The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-07

At Trinity Episcopal church last night.
Rector III. H Gowsu delivered an inter
estinS lecture on the conversion OF Ire
hand Under 81. Patrick. The lecture vas
gwen ia a narrative strain. and which
made its comprehension the more agree
able, brief abstract follows;
Baeing his discourse On Isaiah x..s, Mr..
GSwsn said that having IN previous
sermon spoken u the beginnings OF thFis-
i4anlty In Brf;aia he wished TO describe
the conquest by the cross Of the adjacent
islard. when Augustine landed in Eng
land just lss years ago lWbitsuntide $50
taere was a vigorous Christianity existing
across the channel Ireland was even
then the Isle OF saints. sending form
bands OF missionaries 10 eyan8e!ize heath
en- Scotland and Europe. Indeed, England
herself owed Ter Christianity far more TO
the work OF the Iri=h missionary COLUMBIA
than 10 the Italian mission Of Augustine.
Ky hat il the history Of the early Chris
tiaulty OF Ireland he continued. In the
first centuries OF our era Ireland was more
tartarous than Britain an being less ac-
eessibie to the Roman arms. Britain
tenslted materially from the Roman oc-
eipatIon Through the building OF roads.
cities and baths. Ireland remained a land
OF forests and awaEsps for many CEN
turtles. IS in Britain the religion WIS
pguldlx.n, hi. with other elements re-
seuhsing fetch worship. There were Sac
red trees. sacred wells and from the fact
that the principal idol, Crom-crUaeh, was
surrounded BY twelve lesser diyinities. it
has been thought the waH adored,
moving through the twelve zodiaeal signs
Nevertheless even here in regions
Caesar never knew Christianity won its
way though not 50 early or SO easily as
I'm Britain. The oldest legends speak Of
cormac Mac Nessa converted through the
Roman consul Athls 10 the first century.
OF Common siac Art and other early saints,
but II Is probable that the first authentic
traditions are those which concern
kieran OF Cape Clear. When we get into
the psnambra OF history We find names
like that of Palladius and others, but We
only feel ourselves on solid ground when
there come before US the names OF Pat
rick. Bright and COLUMBIA.
Even In the case Of Patrick there IS
need OF much Judgment 10 discriminate
between the historical and the legendary.
No less than sixty-six biographies OF st.
Patrick existed in the time Of Gibhon. and
these filled with stories childish and alb
surd have been largely increased 10 the
present day.
This much we may regard as certain.
Succ1th. the strong In war. or Patrick.
IA he was called from his patrlcan descent,
was horn AT sAilscyde in Scotland In 513.
Hks father Calplurnals. WAS a Christian
deacon but hts own Christianity was hut
nominal until there came with years the
pressure Of sorrow. In his 18th year he
was captured by one OF the numerous
bands OF pirates who infested the coast
and carried away INTO Ireland. Here he
became O swinsa1erd In the service Of
Mulcllu ana for SIX years In all e1trofni-
Ties OF weather fed his masters cattle.
Hard times. however. ti3d not daunt him.
for he tells uS in his Confessions that ho
ta.-
the love of God grew stronger. and there
was slot hfuine<rs found In him, because
the Holy Spirit guided aud sustained him,
However after six years slavery he
found an opportunity 10 escape. and TAX
nag snip with some merchants trading In
the famous irish wolf hounds. went To
France. Another experience in slavery
awaited him. bat this WAS short and after
a while he reached his home. only. how
ever 10 recognize that ne was the servant
81 higher Master. who called him 20 la
Dor IA the land OF his bondage. Ills pa
rents iearfilly protested. hut a vision
twlce repeated, in which the 'Nox iiheri-
orac9m' came To him IN the name of Him
vhe gave Ills life for thee decsded him II
break through ali Obstacles. even those
opps~cd by human love and so. After Il
careful preparation in the famous college
or ~. Martin Of Tours he was consecrated
Bishop OF Ireland and set out.
"a hls first LANDING he was mistaken for
a pirate. bait ne soon diss5pated this inn
precision. and nichu, the lord az the land
near Strangford Loogh. became his first
convert ratricks chief desire AZ this time
wass ~ sina cut his old aster and win him
far Christ. but Mulchu was too proud 10
bslea 10 former slave. and burned his
housr rather than receive ham.
'Fcipw5ng on thas eyarnse she famous VISIT
20 the nill - Tara. where the Druhis vera
keeping the feast II Brltine. Patrick
hTaYa3 the wrath % tAe king and III spite
Of al opposition from the prui3< made
rasns converts Wherever he went he
broke down the Idols even the dreaded
tro0a~Cruach falling victim 10 his holy
icoaoci asssn
''i}ut side ny eisic with this vas snalcsa
conssi rtsciiye work Patrick ordained : 90
clergy ana bu5tt - churches. ne provided
fGF hlS converts 4 native ministry chosen
from the s%Nus uf the chiefs. ne trained
these IN muuastegieS ~ parglcui8r ceuters
sDi he caused hundreds OF Jiaslscl books 10
he copjea ans circulated la MS we'll
known protest against slavery contained
tn enc letter 20 t'Arottcls} BE showed HIM
self so advance af his aEe I'd tn fis work -
organizing ~ nats through the iSgS1n ard
breadth II the land ne showed a fsF-seciu<
wl@ltsp and st4stcsznauN!ilp.
'Has laat years. were moi the least fruit
faf ana snru. N tbe year 4tS t@sase say
$s4l- his Strenk,h failed him nm his way -
armagh Ana he lay duWn 20 die be had
aaaasautly pGovrA H5s t}tta to tae ssor.-
oas Taarns. Apostle ~ tho Irish -"