The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-12-10
.oHURoH NOTES.
8. A RARE THANKSGIVING DAY.

an account OF a national Thanksgiving, o,
the other side of the globe, worth the tell
ing and hearing. 1t is not very man,
months since the newspapers were max.
ing daily report OF sffairs in Samoa-th'
attempted usurpslion Of the government
by German agents, and various outrsge'
upon the natives IN which, however
the accounts may have been exaggerated,
there was sufficient cause for the iuterfer-
ence of friendly powers. The United
States aud England promptly afforded re-
lief, by protests, war-ships, and wise ne
gotiaiions. German oppression and dis
regard of treaty rights, soon came 10 az
end, and 6y peculiar and most favorable
treaty, the three nations bound themselves
to maintain the political freedom and self
government of the Samoan people.
"The greater part of these are now
Christians, and they fully realized the
goodness of God toward them in crown
ing their patriotic struggles with success.
The king aud his government only acted
| 10 accordance with the national desire
when they set apart day for national
thanksgiving and rejoicing. The churches
all over the island were crowded at the
morning aud afternoon services. AT the
Apia Church, of which King Malietoa is a
member, so large crowd assembled that
no building 10 Samoa was large enough,
and The service was therefore held In the
open air in front of the kings house. The
Malua students conducted the singing,
and the service, which was of strictly
devotional character, was marked by
much solemnity and patriotic feeling.
Malieloa and his wife set a little apart
under canopy. Addresses were made
by Protestant missionaries and pastors.
At the close of the meeting, Mataafa, the
Roman Catholic Chief, who figured Sc
largely in the late war, came forward TO
congratulate Malietoa. The German Con-
sui, DIR. Strubel, and many of the leading
residents of Apia, attended.
There was general conviction, as the
great assembly dispersed, that this thanks
giving service, apart from Its specially re-
ligious significance, would be of much
benefit to Samoa, in allaying old jeal-
ousies, in cementing old friendships, aud
10 reviving a universal patriotic feeling
throughout Samoa"
Samoa is but o minute speck on the
map, in the far Off South Pacific. But 1t
sheds CLEAN of clear Christian radiance,
reaching to the remote OF the elder ciyiliz-
alton and the longtime profession of Cos
pei faith.
II would not hurt us, after century OF
national independence, to take some points
from the example OF this latest-born ma
ton, little ocean-b bound Samoa, for our
imitation on such days as the Fourth OF
July and the November Thanksgiving.
T. SAINT NICHOLAS.
In the old fashioned square almanacs
still published In some of the Pennsylva'
mia towns, as well as in the English
Church Calendars, the sixth OF December
is marked with the name OF this Saint.
But who was st. Nicholas and what
interest has he for people nova days
History informs us that he was a man oil
great holiness, in the third and fourth
centuries after Christ; that he was alb.
bot of the monastery of Holy Zion; and
afterward Bishop of Myra, in Lycia,
where he died A. d. $40. Tradition, less
certainly, adds many records OF miracles
performed by him.
Curious customs have clustered around
his memory, in various countries OF Europe.
as we'll as in England. He is the reputed
patron and friend Of the young, especially
OF scholars and in the public schools al
Elton and elsewhere, his day was cele-
brated with great solemnity. The domes-
tic Germans still commemorate him under
the home-roof. On the preceding eve,
December 6, person In the costume of n
bishop assemblies the children of family,
or a school, aud distributes among them
to the good children, gilded nuts, sweet
meats and other little presents; TO the
naughty ones--a no less suitable "reward
OF merit !" The writer has in his posses
sion an old engraving representing such
scene. The good little boys and girls are
happy aud hilarious over their blight
gifts while the wilful and wretched little
chap who composes the other class, rubs
his fearful eyes with his jacket sleeve,
and woefully glances at the bunch OF
birch rods lying in broad earthen dish
beside him-''in soak, as one should say.
This Saint Of many vocations is regard
cd also as the patron OF sailors, of parish
clerks and OF thieves who are dubbed
''knights of st. Nicholas" Because of
the nearness OF bis festival to Christmas,
or for some other reason, he has been as
ISOLATED in the popular mind, II not made
identical, with the Dutch Kriss Kringle,
or Santa Claus. He was great favorite
with the Dutch settlers Of New York, as
the readers Of the Knickerbocker's Histo.
ry may remember; and the Saint Nicho-
las Society of Manhattan Island, ii is said,
still observes his festival annually, with
great merriment.
DR.. Clement q. Moore's immortal verses,
beginning "'Twas the night before Christ
mas," bear, in tho original edition, the
title OF "a visit from st. Nicholas.
ssFafr pfavD