Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-04
- $500 nnhthe nrnenn.

/ bC GI tOrHn ilhDOl, III MS Dtcilhc
and rail- OF the Roman Empire, asserts
Uai the pairon saint of England WAS
George OF Cappadoc:a, the turbulent
Ari.n bishop Of Alexandra, torn to
pieces Ivy the pJpulace IN 3G0 A. l.. and
rcyercd as q saint by bis followers. This
assertion. however, is authoritatiycly
dispoyed by the historians Mllnor,
lilm8n, and others The true saint
was George OF LYDIA, who was un-
dountel,y % yeritable character and is
known to have been a native OF ATmo-
Ica. and To have been heheaded IN Do
cieuaus persecution, April %, SOB !.
j. Critics arc generally agreed
tha. II is TO tins person that tuseblus re-
fc,s IN ms " Ecclesiastical Histories III
Speaking Of ca man OF no mean origin,
but highly esteemed for his temporal
dienitics." who when Dlocictians edict
against the Christians was posted NJ IN
Nicomod.u. took 1t down and tore 1t IN
pieces. As the Emperor was then in
the city, this deed brought upon the
offender quick and cruel punishment.
The fame of the noble sufferer for
conscienc sake soon extended through
ali the provinces whore the Christians
were represented. \ Greek inscription
dated ai6 4. D., on an ancient church
pa Ezra. Syria, speaks OF George as
holy martyr. ST. Jerome, st near the
snme time records ms name IN the
mauyrolORy of the church. Constan-
tine the Great built church over the
tomb of the saint near Lydia, AMI IN tho
next Coutuy a number OF churches were
built to his name. Pope Gelasius j., IN
1919. sanctioned the honors paid to tins
mnryr, hat declared the miracles as
crihod TO him IN popular legends 10 he
unworthy OF credit. hs 10 his connec-
ton with English history, Ashmole IN
his &" History OF the Order OF the Gar
Ten" says that King Arthur IN the sixth
century placed the picture of 81. George
ON his banners, and he was also
honored in the country in Anglo
Saxon times. Uudor Canute a mOuGs-
terry OF -. George was founded at
Ibctiord ST. George, Southwark, was
built little later, and IN the reign OF
tle Conqueror u collegiate church of 81.
George was built at Oxford. in 1922 II
council at Oxford dectted that 81.
GEORGES should be a national holiday,
ana ma 1870 Edward III. made hm the
pntron OF the Order Of the Garter. The
story of 4. George and the Dragon may
be REGARDED as \ common allegory meant
80 express the triumph OF the Christian
over evil or perhaps It IS confusion OF
the identity OF the patron saint with that
of q mythical st. George OF Coventry,
whose story rs given in ballad form IN
Percv's " 6elques. Richard Johnson,
IN ms book, lhe Seven Champions OF
ChrlstcndOm, written about the middle
OF the seventeenth century, gives this
story of ST George Of Coventry: lie
Was one of tho heroes of tine crusades.
After fighting Valantly against the
Saracens he went 10 Sylene, city Of
Iibya. where there was stagnsnt lake
infested 10y huge dragon, whose poison
GUS breath chad many city slam,
and whose hide "no spear nor sword.
could pierce. Every day virgin was
sacrificed to 1t, and at length 1t came to
the lot OF Sabra, the Kings daughter, 10
become its victim. She was uei 10 the
stake and left to he deyoured, when II.
George came up ana vowed to rescue
her. On came the dragon, breathing
blood and hamo, when the valiant hero
thrust his lance into It's capacious mouth
and killed 1t on tho spot. After EN-
counteriug considerable opposition GA
the part Of the young lady's proud
relatives, ard having been imprisoned
in a dungeon. from which he miracu-
lousy escaped, Young Lord George car
ried offthe fair s'ahra to England, where
she became his wife, and they lived hap
PLY at Coventry until their death. Il Is
very possible that this popular tale was
invented 10 account for the aliegorical
representation OF the conflict OF the true
81. George aud the spirit OF evil, and
thus illustrates the ignorant literary ten
dency oil tue age.