New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-03
interesting Discovery al Rcnas.
4 SINGULAR RELIC RxHUaEp.


a SINGULAR RELIC ExHUHED.
Letter frcm Lewis cass, III
We copy the following letter from oar late
Charge d'Afafres at Rone Lewis Cass, Jr-, ID Rev.
George DHffeld, citizen Of Detroit which we
find IN the Detroit Advertiser. It viii be read with
interest by Christians and students
MILAN, Feb. Ia, 1866 Her. George Dszfsebl, d.
d., Dear Sir In fnlfIiment Of my promise pro-
ceed TO give you brief account Of the discovery,
at Rome, of ancient representation gfA cYucifx-
In the progress Of the excavations on the Pala~
tin, where stood the House of Gold Of the Caesars,
a fragment Of an arch, covered with Inscriptions
and delineadons, was brought to view. Fnrther
explorations, IN the same direction, resulted in The
found sketch, cut or engraved with 4 sharp
pointed instrument, Of crucix, together with tho
figure Of man in the attitude of prayer, standing
near #. The announcement of this discovery ere
ated great interest. By order Of the Pope the de-
sign was removed from its position, happily with
out injury, ard confided to the charge Of AoHsig-
more Hacchi, who invited me to inspect IT, and by
which Is herewith enclosed It is needless to say
that this event has ELECTED elaborate specuatonsr
In addition to various treatises, which have ap-
peared in different n explanation Of the
subject, it has provoked numerous controversies
between certain Protestant Divines in Germany
and prelates Of the Roman Catholic Church,
marked, as such discussions so often are, by mo-
small infusion of the odam MeoSogicua. Several
while others are as remarkable for profound non
sense, of the old stamp Of the schools. Notwith-
conflicting views concur. with scarcely al excep-
ton in the conclusion, that the aim of the sketch
was to cast ridicuIe on the worship Of the Chris
tans 1t presents the outlines of cross, on which
is a human figure bearing the head Of an ass. A
tunic enveiops the waist, and the arms and legs
are partially covered with bandages. To the left,
with one hand raised in Che posture Of alteration,
as depicted on ancient monuments, appears the
form Of a .Inan, while below i seen the following
inscription: /" Alexander adores Cod The En-
ecution Of the engraving, as you will perceive from
the fac sinsae, of which the scale is ons-fcurth
smaller than that Of the original indicates an en-
tire ignorance Of art, being stiff and hard without
ease or grace whatever. Satisfactory evidence
refers the date Of II to the reign of septirs Seve
rus There were numerous Christians in his Court,
one of whom, it Is supposed OF the name of Alex
ander was thus exposed to ridicule by his Pagan
associate or companion
Familiar as you are with the early history of our
religion, il y to recall 10 your recoi
lection the existence q tne current through
1 out the Roman domninions IN tne Gays Of the En-
pire, that Ine GhTisIIans Worshipped Divinity
whose head differed n no respect from that of an
ass The origin Of this monstrcus invention is lost
to us: There can be little doubt however that Il
had e foaaaason " a IN tn .de hatred VIII ancn he
variably regarded ~ the 1dolatrous nations among
| whom they lived But whatever the source, The
first mention OF this calumny occurs IN the records
relating to the period between the years
120 and $50 of our era, subsequent to which epoch
all trace of it disappears. Precisely during the same
| period the room in which the design was found was
/ Constructed. The palace Of the CGsars on the
Palatin, as you are aware, was the growth Of snc-
| cessive reigns. That part OF IT which embraces
the chamber in question was bull by Hadr1an, as
the BRICKS Of which It is chiefly composed attest
They impressed with the name and titles Of the
/ Consuls Pactinus and Apronicus.
This coincidence the prevalence Of the legend
in the years already mentioned, and during that
period only, and the erection within the same time
Of the wall on which the drawing is traced estab-
fishes, satisfactorily, the purpose Of the sketch, as
well as the date Of its execution. Still more con-
elusive, perhaps il the manner in which the figure
upon the cross Is presented to view. IT Is define
ated with drapery, while it was the invariable
Il practice in executions Of this nature, q mode Of
i punishment very common among the Romans, TO
i expose the victim or criminal in state Of naked
ness. This discrepancy finds Its sole warrant in
the tradition that our Lord was put to death with
4 garment about his lOins, and its admission IN q
Il work emanating from the hands Of Pagan whom
we cannot suppose to have been influenced by any
Il sentiments of awe or respect, and whose experi-
Il ence would never have suggested such departure
n from the uniform custom, indicates clearly carl
catre, of which the FIRST requisite is conformity to
its prototype. Finally, the words Alexander
adores Cod admit Of no other interpretation,
nothing in history Legendary Of monumental tend
/. was ever regarded as an object of yeneraton by
any other sect than the followers Of Christianity.
avail myself Of this occasion 70 send you, also,
o copy of an engraved cornelian found likewise on
the Palatn in the course Of the excavations beneath
i the dungeons Of Nero. 1t will be interesting to
You, apart from other considerations as showing
the state Of art among the primitive Christians.
Q Such was their hatred in the Apostolic days oi
idolatry, the religion 81 Their oppressors that an
image was held in abhorrence, and the power OF
u creating it pronounced sinful faculty. It is re.
lated Of Hermogenes the painter, that ne received
+ a rebuke from Tertullian. to the effect that the
: adultery in which he lived was less hcnlous
ofense than commerce IN efnlgies. ~ degrees,
however, this severity relaxed and rings and anu
, lets, with other ornaments began to be worn, the
production at flrst Of pagan skill me subject o.
this engraving Is one OF those allegoracal designs
> by which were typied certain texts and events OF
9 the Scriptures. i i & composed q the anchor, 20
s the Good shepherd, the dove, the lamb and the
fish, with other mystical hgures The hsh. as
:, forming an anagram OF the Sayior's name, was
1 fayorite emblem, and is rarely wanting IN these
IS devices.
q have in my possession TWO signet rings Of gold.
i such as The Christian women were permitted to
= wear, to enable 9 them to secure by by seal the
Q household articles committed to their Charge q
lamp, and several other objects. al of which bear
this symbol together Win That ot d ne ne Cross They
: were found IN the catacombs Of the VIA Appia
where SO many thousands of human beings, men