Show i cum Y ap 7 0 I 1 I 1 I 1 A X W 10 N the cross in history art and legend AT THIS leaion when all the world over people of many rac a and tongues are meditating on the cross of christ when long services are being held in memory of the 9 greatest tragedy on golgotha and pro cs ces sessions cessions tons are ar 9 solemnly marching to the stations of the cross bearing banners bannera and crucifixes cruci fixes and bowing reverently before altars and pictures commemorating the sorrowful walk to calvary when in the holy land thousands of pilgrims from every nation are treading the very via dolorosa DoI crosa on which ho he trod as he be left the holy city forever brever or ever carrying his cross to the 4 accursed hill outside the walls walla it may be ba ce 0 interest to consider the history ant and traditions of this wonderful cymbol under which we live and in the name of which so much has been wrought of worldwide world wide good to hu mailly ma ant anc alas of great harm through christian fanaticism perhaps there here Is no other object on earth about which there has been more controversy more dissensions and more superstitions than about this one great object for reverence on the one side aud and tor for derision on the other ever eve since the crucifixion it has left a strong impress on the history of the nations and has been revered in the religion of all the sects bearing the name rf of christ it has been sur eur bounden by traditions and mysticism and endowed with supernatural and miraculous attributes it has been taken aa the emblem of at a faith under tinder the banner 0 of which great deeds of heroism have been done an all in olden jays days when pioneer messengers of the story ot the cross filled with religious zeal real entered bravely into uncivilized and barbarian lands fe arlesly ignoring great dangers heralded by christian banners bannera the procession of civilization has spread to all parts ot at the world romans carried it 0 to o the britons and saxons the I 1 worship ot of the sun aun as observed by the incas was brought to an end through the ascendancy of spanish bearers of the cross in more recent times monks ks with peace in their hearts amid many hardships wrested from the aborigines the western coast of u our own country where they erected many missions to spread the teachings of christianity the influence of the cross crosa so eo entirely filled the minds of its followers that it became the center subject of the paintings of the old masters and in time permeated noi not only the spirit of this art but also that f architecture for we find throng throughout hout the great christian lecture of the middle ages and in all forms forma ot of mediaeval media eval decoration this sign of the tha cross it anding out conspicuously the very foundations of the e edifices which were erected in commemoration me of faith in n this symbol fol 01 ol lowed the lines of a cross so BO that the very ery walls front from their foundations upward might carry with them its as they rose the imago image ot of the sacred sign to receive its crowning figure displayed in the ridge line of its roofs crosses in an endless variety ot of forms forma still surmount su mount the loftiest loft iest and finest parts of if the architecture ot of the cathedrals and churches of europe above tho the tombs of the departed delai or even in the pavements of the church above ill the monumental vaults in these cr cathedrals ithee 1 I this same sign proclaims the faith of those who rest beneath I 1 being the keynote and the glory ot of the christian religion this emblem soon became prized in other directions besides those ecclesiastic with tho the triumph ot of christianity the cross at once was recognized as a universal symbol ot of highest nobility and honor I 1 it t was now BOW considered to add dignity to the crowns and scepters of emperors and princes it 1 I became the proudest ensign of knightly rank lank th the greatest warriors were proud tosea to see tho the cross on oa the hilts bilta of their swords as well as on the banners under which they fought it also became a sign of merit for valor and brav bravery erya a reward for deeds ol at honor as the iron cross of prussia established by W william am III for patriotic bravery in war it was vaa worn also as a protection in IB times of trouble to denote the consecration se of those devoted to the a aid d of the suffering nn ant needy the red ked cross was tho the confederation of societies in different countries tor the betterment of conditions of the wounded soldiers in campaigns on land and sea in crusader days beginning with peter the hermit Iler milt in 1094 starting out to deliver the holy land from rom the dominion of the infidel the tha brave warriors were thus named because of the red cross they wore ware as badges on their right shoulders the archbishops arch bishops crozier tha ensign ot of his office Is the staff with a cross head distinguishing it from the pastoral beaff of bishops and abbots I 1 which nave a shepherds crook thus has been experienced the saying of justin martyr so many years ago that the sign of the cross cros 4 was Impre impressed sied upon the whole of nature there Is hardly a handicraftsman also but uses the figure of at it among the implements of his industry it forms forma a part of man lean himself man alan has been created in this form as aa has been beautifully illustrated by emily collier in the painting depicting the ile holy I 1 y ch childs elds expression of his bis love so ISO wide la is my love in the middle ages and in crusaders days the cross was the distinctive symbol of the Chilst lan in contra contradistinction to the crescent of the mohammedan ham the custom of marking ones signal signature nature ure by a cross was first adopted by christians in tho year to dis them from the pagans and it stood for a silent oath the early christians christiana immediately used this sign which was connected with their religion as a secret message to one another in their first days of persecution Nt mingling ingling with tile the persecutors of their faith they could thus make known knoer to each other without call cal ig g the attention of around them in visiting the catacombs cata combs in rome home where they hid from fear of their persecutors it Is intensely interesting to notice that the th sign so sacred to them to Is carved and en graven all armourd the walls walla of their prison cells ind and above the tombs ot of their brethren |