Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-03-20
ST. PATRICK LECTURE

/
Ing, delivered a very instructive
and interesting historical lecture In
the Baptist church of this city last
evening. TIE subject OF bis lee
ture was Patrick, the Apostle OF
Ireland He said 10 part:
Patrick of Ireland was not an
imaginary character as many sup
posed him to be. He was real
man, of fl Ssh and blood, the same
as you and I. He had high pur-
p2ses In life, strcpg character, ne
was Crhist like man and very sue
cesstul as religious and civil re-
former of Ireland. 1t Is high time
that the people of this civllize1
world know more of the life and
character of such a mighty man. 1t
Is true that the golden threads that
surround his life and work were
unraveled, In order that we may
know him and see him as he really
was True, ancient history and
records give us very little OF his
real work, and if the sixty.six diff
ferent works on his life give such
varied dates and accounts that we
must be very careful In what
knowledge we do get OF him.
Even the date of his birth and death
are not known 10 be correctly re-
corded. His first name was Victor,
but he was afterwards known as
Church Patrick. perhaps because
he was so successful In establishing
and building churches. The place
of his birth is believed to be Britain
instead of Coll. The probable date
of his birth was $50. He was of
Scotch descent instead of Irish.
His childhood was spent upon a
farm with his father, Calpornius,
who was Christ.like man and held
the Office of deacon In the village
church. His grandfather, Potitus,
was a preacher So from his early
childhood he was taught religious
purposes, but was not converted
christian at the age of Is when he
was captured and sold as a slave
and taken across to Ireland. His
mother was an Irish christian, and
an owner of immense herds of cat.
tie, so the six yeas Patrick spent
In captivity were on the mountains
as herdsman, and: alone most of the
time. Clothed in rags, pinched
with hunger, he had ample time to
think of God and soon began to
pray. Finally he heard voice
while asleep, saying unto him,
Thou prayest well, return to thy
country: see thy ship Is now ready"
He Immediately believed this to be
call from God and ran away from
his master. started towards the sea,
distance of one hundred miles,
God guided and he feared nothing.
Upon arrival at the harbor BE found
the ship ready to sail, but
ragged and dirty as he was, he was
refused passage; what to do he
hardly knew, but sought out an
hut and began praying. Soon a
messenger was sent from the boat
saying the captain had changed his
mind and would take him. After a
three days sail they were landed
on shore, but had 20 days walk
through the wilderness. But he and
some comrades of the ship started
out. They met with much danger,
and battled with storms and were
finally without food. The leader
turned to Patrick and said, You
believe In a mighty God, and that
he will supply our needs, now, why
don't Oh pray? He must send US
food, If we ever see our friends
again"
He then told them of his love for
God, reproved them tor their dis
belief and behavior towards God
and asked them to repent and pray.
He himself then pra, ed long aud
fervently and the next day they
came upon herd of wild swine,
which answered bis prayer and
supplied their needs. They re-
spected him from that moment and
his God that he told them OF.
After a weary march andimany
severe hardships he reached his
parents after six years of sepeia-
ton. Soon after this he was re-
captured and this time taken to
Coll, but succeeded In escaping In
two months. His captivity was his