The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-18


 lambs, and the harps of the hords that were strung erstwhile to praise fair mafden's beauty, and brave warrior fame now resounded with the praises of Mary and the glories of the triunc God,
 Overthrow IdOIatOrs.
 ''The fame of the conversion or tne princes and chief men of the nation snread through the island with light ming rapidity. and Patrick. like good general who, after a successful pat tie follows up his advantage and cuts in pieces ~the enemy's dlsorganized forces, immediately set out for the nopuIous centers of Ireland. The very next day. Easter Monday. he preacheu at the great annual fair of Teltown County Meath. and then went to the Plain of Genufiections in County Cavan. where he overthrow the tdoia- trous temples. then he went westward to the shannon into Connaught. and, as at Tara. went first to the royal palace. where. after converting the king and the chiefs he went among the peo- pfe. He went thence to Ulster. thence south to Munster, where at Carshel Of tbe kings he met multitude of nrinces. hords and druids who all ac- cepted eagerly the saving truths and were baptized in the saving waters or hantisD,. Thence into southern Luns- ter. and then uorthward Into Armagh where he founded the primateai see and spent the last years of his lire III solitude. penance and prayer. HOW hanpy these last days must have been Through the length and breadth or the land the altar and the cross have sup plarted false idols. hill and dale re- sound with the praises of the one true God. the country is studded with churches. Holy bishops and priests
 aaA E-lr ina Hn the zeal and spirit of St. Patrick guard inc new converts. monasteries spring up as by magic: tho young, the noble. the beautiful, the fair consenate soul and body to Christs service. For the first time, throughout all irelano' Gods praises are sung by virgin lips.
 "The sons of the Irish, writes the saint and the daughters of kings who are monks and virgins of Christ are too many to enumerate
 Filled with consolation and heav- enly joy, after life of austerity ana successful toll. Patrick died, and lald his own merits, and the faith and vir- tue of an entire nation converted by his labors before the great white throne of God.
 This then was the immediate fruit of Patrick's work, whole nation con verted. But what are the glorious abiding results of that labor? Let us glance briefly at the history of the lrlsh Churches for an answer.
 History of Irish Churches.
 During the three centuries inme dlately succeeding the conversions ot Ireland the land earned the proud title Island of Saints and Scholars, Tor while the continent was being devas- ted by Northern Invasions, Ireland at peace. was studded with schools and monasteries, and the scholars and cler- les of its persecuted countries came to Ireland and were received in their schools. taught by fheir professors, supplied by the Irish people with food clothing and books for then, as now, the Irish people were warm searted and generous, and gave to these strangers a hearty cead nutle failthe. Dr. Petrte. a candid Protestant writer, tells us that Greeks, Egyptians. Romans. ltal- fans, French, British. Saxons fIowed into Ireland. The names of many Of these are preserved in old Irish Mart grologies.
 But not alone in Ireland was felt the effect of St Patrick's work St. Patrick bequeathed to his successors something of his own indomitable zeal