Newark post., 1911-03-15
St. PatriCk--A Life Filled
With Adventure

Somewhere between 3o5 and AIS A.
D., lrelands patron SAINT. whose ori-
ginal name was Succath, was born at
Bonnaven, Scotland, not far from
Glasgow. Some writers identity the
place with Kirkpatrick. In his confess
sions he informs us that at the age Of
IS he committed venal sin, which his
enemies 80 years later revived to pre-
vent him from being ordained bis
hop. When he was 10 years old he
was handicapped by band OF pirates
who infested the Clyde, carried to Ire
land. landed at the Giants Causeway
and sold into slavery to an Irish chief
tain. Those were hard days for the
bay, who up to that time had shown
no interest in religion, although he
must have received religious instrrc-
ton from his father Calpernus, a dea-
con in the church, and his grandfather,
Potitus, a presbyter. The story OF his
religious experience as a slave is re-
corded in his own words. i was I6
years old, and ! knew not the true
God: but, in a strange land the Lord
brought me to the sense OF my unbe-
lief, although late, minded ME OF my
sins, and turned with my whole heart
TO the Lord my God, who looked down
on my lowllness, had pity on my youth
and ignorance; who preserved me ere
! knew Him. and who protected and
comiorted me as a father does his son.
ere | knew how to distinguish between
good and evil"
For six years he served as a slave,
and then laid his plans for escape He
succeeded in making his way to the
coast, where he was taken on board
ship and finally reached his home tc
bring JOY to the hearts OF his parents,
who had long mourned him as dead.
his lie ior ten years Continued to be
uneventlul, 1ntil, it is said, he was
second time captured by pirates and
carried TO Gaul. Alter having been
ransomed he returned home filed with
missionary zeal. Even in his dreams
he saw himself engaged in missionary
work. In one dream he beheld man
from Ireland approaching with hands
extended as suppliant and pleading
with him in the burning words, I'VE
entreat thee, holy youth to come and
work among us. About 432 he took
ship for Ireland, and began his work
OF % years to free the Irish people
from cruel Druidism. His six years
o. captivity had made him familiar with
their language, and he was equally ia
miliar with their customs. He knew
how TO get an audience He beat a
drum. which was a signal for the peo-
pie to leave their rude abodes and as
semble in the fields. There he preach
ed, and the people were deeply affect
ed by his earnes ness and sincerity. He
fearlessly exposed the frauds perpe-
trated by the Druid priests, and he
lined UP the chie.s on his side. His
labors were arduous: ior his advice
was sought on secular as wei as riel-
gious affairs. w hen the occasion cali
ed for it, he was stern in enforcing dis
cipline. A British cheftan headed d
pra.icsl expedition that captured some
converts OF Patrick and sold them into
slavery. Patrick demonstrated with
Corotic, who claimed to be a Chris
tian, threatening him with excom-
munication from the church. unless he
repented of his sin and made iull re-
paration. The chieitain remaining OBJ
durate. Patrick put his threat into ex-
ecution.
He built $40 churches, and also es-
tablished schools OF learning, and in
vented an alphabet for the Irish Ian
guage. Those schools served their
purpose; they gave permancy TO the
truth preached by Patrick
He died in the harness, and full OF
honors, and his bones S eep in the land
he helped to save rom heathenism