... with the composition of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (commonly known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas"). It was written by Clement Clarke Moore (1726–1787), a Presbyterian minister who served as pastor of Christ Church in New York City. The poem contains verses describing the activities of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, 1825. Today, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" is often used as an example of how not to write a poem. It has become such a popular piece of prose that many people think it is a real story told by an actual saint at an actual church near you! In addition to being used as a guide for writing stories for children, the poem is also often referenced in essays about Christianity. For example, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote an essay called "Circles: Of Ellipses and Other Circumstantial Evidence" in which he contrasts the supposed difference between faith and reason. He then quotes several lines from the poem ("See what good deeds his angel did thereat!") to support his argument. Emerson wasn't the only one to do this.