OUR STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 98, 13 August 1943, Page 6

OUR STORY

ST. GEORGE OK ENGLAND It is a .strange tiling that England has chosen for her Patron Saint one! who was neither an Englishman nor even once set foot on British soil. As' a matter of fact. St. Edward, the English King' and Confessor, was for a very long time the Patron Saint of England. The change was due to the Crusades. Richard Cocur de Lion led forth the bravest of Englands knights and soldiers to the East to save the liol3 r Sepulchre from the hands of the Saracens, and lie took fpr his banner a blood-reel cross upon a white ground. Now St. George was the most popular saint in Eastern Europe. He had shed his blood in defence of his faith, symbolised by the red cross upon the white ground as his banner. This was the very flag that Richard had already chosen, so he chose St. George for patron, and. to him commended his cause. A legend declares that when the Christian armies were being driven back, suddenly St. George himself appeared mounted upon a white horse of immense size, riding in the midst of the battle, bearing in his hands a llaming sword, which sight so encouraged the soldiers that they rallied and swept the ene 1113' before them. Christianity was not very old, but was important to make the heathen Emperors (Caesars they were called) very much alarmed at its growing power, when George was born in the country of Cappadocia, in Asia Minor. He came of a wealthy famih*, his, father being a soldier of high position. Botli his parents were Christians, and according to one account,, JiLs father was actually martj*red for the Faith when George was but three years old, upon which his mother is said to have, flefl to Lydda in Palestine, taking the little child with her. Upon the death of his mother, when George was, twenty, the. family wealth passed 'into his hands. He was a brave and handsome youth, and turning to his father's profession lie entered the Roman army as a centurion. He rapidly rose in position until his fame, reached the Palace of the Caesars, and he was summoned to the Corirt of the Emperor Diocletian. A strong attachment arose between the Emperor and, the young soldier, but whether George attempted to convert Diocletian to Christianil\ r there is no record. He certainh' did not succeed. Rome, was full of bitter enemies of the Christian Faith Avho had the car of the Emperor. These accused the Christians falsely to Diocletian of all kinds of Avicked--11 ess., until at last the>' stung him to I'ury. He declared that all who would not abandon Christ and sacrifice to the Roman gods should bo put to death. One day the Emperor was giAing a great banquet to which George had been summoned, and here the news of the threatened persecution lirst reached the young man's ears. As soon as he heard it. lie sprang to his feet and shouted, out. "Slay me, then, for J am a Christian. Christ f love more than riches, more than position, more than life. Him only do I acknowledge' as my God." The banquet was: in an uproar. Diocletian was very angry. But he oved the bold young soldier, and would, glad'y save him. By pleading, I) 3* argument. ])>' ridicule did he strive to shake his laitli., but

George stood firm, and was at length driven out of the royal presence. St. George, had shown his courage in the face of Rome's enemies many a time on the battlefield. Now he was to show that he possessed, an equally brave heart for God. Soon lie was; thrust into prison. Here he was kept for sonic time, and was put through the most terrible tortures, but nothing could shake him in his adherence, to the new faith.