Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-04-22
History of the Holy Cross.

A curious reproduction Of what may be
called Sacred Chap.Boo has just been
issued in England-"GeSchieden ron het
heyliqhe Cruyts," or "History Of the Holy
Cross" 1t is fac SMILED from the original
edition, printed by J. Veldener in 1883, the
text and engravings by J. Phi. Berjeau. The
history of the cross in that period Of the past
which we are now pleased to call the Dark
Ages was favorite theme with the religious
romancers who related the most incredible
marvels concerning it-incredible to us who
have learned to doubt all that cannot be de-
monstrated, but veritable enough to the great
body Of Christians at that time, pinning their
faith, as they did, to the Roman Church and
its wondrous legends. The wood Of the holy
cross was as much believed in then as, say,
the muiberry-tree OF Shakspeare's planting,
as many specimens OF it were extant. More,
indeed, for hardly church OF repute but had
a fragment OF its precious relies. The super
stition survives u the present day, in certain
localities of Catholic Europe.
The history of the cross, as related in this
old Chap Book, is somewhat after this fash
ion. When Adam was about to die, Seth
went 20 the gate of Paradise to implOre oil
from the Tree Of Mercy, but, instead Of OBJ
taininp il, he was presented with 4 branci OF
the Tree Of knowledge by the Arch-angel
Michael, who told him that when the tree
bore fruit his father would be cured. After
Adams death, Seth planted the branch upon
his grave, where it grew into large tree.
which was cut down By Solomon for his tenn
ME, There seems 70 have been difficulty in
making use Of il, so much SO that II was
thrown aside, and served as bridge over a
pool of water. The Queen Of Sheba, who
nrobatly crossed it when she made her me-
morable visit 10 the wisest OF men, warned
him, prompted thereto by vision, that one
who would be suspended on that tree would,
by his death, be the overthrow OF the Jewish
Empirc; so Solomon had the tree buried deep
in the earth. The Pool OF Bethesda formed
on the spot, and its medicinal qualities may
well be supposed to have been impaired by
the tree which was "for the healing Of the
nations" The wood lose to the surface at
the appointed time, and was taken BY the
carpenters to make the cross. After the
Crucifixion it was again buried in the earth,
where it is fcigned to have remained till it
was discovered b. the Empress Helena,
through angelic interposition, il we remem-
Der rightly. (The Sd Of May is kept as an
annual festival in honor Of the event.l The
good Empress, however, took but half OF II
away with her, the remainder being carried
of BY CoSdras, conqheror CT JeIusalcm'
Herachus slew the plunderer on bridge
across the Danube, and suddenly appearing
before the pagan father Of Cosdras, ORDERED
him to embrace Christianity, which he does
not appear to have been willing to do, his
head having been struck Off as he sat on the
throne. The relic was finally restored to
jerusalem Such in brief is the history OF
the Holy Cross, as set down in this curious
old book, only three copies Of which are
known to exist-one in the library Of Lord
Spencer at Al,horpe, from which the fac
smile Of NJ. Bereau is madc,l another in
the Roval Library at Brussels, and the third
in the collection OF NJ. Schinkel at the Hague.
The reproduction is said TO be perfect. It
contains 81 execrable wood cuts descriptive
of the chief events and personages connected
with the history Of the cross, the whole being
illustrated with doggerel verses in Dutch.
The title Of the volume, given in the Dutch
colophon, may be translated thus: This
book was printed in the good city Of Cullen
berg, in the year OF our Lord 1883, the sixth
Of March, by me, Jan Veldcncr. Praise be
to God" Hound Table.