The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
A DEFENCE OF
SANTA CLAUS
He is Not a Myth But Rarner an His
torical Entity.
HIS BIRTHDAY DECEMBER SIXTH
In Time. However, IL Became TO BE
Associated With December 28th,
When All Hearts Are FILLED
With Love and Good Will.

Tt is custom Of some people about
this period Of The year TO make an attack
upon Santa Claus. ana while l DO not
purpose 10 couch a lance in his behalf.
1 must yet be excused for putting mp "a
shield and buckler n only Tor the sake
OF loyalty 10 Lang sync.
II Santa be "A myth and certain
other things worse than myth, as tho
fanatics say. then there is little Use .n
deridiug him, for who wastes his time In
attacking a man of straw2 But he i3
not a myth. Rather an historical en-
tity who died i'm the full ado OF sanctity.
and though escaping actual martyrdom,
suffered Imprisonment and otherwise tes-
titled 20 the faith under the persecution
of DiOclesian.
so strong We're his devotional teu-
denotes, even from infancy, that We are
grayeiy informed that he refused TO suck
on Wednesdays and Fridays, the fast
days appointed by the Church
Chambers Book OF Days" has this &c
say Of him under the name OF St. Mich
olas. and that Santa Claus. Kris Krinkie
and ST. Nicholas are only different nameI
for the same saint. Is proposition that
need not be discussed.
ST NICHOLAS.
Perhaps no saint has enjoyed "A more
extended popularity than 81. Nicholas.
BY the Russian nation he has been
adopted as their patron, and in England
no fewer than three hundred and seven
ty-two churches are named I'm his honor
He Is regarded as the special guardian
of virgins. Of children and of sailors
Scholars were under his protection. and
from the circumstance Of these being
ancicntly denominated clerks. The fra
ternity Of parish clerks placed them
selves likewise under che guardianship Of
ST. Nicholas
y touching legand is narrated OF him.
too long for Insertion here showing how
he saved three virgins from a life Of
shame.
From this incident arose the practice
Of the elder members and friends Of
family placing on the eve OF St Nicholas
Day. little presents, such as sweetmoats
and similar gifts. In the shoes or hose OF
their younger relatives who attribute
them 10 the muuincencc OF 81. Nicholas
I'm the converts the young ladies' hanged
up their stockings, commencing them
selves 10 ST. Nicholas"
There Is much learning about st. Nicho-
La which Is heartily commended TO those
who deride him. and they. are respectfully
referred TO the standard work quoted
above HIS birthday was December 6th.
not December 18th. hut in time his name
got 20 be associated with the later date.
most likely because on that day is cele-
brated the birth { the God child when the
hearts Of an humanity are filed with love.
The bestowing Of gifts has. in all ages.
been considered one Of the best manfcs-
tations OF love
CHRISTMAS DAY
II we are to give up all the legends.
good and bad alike. then Christmas itself
VIII assured'y have 10 CO. There Is not
50 much even as difference of opinion
about Christmas being a myth The best
authorizes an agree in raving that the
one thing certain about Christmas Is that
Christ was not born at that time. Tho
time Of the winter solstice. when the Gays
begin 10 lengthen and the sun. apparently.
d come nearer 90 ms. was The occasion
oil a great heather festival hundreds Of
years before the Christian era began. The
Druids kept high festival then. as did all
the sun WOrsHiDDers The Catholic
church which was practically then the
only Christian church. with the wise fore
sight that has always characterized o..
adopted this festival as i,s own in order
TO conciliate those who already kept o.
SEVERAL YEARS OFF.
No Christian church holds that th0 18th
day of December is me birthday of our
Iord. The BOOK or common Iftf IT "''N
not say "at this time. bat cas- 40 This
time" Indeed so far from knowing the
day e il believed that our era f. several
years of I'm chronology. and thot th year
of grace g. I'm fact 1893. and nor l>'. see
John A. Broadus commentary ON 81 Mat
tfcw
But this by th.' way. We DO NOT Kno"
the day. bat fl H. vel to Keen and to cole
hrate one day 90 ihe birthday of our
Lord. And 10 keep 70 with sladness ana
merrv markings has b'en me hamt or
Christian peoples time 0If of mind.
II will l., an evil uwo whom n IS other
wise. Then may "a man come eating and
drinking without feing either 'slut'on-
ops man or "A wine hibher.' then II man
choose neither tO eat nor 10 drink. LEI him
fas, and also iet him lot other neop'n
,icre Nor VIII Christian people enjoying
coco on earth and wishing good viii
a,,o,o mon say ~ him as son'e Of his
co,tor,rors-ies said Of John. that he
hath f. devil
And welcome 20 Santa claus and hanpi-
go 20 aU the little children who are
e,,d and make merry then "as Of tho day.
~ f;od-child came into the word ard the
co,,rfs Of high heaven hang With hosannAs
"a Him that taketh away the sins ~ The
"a" w W s
December %. 1897.