The Irish standard., 1907-03-16
ST. PATRICK.

All nations honor and revere the
memory of their war chieftains, their
statesmen, their orators and their men
of letters. 1t is a fact worthy Of note
that the Irish nation places at the
head of q long line of distinguished
persons the name of religious teach
er. st. Patrick. the patron saint of
the Irish nation. is remembered be-
cause he converted the Irish people
from Paganism to Christianity. The
h.Etory of that conversion is unique,
Il parallel. In an incredibly short time
and without the shedding of blood, ST.
Patrick led the Irish people into the
fold of Christianity; not portion of
the nation. but the entire people. 1t
was not a work which required GEN.
turtles, or a work that was brough.
about through the influence of power
fll monarchs. but Il work that was
accomplished in a few years when peo-
PiS anu SlileltdiiiS dilkc were per-
suaded by the character of the teacher
and the doctrines he taught.
st. Patrick introduced Christian
civilization into Ireland about the mid
die of the fifth century, a. D., and,
from that time until this, the Irish
people have adhered, without single
break, to tho Identical doctrines
preached by him. In this also his work
is unique. German, Gaul, the Scan
dinavian countries, England and Scot
land We're at different times, through
different influences converted to Chris
tianity. Unlike the Irish nation they
have swerved at different times from
the doctrines that they first adopted.
The work OF St Patrick was rapid,
complete and permanent. From the
time of its conversion, Ireland became
for many centuries the home of saints
and scholars" From the day of ST.
Patrick until the Danish invasion
Ireland was tho center of learning for
all Europe. While the savage hordcs
Of the North invaded the provinces of
the Roman Empire, ireland, which lay
outside of the beaten path of these
savage hordes. remained Il place where
the arts of peace, Christianity and
civilization were taught From its
schools and ,nonaStorioc want fort1,
the missionaries who converted Eng
land. Scotland, the large portion of
continental Europe. With the invasion
of the Danes in the ninth century
came the destruction of Ireland's seats
Of learning the suppression Of it's mis-
sionaries and teachers and the country
remained until the eleventh century
under the influence of the conquerors,
but the religious principles taught by
ST. Patrick prevailed through it all.
The Irish people lost their schools,
much Of their literature was DESTROYED,
from d nation of scholars it became a
nation of illiterates, but they still re-
manned loyal sons of st. Patrick.
The Irish people We're an easy prey
for the Norsemen because the country
was divided into several petty king
doms, each under its own chieftain.
About the close Of the eleventh CEN
tury, there arose in Ireland another
man who deserves to be mentioned in
connection with st. Patrick He was
not teacher but a military chieftain.
Brian Boroihme united all the people
and forced the Danes from the shores
of Ireland. For a period of a century
and half it appeared that the former
glory of the Irish nation would return.
The work of the military chieftain was
not as permanent as the work of the
religious teacher. Factions again pre-
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