The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-02-07

Law, as well as religion and litera-
ture, owes great debt to the Ireland
of early times. st. Patrick we think
Of as a great moral reformer and holy
man; but as lawgiver and coditier
he is less familiar figure. The i'll
duence Of ancient Irish civilization
generally in establishing respect for
legal process and for legal obligations
is lost sight of in the better known
tales of how Irish scholars kept
learning alive in Europe and Irish
bards sang in an otherwise unmusical
age, says the Boston Republic.
One Of our young Boston attorneys,
Joseph M. Sullivan, has contributed
studies touching both these subjects
to recent numbers of the Green Bag,
a Boston magazine for lawyers. In
enc of his articles, entitled "a Legal
Study Of st. Patrick" Mr.. Sullivan
reminds us that the Senchus Nor, a
Gaelic manuscript containing the
largest part of the Brehon Code, was
eompiled in the first part Of the fifth
century, and was therefore in full
force and effect when Saint Patrick
arst set foot on the shores of Erin.
'Sent there by the pope in the year
A. D. 432," he says, est. Patrick found
that there existed in ancient Ireland a
system of laws in which the property
and personal rights of individuals
were minutely regulated. He found
also that the rights of women in lands
Of their husbands were jealously
guarded. The wife had the right to
ALLEVIATE portion Of her husbands
land, and to control to some extent
her husbands right Of alienation.
"Schooled as he was in Roman law,
st. Patrick discovered that the ancient
Irish law governing the distribution
Of estates of deceased persons left
nothing to be desired in the matter of
eompilat ton and amendment. He was
surprised to find complete system
Of legal ethics, court, Judge, and
enlightened procedure for the enforce
nent Of it's DEGREES. He found that
the courts employed in the enforce
ment of their judgments, writs and
processes resembling those of dis
tress. and other legal forms common
~ used in early English procedure.
He found, also, that the rights Of
creditors were protected, as, for in
stance sureties were made liable
somewhat after the old English in
stitution of frankpledge.
est. Patrick soon learned that the
ancient Irish needed no instruction in
legal ethics. and he Immediately di-
rected his efforts to harmonize their
laws with the doctrines Of Christian
ity.
est Patrick's opinion of the native
code. we find in his own words in the
introduction to the Senchus Nor:
What did not clash with the word of
God, and the consciences of the be-
levers, was confirmed in the laws of
the Brehons, for the law of Nature
had been right except as to the faith,
and the harmony of the Church and
people,
"With the advent of st. Patrick and
Christianity into Ireland, came the in
PRODUCTION Of canon law in all it's
varied forms. This introduction Of
canon law into Ireland and the estab-
lishment of ecclesiastical courts in
every district, and the usurping Of
pleas belonging to the crown, caused
great confusion and internal disorder.
The Irish had such profound respect
for the superior knowledge Of their
priest that in all cases, even in matters
Of life or death, his word was consid-
cred supreme. This conflict between
secular and ecclesiastical tribunals is
Of very ancient origin.
est. Paul, in preaching Christianity
in the early days, cautioned the faith
full against dragging each other be-
fore infidel judges. We find instances
where even the termoners or tenants
Of the ecclesiastical lands exercised
judicial functions and decided the or