The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-18

which In the ti.ie OF ST. Patrick formed
| part OF the Rowan province, was long
| after annexed to seotland. II was thought
| he was born in the Northern part of
| France in place called Brittany. st.,
| Patrick then. was Frenchman II makes
| very little difference where he was born.
| He performed his mission and spread the
! religion OF Jesus Christ and that, too,
long before the sects came into existence
| II we were to listen to these holy men
| we would be Inclined TO believe that he
was Dallas man.
We have not many records of his early
lie, but we can imagine how lovingly and
tenderly his father and mother watched
over him and instilled into his youthful
| soul lessons of piety and truth, little think
ing that their boy would some day become
the apostle OF a great nation. At the age
OF 16 he is taken to ireland and sold as
| slave. How Il must have almost broken
his parents hearts when their loved one
was sliced and taken from them. His mas
Ter appointed him TO look after his iIocks.
Out upon the lonely hillside his soul COM
muned with God and learned the secret
OF prayer In his confession he gives an
account OF his life during his captivity.
Every day ! fed the 1ocks and prayed
frequently. My love Of God increased more
and more and my fear and faith in Him
were augmented, SO that in one day
prayed a hundred times and as often In
the night, while | tarried on the noun
tnins and ID the woods. | was reused to
pray both In the snow. frost and rain;
neither did | feel any pain from it nor
lassltude. as | think, because my soul was
then ardent" In the beginning of the
seventh year OF his slavery he was warned
In dream to prepare for his return. He
escaped his masters house and reached
the seashore. where there was vessel
ready to sail The captain at first refused
TO carry him, but after some persuasion
changed his mind and took him on board,
and after a dangerous voyage Of three
days they landed In Scotland. His fatigues
were not yet at an end; he had to travel
twenty-eight days through seas, deserts
and impossible roads. where he suffered
by fatigue, hunger and thirst before he
reached his native home. II is said that he
had to fast twenty days out Of the twenty
eight. You can best imagine the Joy OF
bis parents at his return. He forgets not
the honest people across the sea- his love
for them grew stronger daily. He listens
to the infant voices that were borne
through nightly visions to his ear. I'VE
entreat thee, o, holy youth. to come and
walk in our midst and bring us light in
our darkness comfort IN our woe" lie
Then studies for the priesthood is or
named priest and consecrated bishop BY
Pope Cecstine, who afterward sent him
to ireland TO preach the gospel OF Jesus
Christ And. oh, what happiness, Once
more ne VIII be with the people he almost
adofeG There Is something singular In
The conversion Of Ireland something with
out q parallel in history. The gospel Is
received without the shedding OF single
drop OF blood ST. Patrick and his COM
panlons arrived at Tara at nighttime. The
King and Druid priests were to have a
grand celebration that night Orders were
issued under pain of death that no fire
should be kindled that night except the
one on Tara's hill. ST. Patrlcl, and his
companions were ignorant OF this order and
NJ IRE on neighboring hill. The king
inquiries who II is that set at naught his
royal command Bring him before me- The
nigh priest tells the king that II the fire
on yonder hill Is not put out tonight Il
VIII never be quenched In Erin St Patrick
Is Drought before him and tells him nbout
jesus Christ, who was Cruclfed and that
ne mad come to preach His doctrine. He
gains the confidence of the king and Mt
ohec set out TO preach the gospel. lie trav-
eled over the lovely island and converter
the entire nation, Within half century n
pagan nation is made entirely Christian
ireland then snds out missionaries TO Eng
lana, France, Scotland, Austria italy and
Germany. She invites the children OF other
shores to come to her schools St Bonifnce
the patron of Germany. was educated In
ireland. Macy church today In Germany
is called after some Irish saint In those
good OLD days to establish a literary repu-
tation residence OF some years I'm Ire
land was necessary and those fair youths
returning spread over land and sea the
story OF her richness and lovelness the
wisdom and sanctity OF her sons. tho
beauty and virtue OF her daughters
The spread of religion from ireland was
indeed remarkable Romo sent her mis-
sionarles to start the new faith in ire
land, and lrelaud Is soon returning mis-
sionarios TO continental Europe, sending
back the scntllations OF that flame TO
Rome herself These were the days when
ireland had place, a most envious one
among the nations She shone rosplendent
over all Europe in science and civilization
pr Johnson tells us that Ireland was nj
TINS period the quiet habltation of sane
THY aud learning"
But II Ireland had her day OF splendor
she mad also her night OF sorrow. Oh, the
anguish she endured In the days when her
laith was tried, In the days of tho nennI
laws and famines, when hor children were
driven mad by grief and hunger. eating the
very leaves OF the trees and crawling IN
hie on the grave of murdered husband
or-son, But for the sake of humanity We
would blot out England's cruel deeds. we
would forget our martyred friends, our
conilscated lands, our ruined shrines our
piundered homes will not attempt tho
long, sad story OF Iroland's wrongs and
Englands cruelty; how England gained
power by treachery and preserved IL by
persecution, how she broke her treaties.
world. W '''o
There have been times in the eloop,v
history of Ireland when the priest and ia
schoolmaster were shot down like wol,es
when they had TO hide themselves away, H.
the mountains In order TO instruct tho
youth Notwthstanding all this wo have
given the world its most brilliant men
steer, Francis, Goldsmith sheridan.
burke, Cnrran, Grattan. Emmett. OCon.
neil Davis. Griffin, Moore and many 9TH
ers These names would shed lustro ON
the history OF any nation, and have never
been exoelled as writer's poets, orators ana
statesmen. Glorious names: the world IL
better, mankind noblor, FOR having known
| them. nv"
When lreland's sons were forced TO leave
their homes Americas fair shores attract
cd them. From the first war. whom Jobn
Bull was whipped and sent home. down 10
the late war lrishmen were ALWAYS found
az the front. We have given the country
lls best statesmen. Calhoun and Jackson.
Nine irishmen signed the declaration and
SIX were engaged In forming the constitu-
.lon' Jack Barry, an Irish lad, was the
nrst American officer to meet the Eng
iisn on the sea and had the honor and
pleasure OF capturing the first Enpltsh man