Gilpin observer., 1919-03-13
tRev. M Mennis)

The conversion of Ireland to Chris
tianity through the instrumentality of
st. Patrick stands alone in the history
of the Church for it's peaceful character.
it's thoroughness and the rapidity with
which 1t was effected. In the many ex-
ceilent sermons that I have listened to
or read on this subject during the
course Of fairly long life, the differ
for this rapid and complete conversion.
They dwelt particularly on the natural
ly bright and logical character of the
Irish mind. on the advanced stage of
culture and civilization that obtained
among the Irish of st. Patrick's time,
and last. though not least, on the pre-
eminent sanctity, matchless zeal and
untiring energy of our national apostle.
These causes. doubtless, contributed
largely to the gratifying result Of maxi
ing Ireland thoroughly Catholic nation
1t seems to me. however. that an
other cause. seldom II ever mentioned
by preachers on this subject, was large
ly responsible for the ready and peace
full acceptance of the true faith by the
Irish people. This cause. which no doubt
will appear strange and improbable to
persons uniformed in Irish history, was
that Christianity had been preached in
many districts Of ireland long before
the coming Of st. Patrick. and had
been joyfully embraced by large num-
bers Of the Irish people.
Before producing, as in duty bound,
historical proof of this statement. read
ers of these lines will kindly permit a
pardonable DEPRESSION to show by reas-
enable deduction that the people, or
many of them. were quite likely to
have obtained knowledge Of Christian
truth before the beginning of st. Pat
rick's mission. From the time that the
Milesians (the ancient name Of the Ir-
ish) took possession of Ireland, that is
to say. about a thousand years before
the birth Of Christ, 1t appears from
their histories, as quoted by modern his
torians, that they had some knowledge
of the true God and of the revelations
made to His chosen people in primitive
times. They acquired this knowledge
from intercourse with the Israelites dur
ing the captivity>in Egypt, for the ear
lier Milesians had sojourned there, after
their departure from Scythia, their or
iginal home. There were still powerful
ers Of the Red Sea when the larger sec
tion of the race had become a settled
nation in northern Spain. They seem
to have retained this knowledge of the
true God down to the reign of Tighern-
mas. the seventh Milesian king of Ire
land. who first introduced idolatry
among the people. Naturally the Irish
did not escape the inclination to idol
airy common to all nations of that day.
an inclination marked even among the
specially favored of God. His own chos-
en- people. The light Of primitive rev.
elation. which they originally obtained
In Egypt, was somewhat dimmed by
this tendency to idolatry, and 1t was
| obscured still more from intermingling
with the Tuatha- De- Danaans. race
of idolators who were in possession of
| Ireland at the time the Milesian colony
arrived In that country. But though
these evil influences undoubtedly wrought
deplorable change in the spiritual con-
dition of the Irish, It is not unreason-
able to believe that the religion OF the
! patriarchs which they had retained for
| so many centuries exerted a powerful in
fluence In preparing the national mind
for the acceptance in Gods good time
Of the great truths of Christianity.
In those distant ages. when communi-
cation between widely-separated coun-
| tries. II It existed at all. could be car
ried on only after very slow and primi
tive fashion; when there existed neither
newspaper. postal service. nor deep sea
cable. naturally events even Of the high
est Importance were known only In the
immediate neighborhcod OF their occur
renee. or II knowledge OF them was
ever acquired by foreign nations. 1t was