The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-12-01
For THE RECORD.
THE OLD SQDARE ALMANAC.

THE OLD sQD4RE ALMANAC..
| November 20 introduces to us a name dear
to the English heart, and high on the roll Of
humanity, Sir Philip Sidney. Born ON this
day, 1904, and dying in 1856. his brief life
proved long enough to develope scholar. a
soldier, poet aud counter; above all, a
Christian gentleman, one of the brightest
stars in the galaxy of brilliant men that sur
rounded the throne of Elizabeth His birth
was noble, his college education careful and
thorough, and supplemented by foreign travel
and study. When only twenty two he was
sent by the Queen of England on an embassy
to the Emperor of Germany, 10 the interests
of the Protestants Of the two countries, and
discharged his difficult and delicate task with
rare ability. In the retirement of Wilton
House be write the Arcadia, a philosophical
romance. that Shakespeare admired and often
initiated and soon after, the Defence Of Poesie,
critical work of great merit and these two
works are the pillars Of his later fame as an
author but during his lifetime his Sonnets
were highly admired. Sidney was elected to
the throne of Poland, and only missed Of be-
ing King because his Queen would not
spare the grandest gentleman from her court.
He Offered his services as soldier, on the Pro-
! testantlside, in the wars of the Netherlands,
aud fell, MORALLY wounded, IN athe battle of
Zutphen. Even in death his true knighthood
displayed itself, that noblest of Christian vir-
tues aud couity graces that thinks and cares
for others before ones self. Having begged
a cup of water, as he raised it to his lips he
saw the eyes of a Wounded soldier turned
wistfully upon 1t. s"This mans necessity is
greater than mine. he said. and resigned the
cooling draught TO the poor private. He
fingered in suffering for twenty days, and
then died in his wife's arms, October 10, 1885,
mourned, as he had been loved and revered
by the whole nation. Shakspeare's portal.
ture seems meant for Sidney:
The courtiers soldiers scholars e, e. tongue, sword
III The expectancy and rose q the iair state,
The glass of fashion and the mould OF form,
The observed oi ali observers"
itf
November 30 is St. Andrews Day; and the
convenient rule. alike Of Almanac aud Church
books, is, that the first Of the four Sunday in
Advent is always the Sunday nearest to st.
Andrews Day. 1t COMMONLY said that this
Apostle is chosen thus to lead, as it were, the
company of holy men in the Christian year,
because of his prompt obedience to the Saw
ours call and because, too, lie was the first
Of those whom Christ called to be His
disciples.
But the last day Of November is historical
ly assigned to him, AZ being the actual date of
his nartyrdom and the,sleath, Of no other
martyred Apostle is recorded with such full
details as that of ST.. Andrew. To him was
assigned, as his missionary field, the region
now known as Turkey in Asia, with that por-
tion of Russia which borders OH the Black
Sea. Sebastopol, Sinope and Constantinople
are espe tally connected withThis name. In
extreme age he visited Greece, and came to
Patras, where the Roman governor command
ed him to desist from his gospel preaching
This, of course, the veteran of the Cross could
not do and even the wife aud the brother of
the governor became converts to the Christian
faith. At length he was condemned to be
sconrged and crucitied. The cross being made
in the form of x (stil known as ST. Andrews
crossA to which the Apostle was fastened by
cords, that 50 his death might be more linger-
lug and cruel
As be came within sight of the cross, he
saluted it with affecting piety. Hail, pre-
cious cross that has been consecraed by the
body If my Lord aud adorned with His limbs
as with rich jewels. come to thee exultiug
and glad receive me with joy into thine
arms. Long have desired and sought thee I;
now thou arr found Of me and art made ready
for my longing soul Receive me into thine
arms, taking me from among men, and pre-.
sent me to my Master, that He who redeemed
me on thee may receive me by thee"
For two days the Martyr preached from the
cross then he prayed to the Crucifed One
that be might depart in peace, when his
prayer was heard aud his spirit went
home" Noveuibef 80, A. d. 20.
He was buried at Patras. but in after times
his body was removed by Constantine the
Great to bis new imperial city, whence. tradi-
ton says, 1t was carried, by St. Rule, A. d.
1853, to the city of St Andrews, in Scotland.
However that may be, It is certain that Scot
lauu Das LOT many centuIleS cihihleu nim ds
Patron Saint ; and the Scotch, wherever they
may be, celebrate bis day as national festi.
val. He has similar honor among the Rus.
SLAMS, because he preached to their Muscovile
ancestors in Scythia; and be- is regarded as
the Patron of the Scottish order of knight
hood-the Thistle-and Of the famous Aus
trian Order of the Golden Fleece. X.
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