Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-05-15
MAY.
Fifth Calendar Month.

Hail, bounteous Mayl that doth inspire
Mirth and youth and fond desire;
Woods and groves are Of thy dressing;
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
l. ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMEs.-The
st. James commemorated this day is the
one who was cousin, and has been call
ed brother of our Lord; to distinguish
him from the other James; he is styled
the Less, because he was the smaller, or
the younger He was remarkable for
his simplicity and piety, and gained
great influence in Jerusalem, of which
city he was the first Bishop. This so en-
ragged the Jews that they hurled him
from pinnacle of the Temple. He was
not killed by the fall, but was able to
get upon his knees, and in this posture
was killed by clubs and stones. OF St.
Philip but little is known beyond what
is stated of him in the New Testament.
Tradition says that he was married, had
several daughters, and that he preached
the gospel in Phyrgia.
8. INVENTION OF THE CROSs.-The
day is in cOmmemOration of the En-
press Helen finding the true cross. She
undertook journey to the Holy Land.
A d. 326, for the purpose. On arriving
at Jerusalem, she commenced digging at
the spot where it was supposed to be bu-
ried, and at some depth discovered the
crosses. A dead body was applied to
them and came to life the moment it
touched the cross on which our Lord
had been crucifed; the others being the
crosses of the two thieves. The EN-
press built church on the spot, and car
ried with her to Rome a large part OF
the true cross.
%. ASCENSION DAY.-HOly Thursday
in commemoration of the day Christ ''as-
cended into heaven, led captivity cap
tive, and opened the kingdom of heaven
to all believers" 1t is celebrated forty
DAYS after Easter. On this day the pa
rochial bounds are beaten by the charity
children, who are attended by the beadle
and other officials. Formerly it was the
custom to fog or bump some of the chill
dren at the bounds, in order that these
localities might be impressed on theil
memories.
10. ST. DUESTAE was born in the isle
of AlalOn, and early assumed the mon
astic habit, with all its austerities; but
built cell near the Abbey of Gloston
bury, and employed himself in gold
smiths work. The great enemy of souls
foreseeing his future greatness, tried in
various ways to seduce st. Dunstan, who
on one occasion, seized the flend by the
nose with pair of red-fOt tOngs. Al
the age OF 21 he restored Glastonbury
Abbey, then in ruins, and became Alb
bot. He was banished by Edwy, bui
was recalled by Edgar, and made Arch
bishop of Canterbury, in which Office he
died. A. ID. 9SS.
26.-ST. AUGUsTINE.-When Pope Gre
CORY determined to send mission to En.
gland, he selected st. Augustine, then
prior of Roman monastery, to head the
forty monks. Apparently neither st
Augustine nor st. Gregory was aware
that England had been more or less a
Christian country, although at that time
in retrograde condition. st. Angus
tine landed in Kent in 500, and convert
ed King Ethelbert, whose wife Bertha
was French Christian Princess, and
had brought over her own chaplain. st
Augustine introduced and insisted upon
the observance of the Roman ritual, but
was strenuOusly opposed by the native
Bishops. He was cOnsecrated Arch
bishop of Canterbury in 597 and died in
604