Augustine, Saint (354-430), one of the most renowned fathers of the early Christian church. He was a native of Numidia, educated at Carthage and at Rome. In his youth he appears to have been rather a wild young pagan; but on his conversion to Christianity he became one of the pillars of the church. He rose to be bishop of Hippo, now Bona, a seaport of Algeria. An order of monks, calling themselves hermits of St. Augustine, or Augustinians, formed in north Africa, has since spread to various parts of the world. Luther, it may be remembered, was a monk of St. Augustine. The Augustinians are well represented in Cuba, the Philippines, and in the United States. Augustine left a large body of writings in Latin. They are regarded with respect and have wide influence. Longfellow acknowledges a suggestion in the following lines: Saint Augustine! well hast thou said,That of our vices we can frame A ladder, if we will but tread Beneath our feet each deed of shame. Nor deem the irrevocable Past, As wholly wasted, wholly vain, If, rising on its wrecks, at last To something nobler we attain.