The Bismarck tribune., 1929-03-16
ST. PATRICK

Tomorrow the Christian world-and especially that
part which is Hbernian-wl celebrate the birthday Of
saint whom all denominations may venerate the
church was not yet rent Patrick born per-
formed his missionary abors and died So his fame and
his sainthood may be equally claimed by all denomina-
tions and matter Of ecclesiastical descent and
heritage It is beginning be claimed for the world
recognizes his greatness in the spread of Christianity
which his abors brought about in period when Chris
an progress measured In the recession OF paganis
This is the status Judge John Burke gave the saint In
his talk to the Rotary club Wednesday
But If all churches may lay claim to Patrick as one
Of their saints 1t is not given all lands regard him.
He the saint Of Ireland alone While he wrought
for the church. he also accomplished for the Emerald
isle In fact his great accomplishment Is considered to
have been bringing Ireland into touch with western
Europ, in the fifth century, more particularly with Romc
which was then the seat Of culture. the arts and
religion
The story of the saints life is largely OF legend
and tradition. but that he was man of kindly spirit
great spiritual power and possessed of striking genius
for his evident the transformation he wrought
In Ireland He became part Of the history of that land
for coming to the island missionary after he had
spent prior sojourn OF six years there as war captive
slave. he identified himself with the Irish as one of
them and became q great driving force in all their
activities In that early day.
Tho Ireland Of today must retain traces of his moral
and civic influence we'll his religious labors Woven
into its fibre they surely animate the land the
today modestly activating under the of the
centuries
SO also. in that relation ST. Patrick has been carried
to ether lands and nations by the tides OF Irish mgra-
tion. He Is close to America historical and benefi-
cent figure because of many and daughters
the Emerald isle having transferred their home the
land Of the free and the home of the brave people
zalou for freedom and Of passionate bravery attested
on thu battleelds of the world and many causes thus
share him with America.
Historically ST. Patrick is inscparable from Ireland
With reverence for him go thoughts OF the galantry
the poetry romance and sacrificing spirit Of his adopted
land After long period Of oppression and an un-
yearnng for autonomy that often expressed
itself IN bitter struggles and blood ireland today
itself One need only to recall the civil strife OF the
last score OF years that resulted in the final establish
ment OF the Free State to understand how Ireland
rescued itself as St. Patrick would have rescued it from
tyranny 1t was accomplished when reason supplanted
oiind brute force Ireland might have fought until her
last man lay dead amid the ruins of the Green isle
Sainy for the right to rule herself She might have
0een LETT q desolate and barren desert in futile
atempt to cast off the gives which CALLED her. Some
- nl- leaders had the wisdom to perceive that: they
bent their energies to winning by moral suasion and
oucce .ded.
9he has thrived In agriculture and industry Her
4armers are on solid basis: her manufactures are
growing she has been favored In trade relations by
England The scars Of bitter wounds are healina the
memofy Of dark days Is growing dim in the sun Of
Brighter days: she stands the threshold Of the morn
g under the benediction let US believe Of her patron
Naint at last.