KING WENCESLAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 186, 28 November 1941, Page 6

KING WENCESLAS

(Continued from last issue) He reformed the prisons, abolished public executions because they brutalised the people rather than acted as deterrents to crime, and did away , with torture. He did all this in the face 1 of a powerful paganism, and, like all great teachers who bring peace and not the sword, he suffered martyrdom. As a sacrifice to the god of reaction, he was murdered by his brother. Wenceslas has been called "the first Christian gentleman." He was charitable and sincere in his sympathy for the oppressed. Like the Master whom he followed, the common people heard him gladly. There were many tales told as to what he did; no doubt many arc legends, but that Avhich is related in the famous carol would be in harmony with his character. But, on the other hand, King Wenceslas was neither a weakling nor an ascetic, as some think him. He indulged in the manly exercises of his day, and took part in the national festivals. This aspect of his character is illustrated by the following story: A hostile prince once invaded his territory, but Wenceslas, wishing to save the blood of his people, challenged the "prince to a personal combat. Wenceslas Avon. That is wln r the saint, in a suit of armour, presides over the old city. Five years ago, when they celebrated the thousandth anniversary of his death, a great crowd of people gathered in Prague—"the golden city of the hundred towers"—to witness the consecration of St. Vitus's Cathedral, which Wenceslas originallj" projected. All he did, however, was to build a little church in honour of St. Vitus who has given his name to that nervous .ailment. St. Vitus's dance, owing to the old practice of dancing before St. Vitus's shrine on his festival day in the belief that good health would be thereby ensured for the next year. The great cathedral, which is now completed was begun by the Emperor, Charles IV., who was also King of Bohemia, and the second founder of that nation. St. Vitus's Cathedral contains the shrine of King Wences-

las, and wliat is considered to be his skull has been surmounted with a golden crown. At the great celebration in 1929 all sections of the community attended, and all branches of the Church vied with one another, in doing honour to the memory of "good King Wenceslas."