The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-17


OF all the feasts of the year is the most
joyous for Christian people. We will
not delay, then, but bring into our
homes and churches our green boughs,
the holly and laurel, the fir-tree,
the spruce tree, the trailing vine
and winter fern aud make merry aud be
glad. These evergreens remind US that
the Child who now was born was God
and man and shoold live forever green
and flourishing. We must not omit to
mention here that there is a very an.
cient belief that if every bit of the
Christmas decoration is not removed
from the house before Candlemas Day,
Feb. 2, there will be a death in the
family during the year.
SO gracious and hallowed is the time,
we will try to give some simple hints
for those who wish to Bring Christmas
greens either into the church or within
their own four walls. II your home is
In the country, you may use green
branches of fir, spruce, or cedar, as they
come fresh from the woods, filling
big Jars with them, or hang
vines and sprays Of trailing fern
about your pictures, or loop them round
the mirrors. If this may not be done,
as 1t may not always be possible in city
houses, then you may with more econ
omy of evergreens, make use Of certain
sacred shapes and symbols. To do this
well, one must have some idea of the
meaning of the figures used.
Since the time of CONSTANTINE the
cross has always been the symbol for
Christianity. There are various forms
of this symbol, and each has its own
historical interest, which it will, at
least, be well for us to keep in mind in
our decorations. The following descrip-
tion OF different crosses will be Of gen.
eral interest
The Tau Cross $50 called from being
formed like the Greek letter L, tau), or
cross Of ST. Anthony, is the oldest form,
and is therefore called the cross OF the
Old Testament. 1t is the supposed cross
OF the brazen serpent, and has been
called the ideal precursor of the real
cross, the anticipatory cross. There is
one tradition also that this was really
the cross of our Lord.
The Latin cross, or crux capitata; a
cross, the transverse beam of which is
placed at one-third of the distance from
the top of the perpendicular part sup
posed to be the cross on which Christ
suffered, and used as an emblem OF
sorrow - the cross of passion. The
Latin cross calls to mind the atone
ment.
The Greek cross, or cross OF st.
George, the national saint of England.
Previous to the union with Scotland this
was the English ensign, but since then
it has been combined with the cross of
st. Andrew. The four equal arms also
represent the Gospel preached TO the
four quarters of thel earth by the four
evangelists, and speak Of the religion of
the cross.
The Cross OF Jerusalem, which, with
four Greek crosses in the four right
angles of the arms, forms the coat of
arms of Jerusalem.
ST. Andrews Cross, or crux decussata
the form of cross on which st. Andrew,
the national saint of Scotland is said to
have suffered.
The Maltese Cross, formed of four
arrow-heads meeting at the points, the
badge of the knights of Malta. The
eight points of this cross are said to
symbolic the Eight Beatitudes.
The Cross of Calvary; cross on three
steps, which are supposed to represent
the three virtues, Faith, Hope and
Charity.
The Cross of Constantine, which is
simply monogram of the first two
Greek letters of the word Christ.
This symbol is found in the catacombs
of Rome. and to this day the X continues
to be used for the word Christ, as in
the word Xmas. In this connection may
be mentioned the monograms his and
fHG.- Both of these are abbreviated
forms of the Greek word Jesus" They
are the English form Of the first three
Greek letters of the word Jesus, and not,
as is often said, a monogram for the
words Jesus Hominum Salvador, or
Jesus Hominum Consolator, or still more
incorrectly for 81 Have Suffered"
There are other crosses, yet none
worthy Of special mention; but in ad-
dition to this form of decoration there
are certain other symbols often used
very effectively in church adornment,
There is the five-pointei star, called the
Pentangle of Solomon, and in the East
used as charm against witchcraft, and
by PyTHAGoRAs ms an emblem of
health; it is often called the
Star of Bethlehem. The six-pointed
star, or double triangle, represents
Al - tL~ o1a.,.,t. rLo s......