The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-17
ST. PATRICK SDAY
. WIDELY HONOREO.
Richmond Will Do It's Full
Share Of Wearing Of
the Green.
WILL HOLD CHURCH SERVICES
Hibcrnians TO Attend Mass and
Have Banquet i'll Honor
Of Day

This is the day when the sight OF
spray OF shamrock from All Irish hill
side. or even a piece of green ribbon.
awakens in typical, wholesome Irish
man "a love rs high as the round
towers and as deep as the holy wells
Once year thrill Of mutual re-
ME mbrance and sympathy runs through
the scattered children OF the Irish race.
upon which the sun never sets. II ST.
Patrick never did anything beyond
being responsibility for the genial,
hearty. memoried festival that bears
his name, the Irish nevertheless would
owe him deep debt of gratitude. C;aul.
roman, Briton, Scot Spaniard or what
ever he may have hcen--and time only
complexities tho controversy as to his
nationality-the Gaelic eneration for
his name and character has continued
through long ages to he loyal
and steadfast. Even outsiders.
who never trod the shamrocl sod,
take special and kindly interest
In st. Patrick's Day Large numbers
OF them join cordially In the wearing
OF the green.
Flcnty of Them Here.
y large percentage of the people in
Richmond are Irish, and proud OF it.
Nobody on the face Of the earth is
more proud Of his nationality than
The Irishman.
IN the military history of their
adopted country the Irish have borne
an important part. and the members
OF the race in Richmond have been no
less conspicuous on the field Of battle
than were their fellow patriots in
other parts of the country They were
equally prominent in the Confederate
i,, +, re ~
In many parts of the city the social
life OF the Irish centres around the
Order OF liibernians, and the number
OF p1cnics and other entertainments
given each year tend to bring them
into closer relations
To-day will witness numerous en-
tertainments and functions among tho
Irish.
Church Services.
Bishop Van de Vyvcr and all ar Tho
Catholic clergy Will begin the day with
impressive ceremonies this morning AZ
1850 o'clock when solemn high mass
VIII be celebrated In ST Patricb's
Church. Father Thomas Waters. of
Danvillc Will deliver the pancEyric.
Father James "a. Brannan will be celc
hrant: Father David Coleman, deacon.
rather Joseph Cihum, subdeacon, and
rather H. J. Mckecfrey, master of
ceremonies. -Four divisions OF the A.
Q. II. will attend the service.
The church viii he elaborate,v
decorated for the occasion and the
stars and Stripes will be used extern
sivcly, with the Irish banner
Following mass. resident priests viii
entertain Bishop Van dc Vyycr and
the visiting clergy.
Tonight q banquet for 400 Will be
given BY 81. ratrics's Benevolent and
social society, following which an ex-
tcnSiVe musical program will he car
ricd out This viii take Mas "a" :,
Liberty Hail Twenty nth and Rroad
streets.
The llihcrnians Will have a banquet
tonight in the old Sacred Heart
church, Floyd Avenue County Presi-
ncht Frank +, Mcneil will be toast
ma stcr on this occasion. and there WI,
he numerous talks by members.
Nhnt ~ known of His Life.
hngland Scotland. Wales and France
nave each claimed the honor Of having
given birth TO Ireland's patron saint
but the bulk OF traditionary evidence
which is all we have, seems 10 be in
favor OF scotland. His native place
seems 10 have been Nemthur. nov.
p,inbarton. then a Roman province
and the date OF his birth is generaIlv
thought TO have been about A. d 3o5
Ills original name was Succath. patrI
Gus being the Roman appeuative by
which he was known, indica tipe that
ne came OF patrician family. Can.
snfed by pirates and taken 10 Ireland
IN his sixteenth Year. he was sold 10
petty chief, whom he served as q
swinehcrd for six years, during Which
lllhc ne claims to have been miracu-
icuSiN converted while tending his
locks. Effcctins his escape. he went
20 france according to some Of his
hiographers--to England according ~
o'hcers--and prepared himself for The
priesthood '''e'
of the writings Of st. Patrick but
Two LATIN manuscripts have been IRE.
Sc eeo --hls Confession" and a letter
addressed 10 Coroticus. a Welsh chter.
tam, VINO had captured several of pat
!ich irlSh converts. In his confessions
he tells us that lie was miracI,o,,s,,.
called Of God in a dream to the sacro,
MISSION or converting the Irish. n mis-
sion IN which he was confirmed ~,
Pope Cciestine ~
returning TO Ireland he devoted HI !
life 10 the CHARACTERIZATION of nor
PIE, and is said to have founded 'at5
churches and to have personally hon-
tized 1000 converts. The date OF lie
neh. i IS assigned 10 various widely
Sundered years, some writer's nlac,ns,
It as early as 45S and Others as 1a,e
as i9S '' ia'e