The Washington times., 1903-03-17

1t Is characteristic OF our age,
says Prof Maclean in his Literature OF
the Celts,' ito doubt. T. not to deny the
historical reality of many OF the historic
figures that hover in the Background Of
history. And such doubt has extended
even TO st. Patrick. due largely TO the
fact that he is not mentioned by the
early historians, Prosper of Aquitaine
"a. d. 402-463) and Bede "a. d. 673-735).
both of whom attribute the conversion
OF Ireland 10 Palladius"
This seeming omission, however. has
been explained by the theory that St.
Patrick and PaIladius are one and the
same person. Succat. the saints bap-
tismal name, in the ancient British Ian
guage means Good at war" (modern
Welsh hygad. warlikeD and is accurate
ly translated by Palladius Cfrom Pal
las), a common Roman name at that pc
riod. As a Roman citizen. and more
over OF noble birth. the saint must have
mad more than one name. and doubtless
his praenomen was Patritius. 1t would
therefore be appropriate TO call him ST.
Patricius, for, as Andrew Lang says.
St Patrick almost inevitably suggests
90 - anu was nDnG-
Uncertain Dates.
Before proceeding further II may be
stated that all the dates concerning 81.
Patrick are elusive and uncertain. Tho
most likely dates, and those most in
accord with the historical evidence. are
those suggested by DR.. Whitley Stokes.
the distinguished editor of the "Tri-
partite Life" of ST. Patrick The dates
suggested by this scholar are: Birth A.
D. 373, first missionary advent to Ire
land. 397; second advent in 432. and
death in 4s3. But. as Prof Maclean re
marks. after all has been said and
searched. we are dependent for the es-
sential features and outstanding facts
OF his life upon the apostles own writ
ings." and these unfortunately for us
contain no dates.
The authentic records OF St Patrick's
life are fairly numerous and OF greai
age, dating back indeed. almost TO his
own handwriting. The first is the auto
biographical Confession" preserved for
us in an abridged form in the Book u
Armagh. one OF the finest and Oldest OF
the Irish manuscripts. written In S12
by a scribe. Ferdomnach. That the
scribe had before him the actual auto
graph manuscript of the saint may be
inferred from his own words: Thus
far the volume which Patrick wrote with
his own hand. On the 18th day of March
was Patrick translated to the heavens
The document is in Latin. rude and
archaic in its composition. answering
10 the description St Patrick gives Of
lie rn~rfFf In a1A a..
Confession" there are the "Episties
TO Coroticus" (also in Latin). and the
hymn varfously known as the ''Iorica.
''Deer's Cry" or Guard Cry" lin
Gaelic. assigned To St. Patrick.
The Confession.
The confession" St. Patrick tells us.
was written in his old age, and that it's
object was to defend himself from the
charge OF presumption in undertaking
the work he tried to perform among the
Irish. The work. though called con
fession. % is rather TO be considered as an
Apologize pro vita sua. II has been well
described as the fervid outpourings Of
Jealous early Christian. anxious only 10
clear himself from the charges of world
illness, and absolutely devoid OF those
appeals TO general interest which we
meet with in most OF such memoirs. A
vein OF warm piety. too. runs through
the whole.
The information the saint gives u
about himself in the confession" may
be shortly stated thus: He was born o.
Christian parents and belonged to
Christian people. being the son OF Cal
pornius. a deacon. who was OF the :owr
Of Bannauen Taberniae. He was also o.
aristocratic birth. his father being
decurio. that IS. one OF the council o.
magistracy OF a Roman provincial town
Here ST. Patrick was taken captive in
his sixteenth year, with many others
and brought To Hibernia. or ireland. Hi
own words. With many thousands
others tcum tot militia hominum), az