Co-President's Report
for March 2004
As I sit here writing this contribution to our newsletter, the wind is howling outside and the blizzard is raging. It's proving the old saying "If March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion" to be true as ever, global warming or no global warming. At any rate, it's winter's last hurrah and we can look forward to the coming spring.
St. Patrick's Day...March 17th...Remember when we were kids in school and everyone tried to wear something green in honour of St. Patrick? We knew he was an Irishman but I don't remember anyone ever telling me who he really was and other than driving all the snakes out of Ireland, no one ever told us what other claims to fame the old Saint had. I did a little research on the internet and here is a brief history of St. Patrick courtesy of the Catholic on-line Saints website:
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. The Apostle of Ireland who was born at Kilpatrick near Dumbarton in Scotland in the year 387. St. Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland on March 17, 461.
Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone's Irish. There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick but this is his story.
Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies. As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him. During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer...he wrote..."The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have soaid as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain".
Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty years old when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.
He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to some and walk among us once more". He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.
Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland on March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after the chieftain was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.
Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and His disciples preached and converted thoughsands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message. Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac (all later cannonized as well).
Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died on March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.
WHY A SHAMROCK?
Patrick used the samrock to explain the Trinity and has been associated with him and the Irish sine that time.
There you have it...a brief history of Ireland's Patron Saint. If you wore green on March 17th, then you remembered St. Patrick and his contribution to the history of Ireland. Let's keep tradition alive and well as it's part of our heritage too.
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At the March meeting, our Dutch Auction raided over $140.00 for the club and everyone came away with some unique little thing or things. A good time was had by all and the meeting was quite lively with Brenda, Conne and Scott to name a few who shared some interesting hobby related stories...Brenda;'s tale of the fellow who had a stomach full of coins, swallowed one by one...Connie's interesting story about the history of the Neutral Indians and the search for their original habitation site near Grimsby...and Scott's story of doing a moonlight search for Neutral Indian Burial sites near Brantford. We encourage members to tell us their stories and experiences as we have all had them, especially as our hobby exposes us to some strange and interesting adventures and characters.
Don't forget about our Wet/Dry Hunt in Port Dover on Saturday, April 17th. The lake bottom has been rearranged by winter ice and storms so there should be some goodies out theres just waiting for your water coil. The beach should also be worked over by the winter ice and manybe there are some nice coins and jewellery just waiting for that coil to pass over.
OK Gang! Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14th and we'll look forward to seeing you there. In the meantime, GET THOSE DETECTORS READY FOR A SEASON OF GOOD HUNTING!!!
Best Regards.
Eugene Whitelaw and Bob Stephens.