The Elbert County tribune., 1919-12-19

'
has not to from the
people who wantonly abused
the children OF France and Belgium When we
cnii st. Nicholas "Santn Claus" we are merely
snying In our way '-San NIcoIaas" as the peo-
pie Of Holland say 1t. For the HoIlanders who
sefted In New York and New Jersey 300 years
ne" nj the very beginning of country brought
San NicoIaas with them. and 1t was not long be-
fore Americans were saying "Santa Clnus.'
Why, st. Nicholas belongs TO nil the world
hundreds OF churches in England bear his name
ihere nre more than hundred st. Nicholas
churches In Belgium. Thousands of such churches
nre scattered all over Europe
The queer thing about 1t Is that ST. Nicholas
WINS really born In Asin Minor in Panthera. in the
province OF Lycia in the sixth century st. Nicho-
h's OF Bari. he Is oftencst cnlIeby Europeans but
only the bones of st. Nicholas reposng for eight
centuries In the crypt of handsome cathedral ut
BARI. Italy. have given him that title He never
hVed IN Bari. ltalinn truders who worshiped
MN as their especial protector stole his body
from its resting pace in Myra In the twelfth CEN
Jury and brought 1t 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
u TX from western Europe that we learn of monv
OIL the quaint customs connected with the celebrn-
ton OF his birth In Lycia he lived to n good old
"e'' hiilng MS days even In childhood by doing
good deeds and giving lavIshIy to the poor of the
Fortune he inherited 1t was Christlike to give
81" as II steward of God his wealth belonged TO
Gods children. NchoIns believed. Finally he was
made bishop Of Myrn. where he went to live after
a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
1t was not strnnge that after such n life Of
chhrity ne should become saint of the common
people. even us st. George was saint of knight.
mood. lie wns invoked by the aborer toiiing 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 nrjsonar
the slave. He especial guardian of moideps
schooiboys. the orphan poor Throughout most of
Europe children are taught to reverence him and
TO believe II they are docile and attentive to their
duties ne VIII h the cap stocking with tlnin-
ties: If they are naughty 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 n saint
ho1ored by the Greeks and the Latins on tbe
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. ana II Is impossible to find any single in
cdent confirmed historically. The main facts of
his life are usually given follows.
He was bishop of Myra the time of tbe
Emperor pocetian, was prosecuted. tortured for
the faith. and kept in prison until the more fol-
Grant reign of Constantine. and was present ar
the council of Nicaea. 1t should be observed that
tins last circumstance is ignored by all histor-
inns and that St Athanasius who knew all the
notable bishops of the period never mentions
Nicholas bishop of Myra The oldest known
monument OF the cult of st. Nicholas seems TO he
the Church of SITS Phiscus and Nicholas buiIt OF
-Constahtinop'e ny the Emperor Justinian. In the
West. the name of st. Nicholas appears In rho
ninth century martyroIoges and churches dedi-
Gated to him are to be found at the beginning of
the eleventh century.
IL is more especially. however. from the time
of the removal of his body to Bari Apulia thar
his cult became popular. The Inhabitants OF Rari
organized an expedition seized his remains nv
means OF n ruse. and transported them to Bari
where they were received in triumph on the ninth
OF May. 10S7. and where the foundations were ,.,d
OF n new basilica In his honor. This was tho
origin of famous ard still popular pilgrimage
ir'-fhere are nearly 400 churches In England dedi
Gated to St. Nicholas. lie is the patron saint of
Russia; the special protector of children. scboI
ars merchants and sailors: and Is invoked nv
travellers against robbers. In art St Nicholas Is
represented with various attributes being most
commonly depicted with three children standing
In tub by his side. OF the various interpreta-
hons OF this, none Is absolutely certain One ex-
panation has been sought in the legend of St
Nicholas mracuously restoring to life three rich
youths. who had been murdered up and CON
ceaIed In sailing tub by thevish innkeeper
or butcher. in whose house they had taken Iodg-
ing.