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14 THE BAIlBIE EXAMINER WEDNESDAY DEC 24 1052 conscience Thus Nicholas found Since Ede SAINT NlHCOLAS is such fabulously wellknown character yet we know almost nothing about the man who became this beloved person He lived during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Diocletian Mammllian Constantine late in the third century and into the fourth His parents were wellto do Christians of province of Asia Minor While still young man he was consecrated Archbishop of Myra seaport town lie died ill 326 on Dec Judging by the varied and num erous legends which have been handed down about his life on earth and his achievements as salnt after his death he must have been truly remarkable person Branching out from Europe in the last hundred years or so he had adopted all the children on the North American continent Here however his work occupies his time only once year while in Europe it goes on all year round legends tell us that from Eng land to Greece to Orthodox Russia he rides the stormy seas saving the lives of sailors for whom he is the last and only hope The Serbians and Bulgarians have folk song which tells the tale of an evening when all the saints had gathered to dran wine on pleasant little so cxal Occasion Each saint filled his golden cup from the golden jug passed around by St Basil and all were talking when St Nicholas be gan to nod his cup tilted in his hand Seeing this they all stopped to watch him and St John sail Brother Nicholas why are you dozing with cup in your hand To which St Nicholas replied St John since you askthe Enemy have raised terrible storm in the Aegean Sea so while my body doz ed here my spirit was off to rescue all the ships and bring them to shore St Nicholas also saved the land lubbef merchants whowere passen gers of the ships he rescued And protecting the merchants at sea he must pmtect them on land as well according to the legend With the coming of Christianity Russia almost thousand years ago the Orthodox Russians also Idopted St Nicholas His energy vas incredible ward across all of Russia even rosing the frontiers of Christian ty itself to come to the aid of the lagan Samoyed and Laplandcrs he men of reindeer land Which lrobably accounts for the fact that ye in North America believe that he Arctic is his one and only home St Nicholas is known as the pro ector of all humble and small folk iegend says that when still young nan his parents died leaving him goodly fortune but nagging taking him north himself laced with the problem giving away his fortune to the needy without letting them know from whom the gifts came To this end he developed the habit of slip ping unexpected donations into the homes of worthy people in the dark of night During the Middle Ages the schools were part of the monaster ies and the boys were encouraged by their teachers to enact plays and pageants about St Nicholaaqthe saint who looked on them so fond ly Early in the tenth century Conrad King of Germany visit ed monastiy while the boys were in the midst of their St Nicholas celebration Solemnly marching up the aisle of the church he saw Bishop Nicholas followed by his churcth retinue the procession moved out of the monasteries into the streets of the cities becoming the inspiration for the Santa Claus parades we know today Its small wonder why we love this ancient gentleman as much and why we still look forward to his visitsand hope children will un derstand why this Saint through many ccntures has preferred to de liver his presents secretly in the night To you all Merry Christmas Seasons In later years Mary Totten Smit Auxiliary Enioys Christmas Program Mrs Harry Monen was in charge of the program at the Christmas meeting of the Mary Totten Smith Auxiliary of Collier Street United Church on Monday evening Carol singing and scripture reading appmpriate to the season made up the program with Hrs Cooke of Burton Avenue Church singing two beautiful Christmas solos Mew HOLLY Mr and Mrs Martin Thistle town visited Mr and Mrs Slcs sor Mr Babb and son Miss Alma Bobb and Miss Campbell Al landale were at Campbells re centy We wecome Mr and Mrs Wood and children to our community Sympathy is extended to the be reaved families of the late Mrs Burns and Irwin Spcers Thornton United SS Concert Greetings To our many friends and patrons we wish the Merriest Christmas of all and Richand Happy New Year Bill Burner li Stall GARNERS MENS WEAR SPORTING GOODS WWW school held their Christmas tree and concert on Friday afternoon in thelchurch basementc The children puton avery good program mi tations and singing They then re ceived guts and were served Holly United Church Sunday May the old time Christmas spirit of toy and peace be with you every day of bountiful New Year lunch of cookie gel cocoa M1 it being Sunday the contractioan favored with duet by Dalton Slayer and Mrs Bulmcr No Room In The Inn in extendingrduttsincerestj hmawpw ourfrindrattltli manorml tmwm WWW correction town he