Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-12-23

people who so wantony abused
the children of France and Belgium When
call ST. Nicholas Santa Claus we are merely
saying in own way "San Nicolaas" as the peo-
pie of Holland say it, For the Hollanders, who
settled in New York and New Jersey 800 years
ago at the very beginning OF our country, brought
San Ncolaas with them, and it 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 are more than a 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 Lycia, in the sixth century. st. Nicho
las OF Bari, he is oftenest called by Europeans but
only the bones of ST. Nicholas reposng for eight
centuries in the crypt of a handsome cathedral at
Bari, Italy, have given him that title He never
hVed in Bari italian sea traders, who worshiped
him as their especial protector, stole his body
from its resting place in Myra in the twelfth CEN
fury and brought it to the Italian seaport Since
that time the celebration held there in the saints
honor is unique.
The eastern world knew and loved him first but
it is from western Europe that we learn of many
of the quaint customs connected with the celebra-
ton of his birth. In Lycia he lived to a good old
age filling his days even in childhood by doing
good deeds and giving lavishly to the poor of the
fortune he inherited. 1t was Chrstlike 70 give
So as a steward of God, 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 a life of
charity he should become a saint of the common
people, even as st. George was a saint of knight.
hood He was invoked by the laborer toiling 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
the slave He was especial guardian of maidens
schoolboys the orphan poor. Throughout most of
Europe children are taught to reverence him and
to believe If they doce and attentive to their
duties he will fill the cap or stocking with dain-
ties If they are naughty or idle, he certainly has
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, saint
honored by the Greeks and the Latins on the
sixth of December His cult is as celebrated as
his history is obscure. All the accounts that have
come down to us are of purely legendary char
acter, and it is impossible to find any single in
cident confirmed historically. The main facts of
his life are usually given as follows:
He was bishop of Myra at the time of tbe
Emperor Diocletian, was prosecuted, tortured for
the faith, and kept in prison until the more fol-
Grant reign of Constantine, and was present at
the council of Nicaea. 1t should be observed that
lnlS last circumstance IS ignored by all hiSt0r-
ians and that st. Athanasus, who knew all the
notable bishops Of the period, never mentions
Nicholas bishop of AIyra. The oldest known
monument of the cult of st. Nicholas seems to be
the Church of SITS. Phiscus and Nicholas built at
Constantinope by the Emperor Justinian In the
West, the name of st. Nicholas appears in the
ninth century martyroogies, and churches dedi-
Gated to him are to be found at the beginning of
the eleventh century.
1t is more especially, however from the time
of the removal of his body to Bari in Apulia. that
his cult became popular. The inhabitants of Bari
organized expedition, seized his remains nv
means of a ruse, and transported them to Bari
where they were received in triumph on the ninth
of May 1887, and where the foundations were laid
of new basca in his honor. This was the
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. schol-
ars, merchants and sailors; and is invoked nv
travellers against robbers. In art ST. Nicholas ia
represented with various attributes being most
commonly depicted with three children standing
in q tub by his side. OF the various interpreta-
lions of this, is absolutely certain One OK
PLANTATION has been sought in the legend of ST
Nicholas mraculously restoring to life three rich
youths, who had been murdered, cut up, and con-
cealed in q salting tub by thievish nnkeeper
or butcher in whose house they had taken lodg-
ing.