The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-03-26
Later Irish Scholars Spread This Learning
and Christianity Through all
Northern Europe
All the Foremost Nations Of the Modern
World, Including Our Own Country,
Owe Much to Ireland.

halls and forts of Tara. The Brehons
or lawyers had codificd the laws which
gave Sir Henry Maine his best mate.
rial Agriculture was sllillfully carried
on Social life, with chivalrous tradi-
tions, humanized the nation Embroid.
cries and tapestries were worked by the
women.
We have ample evidence of the con-
structive power Of the period in the
magnifcently carved banquct-halls, and
in the massive pyramids. like that Of
Rrugll on the Boync, which served as
pagan shrnes and tombs. Further
more, we know from the songs Of the
baltls that social life was highly de-
velopcd. the great freedom and honor
were accorded to women. The rule of
Maeve queen of Connacl,t, and the
record of her separate riches illustrate
this. as does also the story of the gold
en-haired Crede, of whom it was said
that "thcre was scarcely gem or an
ornament in all Erin which she had not
received as n lovc-tokcn from one Of
her many suitors." The imaginative
and poetica power of the people
reached their crown in the days of the
warriOr-p0ets Find, and his son Ossian,
whose genius still shines through the
songs and ballads of theirs which have
come down to us. The age Of Fergus
MacltOeg and Cuculain, taken with the
| rich, imaginative life of Find and Os-
| sian, gives us the flower and consunl-
| nation of Ireland's heroic centuries.
The life Of the natural man was per.
fected as far as it could be; the finest
qualities of vigor and strength were
drawn out. But along with all this
progress there were many dark shad-
ows. Continual warfare brings it's ills,
and hardens the heart Of man, until
the destructive instinct becomes deep
ly rooted. It was high time for the
gentle influence Of Patrick's mission.
For four centuries, Christianity had
been spreading its gentle light through
the East and the Roman world; but
had not yet reached the coast Of Ire
land. Not until the year 432 was she
to receive the Message of the New
Way. The story Of Patrick's coming is
familiar; how, when a lad, in the Ro-
man settlement beside the Clyde, In
North Britain, he was taken captive in
n raid, and carried away slave into
Ireland; how he herded cattle, through
snow and storm, on Slemish mountain
in Antrim; how he received his first
illumination, and was led to escape,
returning few years later, mission.
airy and apostle, fired with zeal to con-
vert and save the Irish; how he slowly
and laboriously succeeded, overcoming
all obstacles and daring much through
his divine inspirations; how kings and
their followers knelt before him to re-
, ceive baptism. awel by the beauty and
aloquence Of his teachings. He teffs
it all in his Confession.
Patricks first church, or meeting.
, , place, was barn at Saul, on the hills
, above Downpatrick, given to him by
Dlchu, chief of the district. Ard Maca,
or Armagh, became the chief strong.
hold of his influence. 1t would be too
long a story to tell here his progress
through the island, his many hardships,
and the converts he made. For sixty
years he worked for his adopted chill
dren," and was finally laid to rest close
to his first church at Saul.
I Saint Patrick and his immediate fol-.
lowers founded many churches, mon
asteries and schools, where, side by
side with the teaching of Christianity,
: the study of the ancient classics was
tcarried on, Latin, Greek and Hebrew
were taught through the Bible and the
T Fathers of the Church. The students
l were inspired by an intense spiritual
and moral life; yet purely intellectual
{ and artistic ideals were also followed
! with zeal and power. During the years
after Patrick's death, the schools were
!, full of admirably skilled copyists, pro-
e ducing many manuscripts Of earlier
7 works, commentaries, and new trea.
e tises; 80 that every school and monastic
T. a t4i tsls