The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-03-18
ST. PATRICgS DAY.
Father Brown Gives a Lee
ture About Ireland's
Saint.

st. Bridget's r. c. Church, Montgomery
and Brunswick streets. was filled with the
members of the church and large num-
Der of Knights of Columbus last even
ing when the Rev. James A. Brown. of
Orange, who is also chaplain of Jersey
City Council, K. of c., delivered a lee
ture on st. Patrick. The lecturer spoke
of the early life of the saint and the good
he had done. His remarks were listened
to very attentivey. They could be plainly
heard by all the large audience. The
speaker said in part
1T was in the year 431 that St. Patrick
received his commission from Rome to
the Irish people. In that same year he
visited Rome and upon his return to Ire
land he determined 10 strive for his
people. st. Patrick was very much like
St. Paul and spoke in the language of
the people. He appealed to them strongly
and the conversion of ireland followed.
I'm the Irish history there is one very
noticeable fact-the manner of their con-
version. There is no other nation that
has shown such devotion to the Holy See.
This fact is noticeable for the reason
that in other nations the Christian re-
ligion was never propagated without
bloodshed.
Now, the three centuries following the
advent of st. Patrick were the brightest
in the Irish history. Students from all
countries focked to her schools, which
were of the highest class. In all parts
of Europe the missionaries focked to do
away with paganism. They built many
monasteries and schools and did a world
of good wherever thew went
Ireland gave saints to France, Spain,
Germany and Switzerland, many of whom
became martyrs. The Irish people at that
time were the educators. After the three
centuries passed clouds and trials began
to hover over Ireland. The Irish fought
hard to drive out the Danes. In the year
f11s up to the time of the Reformation
one of the fiercest border wars was car
ried on with England, and when this con-
test had hardly finished, the detection of
England from the Catholic religion
brought on new troubles
''Then Ireland was asked to go with
England, and she refused. Then for the
next three centuries she endured persecu-
ton and a record of cruelty that is un-
parallel.
Now we sometimes hear it said that all
Irishmen should let by-gones be by-gones,
but no man who ever read this history
could have any feeling for England ex-
cept Indignation. At the present day
England is trying to destroy the Repub-
lies of South Africa, and when England
poses as the friend of liberty, she poses as
a wolf in cheep's clothing.
ireland has now almost ceased to exist
Like the Master she has been nailed to
the cross and like him she has said, not
my will, but thine be done
people have been accorded the good will
and respect of all men, and they have
shown that they can be good Catholics
and noble citizens. Should l speak of all
that America owes to Ireland it would
detain you too long lrishmen have
they have contributed to every noble
cause. Their voices swell the chorus
which America sings to all nations, and
in every trial the Irishman has shoulder
ed his burden with cheerfulness.''
He spoke of the military and naval ex-
plots of such men as Sheridan, Jackson,
Commodore McDonough and numerous
other heroes of Irish birth or descent. In
conclusion he predicted that the time
would come when ireland would be one
of the commercial centres of the world,
and by the grace Of God be free, happy
and independent.
be given out for the poor of st. Bridget $
Parish