Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-13
St. Patrick a Real
Figure in History

said: Thou shalt remain with them
two months" He wandered north.
ward, finding refuge in an isiano
cloister off the coast of Gaul, Where
he remained only a few days before
returning to his native Britain.
Shortly after his arrival ne hao
vision which convinced him that MS
life work was to carry the gospel to
the Irish. In his dream he was ap'
preached by youth holding bundle
of letters, which Patrick recognized
as the voice of the Irish" Reading
a letter extended him by the youth.
Patrick seemed to hear the cries or
the folk who dwelt near the woods OF
Fochland back of his masters farm
begging: 1--WE pray thee, holy youth,
to come and again walk among us as
before"
This settled the matter, and in spite
of the entreaties of his friends and
relatives, Patrick Immediately return
ed to Gaui and entered monastery
to prepare himself for his mission. HIS
project was considered rash. and he
was thought to be unqualified, because
of his rustic manners and lack OF cul-
ture. Consequently, he was not en-
couraged and 1t was only by sheer
persistence that his dream was real
lied.
Twelve years later another church
man was sent to ireland. But the
pagans proved too much for him and
he left within the year. This proved
Patrick's opportunity and his long
vigil was rewarded when he was or
dained Bishop of Ireland the following
year.
ireland at this time was divided into
districts, each owned by q tribe. which
was ruled by a chieftain or king"
Below the king were four castles
those having wealth In land or cattle;
the freemen, who owned no property.
but farmed rented land; the herdsmen,
and the laborers of various kinds. Out
side of all these classes were the bonds
men and slaves carried to Ireland from
other countries. A sort OF king-elect
dwelt at Tara.
Little is known of the religion of
the early Irish. 1t Is evident that
there was no belief which could be de-
scribed as national, for there were no
temples and no organized priesthood.
However, scattered throughout the
country were to be found open-air
affairs and idols - especially In the
form of pillar-stones-and 1t is prob.
able that the sun<was looked upon as
a deity. The belief in fairies and evil
spirits was widespread, and the pictur-
esque Druids, with their long white
robes and shaven heads, We're the wiz.
ards who claimed the power of exor-
| cising these magic beings.
st. Patrick's first act upon reaching
| Ireland was to seek his old master,
| with the idea OF purchasing freedom.
so as to avoid all danger of recapture.
But the master, hearing of his for
mer slaves approach and fearing vio-
| lence, shut himself in his house and
set fire to 1t. When st. Patrick, zeal
Gus to convert his master, arrived on
the scene and beheld the smoking fu.
neral pyre, it is said that he stood
for two or three hours dumb with sur.
prise and grief"
Realizing that 1t would be suicide TO
attempt to convert the tribe against
| the wishes of the chieftain, and feeling
anyway that the tribe would be con-
siderably swayed by their rulers con.
version, st. Patrick wisely devoted his
| first efforts to the chieftains, or kings.
Here he was opposed by the Druids.
whose duty 1t was to advise the kings
and educate the kings children. Pat
rick appeared, not denying the ability
of the pagan priests, but announcing
that his God had power over every
spirit that they could summon, and to
meet them on their own ground had
exorcists in his train to take care Of