The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-12-18

mas not come 10 US from the
people who 50 wantOnly abused
the children OF France and Belgium. When we
call st. Nicholas "Santa Claus" we are merely
saying in orr own way "San Nicoaas" as the peo-
pie Of Holland say It, For the Hoanders who
settled in New York and New Jersey 300 years
ago at the very beginning Of our country brought
San Nicoaas with them and 1t was not long be-
fore Americans were saying "Santa Claus"
Why st. Nicholas belongs to all the world.
hundreds Of churches IN England bear his name.
There IRE more than hundred St. Nicholas
churches in Belgium Thousands of such churches
are scattered all over Europe
The queer thing about It is that St Nicholas
was really born In Asia Minor, in Panthera In the
province OF Lydia in the sixth century. St Nicho-
las ol Bari he Is Oftenest called by Europeans but
only the bones Of ST. Nicholas reposing for eight
centuries In the crypt Of a handsome cathedral ut
Bari, Italy, have given him that title He never
IFed IN Bari Italian sea traders, who worshIped
MN az their especial protector, stole his body
from It's resting place In Myra In the twelfth cen
Jury and brought It 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
II is from western Europe that we learn Of many
or the quaiLt customs connected with the ccIebra-
ton OF his birth. In Lycia he lived to n good old
age filling his days even In childhood by doing
good deeds and giving Iavshly to the poor Of the
fortune he Inherited. 1t was Christlilte to give
so as steward Of Cod his wealth belonged TO
Gods children. Nicholas believed Finally he was
made bishop Of Myra. where he went to live after
a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
II was not strange that after such life Of
charity he should become n saint Of the common
people, even as St. George was a saint of knight.
hood He was invoked by tie laborer tolllng for
MS daily bread, by mariners, by merchants. He
was protector Of the weak against the strong. the
poor against the rich, the captive the prIsoner
the slave. lie was especial guardian Of moIdens
schooboys the orphan poor Throughout most of
Europe children are taught to reverence him. and
10 believe II they are doclle and attentive 10 their
dulles ne VIII I'LL the cap or stocking with daln.
ucsi " they are naughty or idle, he certainly has
a rod In pickle to bring along for them.
Here Is what The Encyclopedia Britannica has
~ say about st. Nicholas.
"St Nichoms, bishop Of Myra, in Iycia. saint
h"hoied 10y The Greeks and the Latns on the
sixth Of December. His cult IS as celebrated MS
his history rs obscure An the accounts that hive
come down 10 us are of purely legendary cbor-
acler and II Is impossible TO find any single in.
cidcni confirmed historically. The main fncts oF
bis life are usually given as follows:
lie was bishop Of Myra at the time Of tho
Emperor boclctan, was prosecuted, tortured far
the faith, and kept in prison until the more fol.
'IHhI reign OF constantine ana was present nj
the council Of Niracu. II should be observed that
this last circumstance Is ignored by all bistor.
fans and thut ST, Athauasius, who knew ou tho
notable bishops Of the period never mentions
Nicholas bishop Of Myr9 The Oldest known
monument of the cult of ST. Nicholas seems "a ba
the Church of SITS rhIscus md Nlcholns buIIt NJ
Consluntiuopr by the Emperor Justinlan. In the
west the name Of st. Aichoas appears I'm fine
ninth century maryropges and churches dodl.
Gated 10 him are to be found at the beginning NJ
the eleventh century.
II rs more especially, however. from fbe tlmo
Of The removal Of his body 10 Bari In Apuln that
his cult became popular The inhabitants M pori
organized an expedition, seized his remoins bv
means Of a ruse, and transported them 10 Uorl
where they were received IN triumph on the ninth
Of May 1857, and whoTe The foundations ,yero Iold
Of new basilica in his honor This wos ,ho
origin Of d famous and still popular pllcrimago
"There are rsary 400 churches IN England dndI.
Gated 70 ST. Nicholas lie is the patron soInt 30
Russia; the special protector Of children schoI.
airs, merchants ana sailors; and is invoked nv
travellers against robbers. In nrt ST. Nfcbolos 20
represented with various attributes being r,ost
commonly depicted with three children standtna
IN tub by bis side or the various lntarnreto,
lions OF this, none Is absolutely certain One ev.
Ilanation has been sought IN the legend az 81
Nicholas mracul0usly restoring TO life three rich
youths, who had been murdered, cut up and con.
ceaied IN salting tub by n thleyish lnI1seeper
or butcher IN whose house they had taken lodg.
ing