The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-04
Church Synlbolism.

There has always been a tendency with
men 10 use signs and symbols in express ne
their ideas. This is due artly for the sake OF
brovity and partly from their significance.
Before savage races became sufficiently civil
lzei to use written language. they resorted to
pictures. RI iely drawn but full Of meaning.
Secret societies nave largely used emblems on
their badges and banners.
Thus the square and compass prevail among
MasOns, not only because they are tools of the
ancient craft. but teach the mem Ders t. deal
sluafey with each other. and 70 place COM
pass or Limit to their Illicit passions.
odd-Ielows use three links united to rep
resent friendship love and truth. which
should unite AL men to one common brother
hood
We very early find the Church adopting
similar emblems. equally suggestive. For
three hundred wears after the cruclfxion of
our Lord the Church was prosecuted COM
PEELED TO hide herself from the hands of her
enemies. while her mem bers were enabled to
recognize each other and express Christian
mysteries by these symbols.
For long time the faithful worshpped in
dark caverns. called caiacomus. We still
find IN them remains Of. chapels and the
graves OF thousands of their departed In
the soft rocky sides which line these caysrns
are engraved many OF the emblems which we
to-day embroldeI on our altar cloths. paint in
our stained glass windows or attach e. our
church fabric. 1t Is some of these We will
consider, taking up each class by itself
one OF the great mysteries of the Christian
faith Is the doctrine o. the holy. blessed and
glorious Trinity, Three Persons and One
God We know il 20 be true because it is
revealed 10 US by Jesus the Son of God
Holy Scriptures tell us about it. noble
a my OF martyrs" suffered In its defense. and
great councils have assembled to define it,
We mention it in our prayers, sing about it in
our hymns and profess 1t in our creed. No
human being can understand it,
There is beautiful story told about St.
Augustine very profound theologian. who
lived 800 years ago. He was writing book
on the Trinity Of God, and one day took a
walk along the seashOre TO ponder on this
subjec He saw a child dig a hole in the
sand, and then commence TO Gil il with water
dipped from the ocean with a ladle.
What are you dOingY' asked the saint.
Pouring the ocean into this hole said the
child.
But you cannot do it,"
just as easily as your mind can understand
the Trinity wisely replied the child.
The usual representation of the Trinity is
an equilateral triangle because Its three equal
sides make but one figure. Sometimes q circle
is used in connection with the triangle TO de-
note the unity and eternity of the Godhead.
Ever since the days Of St Patrick the three
leaf clover has been the symbol of the Trim
lty. When he was preaching the gospel in
an Irish chief asked some questions
Trinity. st. Patrick stopped
down and plucked a three-leaf clover, or
Shamrock, to illustrate the doctrine Since
that time 1t has been adopted as the national
plant of Ireland In the architecture of our
Gothic churches it is used in the three-lobed
aperture in tracery. OF the trefoil window.
The Germans call the pansy the Trinity
lower. Thus the royal vesture of the Father
IS symbolized by its purple. the humiliation
IF the Son by its violet and the zeal of the
Holy Ghost by its red. while the yellow sets
orth the splendor of each.