St. Andrew's Way.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1886, Page 5

St. Andrew's Way.

St. Ai-DISEW must have been a wonderfully popular saiflt in his time, if any one may judge from the nu_ibor:s_id importance of the dutios which his vetaries hove laid upon him. Thus ho is the patron not only of Scotland but of Russia, of tho Q.rdor of the Goldon Fleece, and of tho Loyal Society ; the last is a fact which tho scientific mon of Charles ll'a timo were careful to bear in mind. " Thia was the first anniversary of our society for the choice of new officers," writes Evelyn in 1663, " according to the terms of our patent ani institution. It being St. Andrew's day, who was our patron, each fellow wore a cress of ribbon on the crown of his hat." Three years later the saint was under a temporary cloud i so that Pepya, who notes with pleasure the wearing of the crosses, is constrained to add that. " most did make a mockery at it, and the Hduse of Parliament, contrary to practice, did sit also | people having no mind to observe the Scotch saint's day till they hear better newß from Scotland." It must be confessed that St Andrew has not been uniformly kind either to Scotchmen jgr Russians. On this day in 1292 John Balwl was crowned at Scone as a vassal king,, having just sworn fealty to Edward. In 1698 Peter the Great founded the first. and principal order of Muscovite chivalsy in honour of St. Andrew, and on the 30th of November, 1700, saw himself ignominipußly defeated at Narva. The day is also memorable for the birth of Swift in 1667, and the death of Marshal Saxe in 1750.