Evening star., 1904-03-17

perfectly understood. When he departed the
entire Irish society was firmly based upon.
the Christianized family.
Golden Age Of Ireland.
TT was~.of course, impossible to trans
form the Irish family from its pagan con-
dition to the dignity of a Christian family
without affecting the Irish state. AS the
family is necessarily what the individuals
are which make 1t up. so is the state
morally and socially the outcome of the
family life, strong with all its strength and
weak with all its weakness. The three CEN
turtles which followed the death of St Pat
rick were the age of gold of the Irish state
peace and plenty within. honor and re-
spect without The institutions of the
Christian religion flourished. The native
laws and customs were approved by st.
Patrick and commission of the, Kingdom.
after rejecting what was against the law or
nature or the divine law. The life OF the
people was regulated by the feasts of the
church. beginning with Easter. Every
Sunday they gathered in their little
churches to hear the word of God and to
partate of the divine banquet of the body
and blood of Jesus Christ. They learned
to love and admire the mystical body or
Christ the Holy Catholic Church, and to
prize their membership in that body above
all the things Of earth.
I'VE honor Saint Patrick. therefore, as
true follower of Jesus Christ, second TO
none who have abandoned all things to
walk in the footsteps of the Redeemer. in
Itself that would be enough to justify the
enthusiasm of Chrstians-the thorough
conquest of self will always remain in their
eyes the noblest way to confess Jesus
Christ. But the man and woman of Irish
descent can never fail to love Saint Patrick
for a more selfish reason. he was their
benefactor. 1t Is said that in his time they
were worshipers of the sum- perhaps the
most excusahle kind of idolatry More than
once Saint Patrick took occasion of their
idolatry to remind them of the true Son,
the Son of Justice that enlightens the life
to come and not the transient days of
earth. He Himself was like the sun among
the Irish men and Irish women of His day,
shedding genuine light on all the problems
Of their souls and restoring the darkened
knowledge of God their Creator and
Provider and Savior.
Among the children of Erin the Cath
olic faith either dies or lives. it seldom
laHgushes. They are the uncomprising
family of the Catholic Church. among the
Oldest of her children, and among those
who have longest stood by her In good
report and in evil report, In the midst or
plenty and comfort and again in tn eraging
fires of persecution. 1t has been their glory
a, some epochs in the worlds history, and
again 1t has been their sore reproach, when
the old Catholic mother was stripped OF
authority and esteem. But thank God, we
hold our way along the path of history
satisfied that there are no higher nor better
nor Surer promises tndn tNOse ol the Sdtu-
Ole Church. More than once God has
smelted us with other races and nations.
Today He Is again performing that divine
alchemy on scale so broad and so com
prehensive that we may well believe that
He has some immense and glorious design
of His own that will be revealed in His own
good time.
Pray for Best Interests Of Ireland.
Finally, is 1t out of place that In this
holy temple we should remember on this
day to pray fervently to God for the best
interests of Ireland? Most Of her un-
speakable sorrows have been the result of
her devotion to the Catholic faith. Again
and again the dawning of the day of
restoration of her ancient freedom has
been swallowed up in sudden night The
peoples Of the world progress in freedom
and justice and social happiness. Only to
her-a genuine benefactress of humanity
slowly and niggardly and with much jeal-
ousy is doled out small portion of what
is emphatically her right.
ireland is pre-eminently the land of
Saint Patrick; 1t Is In every sense his crea-
ton. And while we entertain any love or
veneration for him we can never disinterest
ourselves from the cause of Ireland, never
cease at least to pray that God may lit
her up once more in honor, may reward her
for her glorious perseverance, and may
make her again such land of freedom ana
earthly happiness as she once was and yet
deserves to be-"
AT the conclusion or the services IN the
church the members of the Ancient Order
Of Hibernians filed out the doors and
formed on each side of the walk which
leads to the pastors house. Through the
aisle thus formed the visiting clergymen
and celebrants of the mass passed on their
way from the church.
The members of the order will further
celebrate st. Patrck's day with banquet
at the National Hotel tonight when a num-
Der of prominent members Of Congress and
public men will make addresses.
st. Patrick's Day.
correspondent sends this poem to The
Star. saying:
''This poem about st. Patrick perhaps
has not been published here. 1t was given
me by an old Irish lady of 'Ss:
The eighth day Of March 1t WAS some people say
st. Patrick, at midnight he first saw the day.
Some fought for the eighth and fought for
the ninth,
And who wouldn't see right why they blackend
his eye.
Till Father Mulcahy. who showed them their sins,
Said: Boys, don't be always dividin', but some
times combine.
Combine eight with nine, seventeen is the mark.
Let that be his birthday" Amen" said the
clerk.