Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-03-17
HONORED
The Memory Of
St. Patrick.
Akron People Wore the
Shamrock.

undoubtedly because the cold, raw
weather kept people of leisure indoors
and prevented the free display of
| Shamrock always seen when st. Pat
| rick's day Is mild and warm. But
the patron saint Of Ireland was not
| forgotten. Here and there the green
| bows and sprigs of imitation sham
rock were displayed aud the fact that
it was st. Patricks day was brought
to the attention of the multitude.
In st. Mary's church Sunday, Rev.
Dr.. Murphy, of Cleveland, preached
a most able sermon on st. Patrick
He quoted literally from the writings
of Redpath who visited Ireland dur
ing the famine years of "A half century
ago and many of his audience were
| in tears as he described the scenes of
suffering. 1t was one of the best ser
mons ever given in st. Mary's church.
In the absence of the pastor, Rev.
| Father Clark, there were no other SER
vices in commemoration Of the day in
st. Mary's church. The usual SER
vices We're held in St. Vincent's
church.
At st. Mary's school nall tonight, the
play Hazel Kirke' will be given. At
st. Nincent's school hall the play,
The Landlord and the Tenant will
be put on.
II is probably not generally known
that ST. Patrick's day this year com
memorates the 14ilth anniversary of
the death of the illustrious apostle,
who found Ireland a pagan nation and
made 1t Christian nation. This is
the unique distinction that belongs to
Patri ,k--that Of having in his lifetime
converted whole nation from pagan
ism TO Christianity He came to Ire
land as a missionary in 430. There
was then not Christian church, or
probably not Christian man or wo-
man. in the land. Patrick died In 491
at the extraordinary age of 122. Ire
land was then covered with churches,
and all her people We're Christians,
which, of course, means that they
were Catholics, for besides the Catho-
lie there was no other Christian body
at that time ip, the world, or for a
thousand years afterward,
Another noteworthy distinction also
belongs to the great work of the great
Irish apostle. 1t was all accomplished
without the sacrifice of single human
life. In other lands the blood of mar
tyrs was the seed Of the church. Ire
lands conversion was effected without
the martyrdom of teacher or disciple.
The Irish received the faith with do
cility and devotion, and strong love for
the holy man who went among them
for 81 years preaching and doing
wonderful things in testimony Of the
truth of the divine doctrine he taught.
as one of the old bards tells us:
"!he holy saint, with zeal and Chris
tian courage.
Did propagate the gospel of his Mas.
ter
For one and sixty years, and miracles
Performed, strong evidence of truth"
Just one exception, however, has to
be made to the statement that Pat
rick's mission i'm Ireland was com.
pfeted without the shedding of drop
OF blood hut 1t is an exception which
shows the intense reverence of the
Irish converts for the ceremonies of
the religion they had so willingly ac-
cepted. The story Is told as follows
by the Able Macgeoghegan, in descrb,
ing the conversion and baptism of
Aongus, King Of Munster:
This prince, being informed of the
sanctity and virtues of the holy apos-
tie Patrck), came forth to meet him
received him with every mark of dis.
tinction and respect, and brought him
to his city OF Cashel, where he heard
the word of God. and was converted,
with his whole court. A singular fact
is related of the Christian fortitude
and patience of Aongus during the
ceremony Of his baptism. The bshir
Patrick), having leaned on his pas
toral staff tcrozier), which was pointed
with iron, ii pierced the kings foot
but he suffered the pain without com
planning till the ceremony was ended
The apostle, hearing of the accident
asked him why he had not complained
The king answered, respectfully that
he thought 1t formed part of the cere.
mony."
Another account tells that when st
Patrick heard the Kings answer and
saw the blood flowing from his foot
ne exclaimed: "Aongus, you're well
baptized"
such was the spirit in which the
irish received the faith of Christ from
their great apostle With what spirit
ana tenacity and devotion they have
retained 1t ever since, Is known to all
the world known so well that Irish
and Catholic have long been popu
larly regarded as almost Synonymous
words
If thou faint in the day of adversely