The state herald., 1919-12-19

people who wantony abused
the children of France and Belgium When
call St Nicholas Santa Claus we are merely
saying In our way "San Nicolaas" as the peo-
pie of Holland say 1t. For the Hollanders who
settled in New York and New Jersey 800 years
ago at the very beginning OF our country brought
San Nicolaas with them. and II 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 nre more than hundred st. Nicholas
churches In Belgium. Thousands of such churches
are scattered all over Europe.
The queer thing about II is that St Nicbolns
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 handsome cathedral at
bar1. Italy have given him that title He never
HNeu IN Bari Italian sea traders. who worshiped
him ms their especial protector stole his body
from It's resting place In Myra In the twelfth GEN.
tury and brought 1t to the Italian seaport Since
that time the celebration held there in the saints
honor In UNIQUE
Inc eastern world knew and loved him first but
Is from western Europe that we learn Of many
OF the quaint customs connected with the celebrn-
uon or his birth. In Lycin he lived to a good old
age, Milling his days In childhood by doing
good deeds and giving lavishy to the poor of the
fortune he inherited. II was Christlke to give
30, as n steward of God, his wealth belonged 10
Gods children. Nicholas believed. Finally he was
made bishop Of Myra, where he went to live nfter
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 n saint OF knirht
hood He was invoked by the iaborer toIiinr for
his daily bread by mariners. by merchants He
was protector OF the weak against the strong IN.
poor against the rich, the captive the prisoner
the slave. He was especial guardian Of mnId.ns
schooIboys, the orphan poor. Throughout most OF
Europe children are taught to reverence him and
TO believe W they docic and attentive IN thar
duties he VIII MI the cap or stocking with daIn.
ues; II 'hey are naughty or idle. he certainly has
ROD IN pickle TO bring along for them
Here IL what the Encyclopedia BritannIc, has
10 sny about 81. Nicholns:
ST. Nicholas bishop OF Myra In Lycin m saint
honored by the Greeks md the IntIns nm IN.
sixth Of December. His cult Is ms celebrated n,
his history Is obscure. All the accounts that have
come down to us are Of n purely legendary cb,r.
acter. and II IL impossible to and nny sn,,. In.
cident confirmed historically. The main facts n,
his lie are usually given MS follows:
He was bishop OF Myrp ut the time OF I'M,
Emperor Diocletlnn, wns prosecuted tortured tor
the faith, and kept In prison until the NOR. toll
ernnt reign OF Constantine and wns nrcs.,, a,
the council OF Scnea. II should be observ,, ,,,,
this last circumstance In ignored by nil bIs,or
ihns ana that ST. Athnnaslns. who knew nil Nh.
notable bishops OF the period. never mcntions
Nicholas bishop OF Myrn. The Oldest known
monument OF the cult OF 81. Nicholns s.ems IN N.
the Church Of Sts. Phiscus md Nicholns buII, n,
Cons,nn'inople by the Emperor Justinlap In tho
West, the name Of St Nicholas Appears in IN,
ninth century mnrtyrologics. md churches dcdI.
Gated TO him are TO be found nj the beginning NJ
the eleventh century.
II N more especially, however. from IN. Tim.
Of IN" removal of his body to Bari, In ApuIIn th,,
his cult became popular, The inhabitants OF Dor,
organized nm expedition. seized his remains h,
means OF rusc. mud transported them TO Bnri
where they were received In triumph on IN. ninth
Of May. 1857 md where the foundations w.r, InId
Of n new bnsllicn In his honor. This wns M,
origin OF famous md still popunr pllsrImn,.
There nre nearly 400 churches IN Englnnd d.di.
cntcd 10 ~. Nicholas lie IN the pntrop min, M
Russia: the special protector Of children acboI.
mrs, merchants and sailors; and II invoked M,
travellers against robbers. In nrt St Ncbons ~
represented with various attributes being INNS,
commonly depicted with three children STANDING
In u tub by his side. or the various intorprc,n,
uons Of this none In absolutely certain. ON, ~,
plnnntion hns been sought In the legend OF n,
Nicholns mlracuousy restoring TO life three rich
youths who had been murdered. cut up, nnd con.
cenied In n shifting tub by thleyish innkeeper
or butcher In whose house they had tnkcn iodg.
ing.