Evening journal., 1898-03-16
EVE OF ST. PATRICK.
Irishmen to Celebrate the
Apostles Birth.
HIsTORY OF THE GREAT TEACHER

VALOR EXTOLLED AT THE AU-
DITORIUM BY FATHER BER-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN THE
CHURCHES.
Irishmen all over the world will cele-
brate ST. Patrick's Day tomorrow, and
his memcry is to be fittingly exbolled
by the A. o. H. in the Audi
torium at night, when Rev.
Father Birmingham, pastor of St. |
Josephs Church on the Brandywine, |
who is one OF the best-known orators |
in the city, will lecture taking as his |
| subject, 'An Irish Nation" fine |
musical program has been prepared, |
which is as follows
'The Harp That Once Through |
| Tara's Halls" Novello Male Quartet. |
James Ward, William McNulty, A j. |
Butler, J. A. Butler; Come Back to |
Erin" Miss Elizabeth Schwab; AS |
| thore," James Ward; Voices of the
Night" mixed quartet, Miss Elizabeth
| Schwab, Miss Jean Ford, William F.
McNulty. A. ]. Butler; brooklyn
Handicap" John A. Butler; "Killar-
ney." Novello Male Quartet,
Perhaps the fete day of no other
saint in the Roman calendar is so gem
orally celebrated as that of St Pat
rick, the patron of Ireland. In all
parts Of the civilized world, as we'll as
in the yet savage wilds OF Australia
Africa and other countries, whittier
the indomitable Celt has found his way
in quest of opportunities denied him
on his native soil, the memory OF St
Patrick is honored in some special
manner and his greatness extolled.
This perennial popularity is proba-
bly, due to the fact that 1t gives ex-
preston to two of the noblest and most
enduring Of human sentiments-pa-
triotism and religion. With both of
these the Irish character seems more
: than ordinarily endowed and hence
the nimbus which has been thrown
/, over the commandingfgure of their ma
I tiOnal apostle, giving birth to innumer-
: able legends, and so confounding fancy
with fact that ii is not always easy TO
extricate the one from the other. Not
withstanding this, the essential charac-
ter Of the great missionary who Chris
n tianized Ireland, so that in turn 1t be-
' came a seat Of learning and one of the
E great missionary countries stands unl
n dimmed, and can be no more question
: ed than the success of his labors, OF
ptTIldUtuIy LutlI IbSuIlSs
IT Is said the saints name was origi-
: nally Succat. and that it was after
q wards changed to Patrick when he WAS
consecrated a bishop and commission
ed by Pope Celestine to evangelize
Erin. The question of his birthplace
h is still disputed about, France and
Scotland being among the countries
y named by historians as the place where
= that event occurred. When 16 years o.
age he was taken a captive to Hiber
mia, as Patrick always called Ireland
where he tended cattle, an occupation
which afforded abundant opportunit,
~ ! for self communion. One might h.
heard in dream q voice saying: "Thl
= fasting is we'll; thou shalt soon return
to thy country" In another dream th'
u same voice warned him that the shil
was ready, but was distant 200 miles
, In obedience to this he fled, but, reach
t. ing the ship, was refused passage b,
v the captain, and was about to return tt
st his bondage. But while kneeling II
&c prayer one of the sailors called him
a saving, Come back quickly, for thes.
Q. men. call thee" But he could not re
main long at home with his parents
= Either moved by an inward call, whlcl
he regarded as a divine command, o
= directly through the agency of TN
rs pope. St. Patrick returned to Ireland
- landing on the coast near Dublin. o.
at | exploring Delaradia he converte
Ddchu, the first who professed Chris
er tian faith under his ministry. Dich
~ gave him a tract OF land for the foun
dation OF a church, together with
barn or granary, which. being convert
Oh ed into a place of worship was after
wards known as Patricks Granarl
: and which, in aftertime, became celt
: brated monastery.
F: Having laid the foundation OF Chris
(: tianity in Delaradia, st. Patrick COT
f; ceived the greater work OF preachin
(: Christ in the very citadel of idolatr,
=: On Easter eve he arrived near Tar
+: during the celebration of some paga
I: festival, at which the kings OF Fri
were convened. According TO the i
gends. the pagan festival began by tn
extinglishing Of every fire in the coul
: try. and whoever should on TIL
night kindle a fire before the king
fire had been kindled on the hill
): Tara should be cut of from his pc
. ple." But Patrick who had pitched h
tent. began the solemn devotions
Easter eve, and lighted his Pasch
fire, which King Laoghaire saw fro
Tara, with aStonishment and wrat
Oh and drove thither with his horse
OR chariots and two Magi. Seeing the
)U- approaching, Patrick went towar
them, chanting the verse, Some p
their trust in chariots and some
tns horses, but we will remember the nan
ave OF our lord. our Gcd," and mirac
the lously vanuuished the Magi. On East
'Iey Sunday Patrick appeared at Tara, la
Ap- none arose at his approach exec
'so. the kings chief bard, the fiji
10 who believed in God that day, and
up was counted unto him for righteor
ness"
Sou Later St. Patrick baptized thousan
Il. Il.oe ali Tara, and everywhere idols fell
1 Tt fore this spiritual conqueror. W.
1o,,s wonderful power he preached TO I
'''' Clan Amalgaidh, and the king and
seven sons embraced Christiani
5AN Chieftains were st. Patrick's first cl
verts, the clan following their leade
example. At last the saint devo'
J., VI himself tn the fOunding of Armaj