The Ordway new era., 1906-03-16


dimensions of st. Patrick's work In
Ireland There is the old view that
he first introduced the Christian
religion and converted the who'e
island, and there Is I've view. pro
pounded by Prof. thinner. that the
sphere OF his activity was merely
small district in Leinster. The second
opinion Is refuted by n critical eNami-
nation OF the sources. and by It's own
incapacity to explain the facts, while
the first cannot be sustained because
clear evidence exists that there were
Christian communities in Ireland be-
fore Patrick arrived.
But the fact that foundations had
been laid here and there does not de-
prive St. Patrick of his eminent sig
Iihcance. He did three things He
organized the Christianity which al
ready existed. he converted Kingdoms
which were still pagan. especially In
the west, and he brought ireland into
connection with the church OF the EN-.
pire. and made It formally part of uni.
yersal Christendom.
These three aspects of s.. Patrlck's
work are illustrated by J. y. Bury. for
merly fellow OF Trinity College. Dub
lin. and now regius professor in the
University of Cambridge. in n volume
of 400 pages. t"Thc Life of St. Patrick
and His Place in History" issued by
the Macmillan company The sub
ject attracted the eminent scholars
attention not as an important crisis In
the history OF Ireland. but. In the first
place. as an appendix of the Roman
empire illustrating the emanations of
its influence beyond its own frQntlarn,
and. In the second place. as a
episode in the series OF conv
which spread over northern
the religion which prevails to
Doubts OF the very existcuc1
Patrick had been cntertain(
other views almost amountct
thesis that II he did exist he
himself but n namesake. II
once evident to Prof. Bury
material had never been critI(
ed, and that II would be nee
begin at the beginning. aim
nothing had been done. Id
where much had been writ
Concerning the work OF Tc
, subject. he acknowledged
learning and critical acumsl
out pre-emlnent from the M
historical literature which
cred round St. Patrick. vet h
doubtful about every fact d
with Patrick's life.
Souaht the OriqjnaI
Prof. Bury's Justification oftlZS pres
ent biography is that II rests uron n
methodieal examination of the sources.
and that the conclusions. whether
right or wrong. were reached without
any prepossession. His conclusions
| tend to show that the. Roman Catholic
conception of st. Patrick's work Is
generally nearer to historical fact
than the views OF some anti.papa!
divines.
The conversion of ireland to Chris
tiani,y has. as Prof. Bury points out
It's modest place among those mani
fold changes by which new Europe
was being formed in the fifth century.
The beginnings of the work had been
noiseless and dateless. due to the play
OF accident and the obscure zeal of
nameless pioneers but 1t was organ.
lied and established. 80 that 1t could
never be undone. mainly by the efforts
of one man, Roman citizen OF Brit.
ain. who devoted his life to the task
THE child who WAS destined to play
this part in the shaping of new Eu.
rope was born before the close OF the
fourth century. perhaps in the year
3s9 A. ID. His father Calpurnius, was
Briton. like all free subjects OF the
empire. he was Roman citizen: and
like his father Potitus before him, he
bore Roman name.
"Calpurnius called his son Patrfcius
But II Patricius talked as a child with
his father and mother the Brythonit
tongue OF his forefathers, he bore the
, name OF Sucat. He was thus double
named. like the Apostle Paul. who
: bore Roman as well as a Jewisf
lame from his youth up But anothe,
Roman name. Magonus. is also ascrfn
ed to Patrick; and possibly his full
style-as It would appear In the towr
registry when he should come OF ag,
to exercise the rights OF a citizen
was Patricius Magonus Sucatus."
Partick Became q Slave.
As the son Of a deacon. Patrick wa
. educated In the Christian, faith. an,
was taught the Christian scriptures.
] When he was in his 18th year
heet OF Irish freebooters came to tn
! coasts or river-banks In the neighbos
! hood seeking plunder and loadinI
!. their vessels with captives. Patficl
was at his fathers fArmstsad. and VA
one Of the victlms, l1an-sesvants an,
naidsefvaats wsrs takea, but hia pai
! eats escapod. H ~ eoFrled no IN
sltlesss 3lsss /! Y !! 81 y Z l!s !! 4! I. = \