Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-03-14
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

|
Irishmen of all creeds and denomi-
nations as the birthday Of their
patron saint, Patrick. There is a
story that once there was dispute
between two factions. one claiming
that the patron saint was born on
the eigth, the other, that he came
| to this world on. the ninth OF
March. AS the quarrel could not
otherwise be settled. the 18th was
decided upon by the simple COM
promise of adding eight and nine
together. But there appears to be
no reason for doubling that ST.
Patrick was born at Kirkpatrick
Cor Dumbarton) in Scotland, Or
perhaps in France. in the latter
part of the fourth century. on the
day usually kept as his birthday
st. Patricks day is purely nation
al celebration irrespective of any
religious belief.
ST PATRICKS LIFE.
Wherever an Irishman makes his
home. there an altar to ST. Patrick
is established and on the seven
teenth of March trail of green
enriches the globe. The shamrock
from the old sod reaches faraway
places and decorates thousands of
gallant Irishmen, who by the SYM
Dol proclaim their devotion to St.
Patrick. This year, owing to war
and the uncertainty of the future,
the celebrations are somewhat sad
dened.
Historians tell us with unfailing
zest that st. Patrick was born of
Godfearing parents in the year 372
of the Christian era. The little
that is known of his youth has been
sadly garbled by chroniclers who
being ambitious to produce some
thing new, seem to have forged
some points of the history. OF these
chroniclers some are, no doubt cor
rect, but which? On this account
some painstaking writer has given
us the facts as far as truly known
and with these we must be con-
tent.
In 3S7 he was sold as a slave to
full slave, Ireland seemed Godforsa-
ken and overrun by fiends of evi
Z power There was no church, nc
sacrements. He could find no prizes
|
to religion. He was "alone among
scoffers and the worshippers OF
craven images"
/ His life of prayer and self-sacri
flee continued during the long year,
of his term of slavery, which were
three. Finally freed from his bond
age, he entered the priesthood, al
he had so long desired. After h,
had finished his studies, he was or
dained. and the zeal of his soul be
came a conflagration AS many de
vout souls have prayed to do, h,
wished to convert the whole world
and as all desire. he prayed pathet
ically to wear the martyrs crown
France knew of him, and there h,
labored for time, as he did in 1t
ely and the Thyrrhenion sea islar DIS
But it was to Ireland his hear
: turned most eagerly and he wa
permitted a vision in which he saw
the people of Erin stretch fortl
their arms to him in supplication
. and this vision determined him t,
4 undertake the difficult task of th
: conversion of Ireland He travele,
to Rome to get permission of tn
: pope and submitted his labor an,
himself to that high dignitary. H
was consecrated bishop and. having
received his instructions and having
: been blessed. he began his ,journe
to his new mission.
The inhabitants of Erin wer
considered in an advanced stage o
civilation. and St. Patrick began hi
labors by denouncing Druidism, as
tonishing it's followers by the won
derful deeds he accomplished in tn
HoHS Vi nou, anu llttIe ny lltll
they believed and accepted tn
mysteries of the true religion. H
: explained to them the mysteries @
the Trinity by picking from the so
: a shamrock and discoursing on 1t
: trefoil leaf on one stem; then o.
: the cruciix he explained the brit
of the Christ and the purpose O
his death and the beginning of tn
church. The religious fervor Of 81
Patrick appealed to the warm heart
of his listeners and his teaching
swept Ireland like a confagration
8 Gods churches rose out of Druidi
: cal ruins and the houses of Druid
: became monasteries. Bearing alof
: the banner of his Master. St. Pat
: rick's travels over Erin were tri
: umphantly successful.
1t is not given to many worker
3 to see the fruits of their labors. bu