ST. ANDREW'S DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 281, 30 November 1935, Page 8

ST. ANDREW'S DAY

OCCASION FOR SCOTS N ATIO NAL C E LEBR AT lONS To-day the Scots of Wanganui will celebrate, but more quietly than usual, the Scots’ day in the calendar of the saints —St. Andrew's Day. One may know the story, or rather stories—ror there are several version—of how St. Andrew came to be associated with Scotland as its patron saint, so there is c no need to repeat it. One may frankly fi admit that St. Andrew never was in Scotland, probably never heard ef it, and that none of' those with whom he associated knew of such a glorious, though very small, country —‘‘but guid gear gangs in wee beuk’’ —making no noise in the world’s history in those far-off days. The story of the bring- 0 ing of St. Andrew’s bones, to Muckros, •J' 1 now the towns of St. Andrews, may 9 also be taken as apocryphal, and after P examining the various legends, tradi- n tions, and theories, one must be con- T tent to recognise that somehow, we fl know not by what, how or when. St. tl Andrew did become the patron saint of 11 Scotland, is accepted as such to- o day. We do know that 740 A.D. is accepted as the year in which he became p patron saint of Scotland. '> What particular brand of gospel St. d Andrew preached is not known. Some p authorities assert that he was a < al- p vinist before Calvin. Others declare f that he was a Alorrisonian before Morrison. As for St. Andrew himself, t | whatever was his belief, all know that ho was the first called of the disciples, and that the particular work he was given to do in that brotherhood wa- j to look after the loaves and fishes— | characteristic of every real, bred-m- | the-bone Scot to-day. It is also known that since the name of St. Andrew became associated with Scotland, that name has served often as a rallying call in war when the Scots were hard pressed and needed something to cheer them on and steel their nerves, often 1 against fearful odds. And whatever " may be one’s belief as to the efficacy of "the intervention of saints at such 1 times, we cannot gainsay the psychological force that often had a deter- ‘ mining effect on the results. So jr. J that connection, at least, that name r has been as useful as would have been j any other. The name St. Andrew serves lo bring j Scots together in fellowship, and, in < that connection, it is of some measure < of value still, even though, as a war < cry, it is somewhat moribund.