The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-22
ST. GEORGE.
The Festival OF the Patron Saint OF
England.

Tomorrow being the 23d OF April, there arrives
again in the round Of ''notable days the one held
especially sacred to the memory OF st. George, Eng
lands patron saint. OF course 1t Will then behooye
every faithful subject Of her Brllannlc Majesty,
Of John, Sr, to observe the time at least with some
degree OF formality.
Latin and Greek Churches he shares the honors OF
the 2sd OF April with divers other Saints, but the
Saxon martyrology has dedicated it to him alone,
and since the Conquest his festival has been
duly honored by the devoted Britons
AS is the case with many other saints his worldly
career is involved in considerable mystery Accord
ing TO Butler, the most approved authority on the
Catholic Calendar, St George was OF noble Christian
parentage and having entered the army. rose to
high rank therein But he had the misfortune TO
live in the evil days of Diocletan aud that blood
thirsty, Christian-hating heather having shamelcssly
prosecuted the sect of religonists to which st.
George belonged the latter was induced thereby TO
withdraw from the army that he might, with some
show OF prOpriety upbrad the tyTan for his cruel
ties In doing so he made a sad mistake, from a
worldly point OF view for II resulted in his losing his
head. In spiritual sense, however, this was the
most fortunate thing that he could have done as he
WAS, IN return, at subsequent PERIOD raised to the
klgh dignity OF salntship.
We are inclined to discard this theory Of his life
since we find no mention Of a dragon therein, and
the connection OF st. George with the Dragon is
something that must not be severed. We therefore
much prefer to believe that he was born some time
alrlng the second century, in Epiphania; that his
father was mere fuller; that he amassed large
fortune by unscrupulous practices in supplying the
army with bacon; that he was forced to abandon his
maae Jealous profession Of Arianism, and became
Archbishop OF Alexandria; that he there plundered
the pagan temples, and oppressed Christian and
heather alike with eXactions; that he was expelled
by rising OF the people, but soon reinstated 10y force
OF arms, and again cast into prison. and there mur-
dered by the infuriated populace. This raised him
TO the dignity OF martyrdom in Arian eyes and in
the course OF two or three centuries he came To he
considered saint of the very first rank, and the
patron OF chivalry and arms. In this last capacity
long after he was dead and buried, he fought
Valiantly during the crusade at Antioch and Acre
and tradition likewise has 1t that, once upon time,
he slew dragon in Lybia thereby saving beautiful
maiden from painful death.
At different periods he became the patton saint OF
Sicily,s Aragon, Valencia Genoa, Malta, and other
localities well as OF England, IN addition to having
numerous knightly orders named in his behalf. In
1874 his festival was made memorable by the creation
in England OF the Order OF ST. George, or the Blue
Garter; since when he has continued to grow steadily
ia favor with the English people, The day Is duly
observed In this and all other cities where natives O
England reside, by banquetihgs and general social
Iejoicings
Among the other societies in this city which will
tomorrow celebrate the occasion is tile Society O
the Sons OF 81. George. They will have their custo
mary supper.