of the the kingdom were very fruitful, so | that in short time the whole island bloomed fair garden for the Lord. Gratitude is characteristic virtue of the Irish race. The history of Ireland after her conversion is history of the triumph of Christianity. Tonight we of Irish de scent long for the freedom of our be- loved and down-trodden Erin. We will pray, my friends, most earnestly to AL mighty God to lift the cloud that hangs over our people and country, so that in short time we may realize our long heart felt desire, that Ireland be granted home rule. The greater our devotion to our faith the nearer we approach to St Patrick. Appreciate your holy faith, love it's dogmas, proclaim it's excelle nee, practice it's morals, instil it's principles into the minds of your children. You are the children of St Patrick, who pleads for you in Heaven; you are engaged in the same warfare in which he won his