The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-03-16

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Observation-Disclosures
Wherever there are Irishmen, and
there are few countries in the world
in which they are not found, March
18th, the anniversary of the death Of
st. Patrick. Patron of Ireland, is al
ways remembered. 1t matters not
how great or few their numbers in
any particular locality, or how re-
mote the place, the simple ceremony
of wearing bit of green may always
be observed. And the ceremony,
though simple, is quite expressive. For
the green is the distinctive emblem
of the Emerald Isle which developed
out of the use st. Patrick made Of the
little green shamrock
The story of st. Patrick's CONVEX
sion Of Ireland is in many ways
unique. 1t is fascinating story for
the Irishman and an interesting story
for any reader regardless of race or
creed. st. Patrick was a man of
powerful personality as wei as Won
derful faith. He is a landmark in
history who has been regarded by
many historians as second only to the
Apostle Paul. st. Augustine, st. An
selm and st. Thomas are known for
their contributions to philosophy and
theology. ST. Patrick was not a
great scholar. as he repeatedly con-
cedes in his confessions, but he did a
distinctive work which has Influenced
j the course of history more than the
works of any Of these, for he chris
tianized an island which was few
centuries later 10 become the lamp of
learning for all Europe.
Early Irish Society.
In order to understand st. Patrick's
mission i'll Ireland it is necessary to
understand the organization of society
which he found there. To begin with,
it must not be thought that because
Ireland was pagan country it was
a land Of no law. The Irish with
whom st. Patrick had to deal were
pagans, but not savages. AS early as
fourteen centuries. B. c., according to
generally accepted records, the inhab-
itants Of the Emerald Isle had acquir-
ed considerable efficiency in working
in bronze and iron. 1t should be no
surprise. them: to find society in a
fairly complex state of organization
at the beginning of the fifth century,
A. d. AS matter of fact we do find
it so.
At this period the island was d.
vided into small districts each owned
by a tribe made up of number of
clans or families who believed them
selves to be descended from COM
mon ancestor. These tribal Kingdoms
are represented in modern Ireland by
baronies which still preserve the name
and the general outlines of the orig
inal divisions. The families of the
tribe chose king from one of their
number whose duty it was to preside
over the destiny of his limited en-
pire. Under him society was divided
into several grades. First in rank
were the mobiles who were the land
owners. Next IN the social scale were
placed those who had wealth, such
as cattle or other personal property.
The third class consisted of freemen
who had neither land nor property
but who farmed the lands of the
mobiles for which they paid rent. Last
~, came the laborers Of the various
kinds who enjoyed the protection of
the tribe.
Throughout the country there were
many of these tribal kings whose ter
ritories We're we'll defined and who
ruled over them entirely independent
of one another. But the country was
not made up Of SO many isolated
Kingdoms. Instead it was divided into
six provinces, Cashel, Connaught,
Laigin, Aileach, Ulaid and Oriel, owe,
SoSAA VI "AANA kAcAc "d6 d hIll8 OIl
whom the tribal kings were depend
ent. The provincial kings, while in
dependent of one another, were in
turn responsible to the Ard-Righ, or
High King, whose royal palace was
at Tara. Thus, the government of
early Ireland was organized in an as
, cending scale of kings over kings.
Early Forms Of Worship.
The statement which is often used
as proof of the existence of God,
namely that no people was ever yet
found who did not practice some
form of worship. finds no exception in
the case of Ireland. The form which
prevailed most widely at the period
with which we are concerned was sun
worship. There was, however, no or
ganized religion which was In any