Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-21

regions round in which the holy cross-the
very two pieces of wood on which Jesus was
supposed to have been crucifed-was carried
as a standard at the head of the Christian
host, and that night closing my eyes in my
tent on the plain of Esdraelon for there
are some things we can see better with ewes
shut than open-the scenes of that ancient
war come before me. The twelfth century
was closing and Saladin at the head of ghty
thousand mounted troops was crying "Hol
for Jerusalem "Hol for all Paestinar and
before them everything went down, but not
without unparalleled resistance. In one
place one hundred and thirty Christians
were surrounded by many thousands OF furi-
Gus MOhammedans. For one whole day the
one hundred and thirty held out against
these thousands. Tennyson's six hundred
when 'some one had blundered," were
ecipsed by these one hundred and thirty
fighting for the holy cross. They took hold
of the lances which had pierced them with
death wounds, and pulling them out Of their
own breasts and sides hurled them back again
at the enemy.
On went the fight until all but one Chris
tian had fallen and he mounted on the last
horse. welded his battle ak right and left till
his horse fell under the plunge Of the jave-
lins, and the rider, making the sign of the
cross toward the sky, gave up his life on the
point Of n score OF spears. But soon after the
last battle came. History portrays it, poetry
chants it, painting colors it, and all ages adj
mire that last struggle to keep in possession
the wooden cross on which Jesus was said 10
have expired. ltwas battle in which mn
gled the fury of devils and the grandeur Of
angels. Thousands OF dead Christians on
this side. Thousands of dead Mohammodans
on the other side. The battle was hot
pIOCn around tie wooden cross unhnlH nv
the bishop Of Ptolemais, himself wounded
and dying. And when the bishop Of Ptol-
emais dropped dead. the bishop Of LYDIA
seized the cross and again lifted It. CARRYING
it onward into wilder and lercer fight. and
sword against iavein, and battle ak upon
helmet, and piercing spear against splinter
ing shield. Horses and men tumb!ed into
heterogeneous death. Now the wooded
cross on which the armies Of Christians had
kept their eye begins to waver begins to
descend. It falls! and the wailing Of the
Christian host at its disappearance browns
the huzza Of the victorious Mos'emS.
But that standard Of the cross only SCENE |
to fall. II rides the sky to-day in triumph.
Five hundred million souls the mightiest
army Of the ages. are following it, and where
that goes they will 90, across the earth and
up the mighty sleeps of the heavens. In the
twelfth century it seemed to 20 down but n
the nineteenth century it is the mightiest
symbol Of glory aud triumph, and means
moro than any other standard, whether in
scribed with eagle, or lion, or bear. or star,
or crescent. That which Saladin tramplel
on the plain of Esdraeou lit TO day for
your marshaling. The cross TIE crOsSl
The foot Of It planted in the earth it saves,
the top Of it pointing to the heavens TO which
it will take you. and the outSpread beams Of
-. oil
nations. Kneel at its foot. Lift your eye
10 its victim. Swear eternal allegiance to
its power. Ard as that mighty symbol Of
pain and triumph Is kept before Us, we will
realize how Insignificant are the little crosses
we are called to bear and will more cheer
fully carry them
Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And the world 90 iree2
No, there's z cross for every o :,
And there's a cross for nc.
As fall asleep tonight on rly pillow in the
tent on the nlain Of Es.i-aolon recchin0 from
the Mediterranean to the Jordan. the waters
OF the river Kishon soothing me rs by lul-
laby ! hear the gathering of the hosts for the
last battle Of all the earth And by their
representatives America is here and Europe
Is here and Asia is here and Africa is here,
and all heaven is here and all he'll Is here.
aud Apollyon on the black horse leads the
armies Of darkness. and Jesus on the white
horse leads the armies Of light and | hear
the roll Of the drums aud the clear callof the
clarions and the thunder of the clnnonales.
And then hear the wild rush as Of million
of troops in retreat and then the shout Of
victory as from fourteen hundre million
throats, and then song as though al ne
armies of earth and heaven were joining n,
clapping cymbals. beating the time The
kingdoms Of this world ar become tine kim
doms of our Lord and Of Hi, Christ anil Ia
shall reign for ever ard eyer.