Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-03-21
TRIBUTE TO
ST. PATRICK


Patrick, given by the Sunday school
at the Grove Presbyterian church on
Saturday evening was quite success
and was very well attended, the chapel
being packed.
The program with the exception Of
DR.. Mccormack address was render.
ed by chilrden of the Sunday school,
VINO did very well, indeed. The songs
and solos were well rendered, while
the tableaus were produced with an
effect that showed great deal of care
in arrangement and drilling.
The address Of Rev. DR.. Mccormack
on ''St Patrick as He was in Mytho-
logy and as He Really Was" was list
ened to with deep interest and proved
highly edifying. -. -. 80
Before entering upon his discourse
DR.. Mccormack exhibited a specimen
of real Irish shamrock, grown on Irish
soil, received by a. resident. Of Danyille
Saturday. The sprie OF shamrock left
Ireland ten days ago and on its arrival
here was very much withered. AL
though the shamrock reached Danville
only on Saturday the person receiving
it generously parted with it for the
time being that it might be exhibited
at the entertainment given at the
Grove church in honor of lreland's
patron saint. :a& :. ...
Later in hi's discourse Dr.. McCor
mack explained how it happened that
he shamrock is invested with such
interest and why it is held so sacred
by Irish people. ST. Patrick. was ex.
pounding the doctrine of the: trinity
to a doubling audience, who failing to
comprehend the sthree- in -one'' were in
danger of rejecting the new or Christ
ian religion. The saint stopping down
plucked sprig of shamrock, which
with its three leaves growing ON one
parent stem, very effectively illustrat-
ed how there could be union of three
persons in one godhead.
No attempt will be made to produce
Rev. DR.. Mccormack excellent ad-
dress in full, but the sentiment is 80
fine and there is so much relating to
st. Patrick that is new to the general
reader that the following synopsis of
the address will be given:
st. Patrick's day may seem to some
a most absurd anniversary, but in it
can be seen the homage of the heart to
disinterested and selfsacrifcing good
ness. 1t is not an ignoble sentiment,
this grateful remembrance. You may
laugh at the Irishman and pity his
superstition, but you should not de-
spise the sentiment which impels him
to venerate the great evangelist to
whom he owes his Christian faith.
st. Patrick birthplace is not knowD:
certain it is he was not born in lie
land He died in the fifth century.
There are many reasons for believing
that he was native of Scotland. 1t is
said that he was brought to Ireland as
slave. Escaping after. seven years of
servitude he spent several years in
study. Converted to Christianity and
equipped as a missionary he remem-
bered the people of his slave life and,
with twenty other missionaries. he re-
turned to Ireland and made to the
Celtic people the offer of Christian
ity. He sought his former master.
Nulcho, chieftain of County Antrim,
and endeavored to convert him. He
sought first the conversion of the king,
princes and chieftains of the land.
Paganism was powerless before his
might and zeal and finally gave way;
druidism lost it's spell. Men were ed
ucated and ordained to. the ministry.
Schools and universities were found
ed.
AS we read the brief records Of st.
Patrick's life that have come down to
US we think of him as man Of gener-
Gus heart, keen sensibility, capable Of
toilsome and wearisome labor under
the inspiration of burning passion
for saving souls; The people he con-
verted were fierce, sensual and idolat-
rous.
Yonder, the august yet unambitious
form stands out against the back
ground of the ages. Through the mists
of thirteen centuries reverend eyes
still gaze upon the brave heroic mis-
sionary, teacher, saint-his hands up
lifted in benediction upon the people
of his loving care and paternal coun
sell