Iron County register., 1919-12-25

has not come to us from the
people who so wantonHy abused
the children Of France and Belgium. When we
call st. Nicholas Santa Claus" we are merely
saying in our own way "San Nicolaas," as the peo-
pie of Holland say 1t. For the Hollanders who
settled in New York and New Jersey 300 years
ago at the very beginning Of our country brought
san Nlcolaas with them, and it was not long be-
tore Americans were saying "Santa Claus"
why, st. Nicholas belongs to all the world
auhareds OF churches in England bear his name
4nere are more than a hundred ST. Nicholas
cnurches in Belgium. Thousands of such churches
are scattered all over Europe.
Inc queer thing about it is that St. Nicholas
was really born in Asia Minor in Panthera, in the
province OF Lyca, in the sixth century St. Nicho-
las OF Bari, he Is oftenest called by Europeans but
only tne Dones OF st. Nicholas reposing for eight
centuries IN the crypt of handsome cathedral at
Bari, Italy, have given him that title He never
lived in Bari. Italian sea traders. who worsbinod
MIN as their especial protector stole his bodv
from lis resting place in Myra in the twelfth CEN
Jury ana Drought 1t to the Italian seaport Since
that time the celebration held there in the saints
honor is unique
Inc eastern world knew and loved him first but
1t Is from western Europe that we learn of many
OF the quaint customs connected with the celehra
Iion OF MS BIRTH In Lycia he lived to good old
"ee AAns LIS udyS even IN childhood by doing
goou ueeds and giving lavishly to the poor of the
fortune he inherited 1t was Christlike to give
so' as steward Of God, his wealth belonged +o
GODS children, Nicholas believed. Finally he was
MADE bishop Of Myra, where he went to live after
pilgrimage to the Holy Land
IL was not strange that after such life of
cnarlty ne should become a saint of the common
people, even as st. George was a saint of KNIGHT
hood. He was invoked by the Iaborer toil;ng for
his daily bread, by mariners, by merchants He
was protector of the weak against the strong, the
poor against the rich, the captive the prisoner
tne saVe he was especial guardian of maidens
scncolDoys, the orphan poor. Throughout most of
europe children are taught to reverence him and
to believe if they are docile and attentive 70 +boi
duties he will fill the cap or stocking with dain.
ties; II they are naughty or idle, he certainly has
a rod in pickle to bring along for them.
Here IS what the Encyclopedia Britannica has
to say about St. Nicholas
st. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, in Lycia. q saint
honored by the Greeks and the Latins on +bo
sixth of December. His cult is as celebrated 90
his history is obscure. All the accounts that have
come down to us are Of purely legendary char.
acter and 1t is impossible to find any single in
cident confirmed historically. The main facts or
MS life are usually given as follows:
HE was bishop of Myra at the time Of tho
Emperor Diocletian, was prosecuted tortrrod g.
the faith, and kept In prison until the moro fol
Grant reign of Constantine, and was presen+ Of
the council OF N1caea. 1t should be observed thot
this last circumstance is ignored by all bistor-
ians and that st. Athanasius who know oil ~ -
notable bishops Of the period, never mentions
Nicholas, bishop Of Myra. The Oldest known
monument of the cult of st. Nicholas seems 70 he
the Church Of Sts Phiscus and Nicholas built ~
Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Tn tbo
West, the name of st. Nicholas appears in tbo
ninth century martyrologies, and churches dedi.
Gated to him are to be found at the beginning op
| the eleventh century.
| 1t is more especially, however from the tme
OF the removal Of his body to Bari in Apulia that
his cult became popular. The inhabitants Of RarI
| organized an expedition, seized his remains nv
means OF ruse, and transported them to Bari
where they were received In triumph on the ninth
OF May, 1857, and where the foundations were laid
OF new basilica In his honor. This was tbe
origin OF famous and still popular pilgrimage.
There are nearly 400 churches in England dedi-
Gated to st. Nicholas He is the patron saint of
Russia; the special protector Of children scbol-
ars, merchants and sailors; and Is invoked bv
travellers against robbers In art St. Nicholas is
represented with various attributes being most
commonly depicted with three children standInr
in tub by his side. OF the various internreta.
tons Of this, none Is absolutely certain. One az.
PLANTATION has been sought in the legend of 81.
| Nicholas miracuousy restoring to life three rich
youths. who had been murdered, cut up and con-
! cealed in sailing tub by thieyish innkeeper
or butcher, In whose house they had taken lodg-
! ing. Se