The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-03-22


kirkpatrick. near Glasgow. in Scot
land. took it's name from ST. Patrick.
The saint was born about 372; was
a captive and slave OF the king of
Dalaradia. In Ireland, from 3SS to 395;
went to Gaul and was there ordained
priest: was consecrated bishop and
sent to Ireland as missionary In 49,,
and died at Saul, near St-angford
Tough. County Down, Ulster. where
many years before he had founded his
church, March II, 465. the day now
sacred TO his memory.
Ireland was then occupied by a
great number OF petty tribes. most of
whom were evangelical by Patrick So
we'll was the work accomplished that
ireland was known in subsequent cen
turtles as the island OF saints and
scholars"
dealing cautiously and gently with the
old paganism OF the people. The chief.
tains were first won over and then
through them their clans.
or ST. Patrick himself much that has
been related Is fabulous. but his au-
photographed confession and his epis.
tie 20 Coroticus. both Of which are un.
Questlonably genuine, reveal a devout.
simple minded man. and most dis
Greet and energetic missionary.
In his epistle he states that he was
OF noble birth and that his father,
Calphurnicus, was Roman deculro.
His Mother, Conchessa. or Conceis.
was the sister OF st. Martin of Tours.
The family OF the saint is affirmed
BY the earliest authorities 10 have
belonged 10 Britain. but whether the
term refers 10 Great Britain or Brit.
tany or other parts of France Is not
ascertained
Some OF the quaint stories told In
Ireland about st. Patrick would make
the traveller imagine that the saint
witty guides, or 10 promote mirth In
wet weather II is not remarkable
that the subject OF these stories for 16
centuries, at countless hearths, has
been regarded and is today honored as
the greatest man and the greatest ben.
efactor that ever trod the Irish soil,
and considering the versatility OF the
Irish character, II Is not strange that
there remains respecting the saint a
vast cycle OF legends-ser'ous pa.het.
ic and profound
Ii could not be otherwise. Such q
panpla ronld mt bava fprCnt.av A. h.
foic figure who led them forth I'm the
exodus from the bondage OF pagan
darkness. In many instances doubt.
less has the tale become tradition.
the foliage OF an ever active popular
imagination. gathered around the cen.
trail stem OF fact: but the fact re.
NAMED
A large tract OF Irish history IS
dark: but the time OF ST. Patrick and
tho three centuries which succeeded
II is clearly. as depicted by history, a
time Of Joy. The chronicle Is song
Of gratitude and OF hope. as BELTS the
story OF nations conversion 10
Christianity.
The higher legends. which. how.
ever. do not profess 10 keep close 10
the original sources, except as re.
CARDS their spirit and the manners OF
the time. are found In some ancient
lives OF St Patrick. the most yalu.
able Of which Is the "Tripartite Life"
ascribed by Colgen TO the century aft
er the saints death. The work was
lost for many centuries. but two con
les OF II were rediscovered, one of
which has been recently translated nv
an eminent Irish scholar. Mr.. Hen.
messy.
The miracles. however. recorded IN
the "Tripartite Life" are neither the
most marvellous nor the most interest.
Ing portion OF that life.
Whether regarded from the religious
or philosophic point Of view. few
things can be more instructive than
80 Dietais vAiah u ssa,xeNsss q m