The times., 1897-04-11
A PRE-CHRIsTIAN CROSS.
Ancient Americans Possessed the
Symbol Before Christ Was Born.

DoylestOwn. Pa, April 9.-An archaeo-
logical specimen has been presented to
the University OF Pennsylvania by the
Bucks County Historical Society, which
proves that the symbol of the cross was
known and used in ancient America be-
fore the birth OF Christ The Importance
OF the facts proven by this relic OF ancient
days was first made known by Henry G.
Mercer, curator OF the section OF American
and prehistoric archaeology OF the Mu-
scum OF Science and Art OF the University.
The object which has demonstrated she
interesting facts stated is spindle whoFl.
This whorl or weight used 70 give igO-
mentum to the spindle stick, a thin red
about foot long pushed for an inch OF
more through an orifice in the center of
the whorL In discussing these facts
Prof Mercer said to the writer; the
thread material used in this spindle. at.
tached TO a distarr held in the left hand,
ran to the spindle, which, being tw;rIed
on the knee and being left free to act,
spun or wound the thread These whorIs
prove strange COINCIDENCE in the thread
making procesSesin the old and new worlds
Dr. SchIemann found several Thousand
whorIs at Hissarlik, and, strange to say
many OF them were decorated with the
Swastika or bent-arned cross. Others were
marked with the ordinary cross by the
bent armed cross is meant Il cross which
resembles two letter rs, one placed GCrOss
the other, just as II each was a single ar.
Some of the Mexican spindle whoFls
are marked with crosses, but none show
the design in is symbolic form so clearly
as the specimen which | brought TO light
the other day. 1t was recently obtained
the specimen by J. W. Detweiler, of Beth
lehem, Pa, from an ancient and Prob
ably pre-Columbian gravein the Rio Cauca
Valley, in the Republic of Colombia Here
the idea of cross symbolism in ancient
America, rather than mere decoration by
means Of interesting lines, is well brought
out by the eight smaller crosses bet ween
the arms of the central cross.
ITO my mind the specimen shows, first,
the cross symbol existed in ancient Amer
lea before the coming of Chri stianity. sec
ond, the cross symbol carved on spindle
whorI by ancient Americans in Just the
same manner as ancient ASiatios and
Europeans had carved crosses on spindle
whorls before the birth OF Christianity;
third, the identity of peculiar process
for spinning IN the old and new worlds
before the discovery OF America by Co
lumbus"
a study of the face OF the whorl found
in South America shows it 20 be Of ex-
ceeding age. Its general style and work
manship make it plainly apparent that il
il the result of the labor OF TIL. people ChO
Inhabited that part of South America now
known as Colombia, before the star Of
Bethlehem startled the shepherds. In some
particulars it resembles in great degree
stone objects fOunG in the monuments Of
the mound builders, and also calls 70 mind
certain Carvings on implements OF stone
used By the AZteCS, Mexco's early set
tiers. Directly ACROSS the center, OF rather
around it, is a belt large on each side in
point of width. narrowing down until in
the center the elOngitudinalHnts cotue close
together. Above and below this belt are
the crosses. which show that they are not
purely for ornament, but possessed NJ one
time a symbolic significance 20 the per-
sons who carved them
Archaeological records in regard to the
sign language of ancient peoples OF both
the Eastern and Western herlispheres show
nothing existed So far as history knows in
those early days in the way of sign,
fore. it is not believed TO have cen a
character of that method Of writing
which obtained in greater or less degree
throughout the tribes OF Indians of North
and South America. The discovery calls
to mind an earthen vase also in the mu-
scum OF the University Of Pennsylvania,
found in stone grave, or mound, near
New Madrid. Mo, several years ago, by
HOTatiO Rust.
This vase, the body of which was oval In
form, bore upon the neck series 4 perfec5
crosses, the design being a combination OK
the Roman and Greek crosses. The crosses
on this vase, however, can hardly be called
as symbolic in design a 5 those on the whorl
found in Colombia. The discovery Of these
crosses on different articles, all OF which
were made before Christ was born, in
Mexico, the United states. South America,
and ancient Egypt. show to the mind OF
the archaeoIogist that while the cross is
truly symbolic of Christianity, it, at the
same time. was most assuredly a religious
emblem before the Son Of Man was ever
heard OF.
The question OF the origin of the cross
has been quietly argued for some time
past, it being held that the discoveries
previous 20 the reveIa tons made by Prof
Mercer indicated plainly that instead OF
the use of the cross as a symbol being
concident with the birth Of the Saviour, it
was held to denote sacred thought and be-
lief during 4 period so long ago that the
known history of mankind does not touch
upon it. Prof. Thomas Wilson, OF the
Smithsonian Institution, who has made
this matter a study, finds ample evidence
for the belief quoted, and declares 1t to
be beyond question that the Christian
symbol is really borrowed from the an
cients.
The second curious fact which the Co
Iombian relic demonstrates is the simi-
larity in the process of spinning which
obtained in both the old and new worlds
800 and more years ago. 1t shows be-
yond peradventure the fact that other dis
coveries have indicated, that the prfmf-
tive methods of weaving, of sewing. OF
writing, are all like unto each other, and
indicate that the instincts of humanity,
like that Of the lower grades of auimalsOf
the same class, runs in a similar groove
until civilization steps in with its number
less ramifcationS. The relic in the pos
session of the University of Pennsylvania,
therefore, more than almost any other in
existence, marks the link that binds for
ever the history of ancient and mOderR,
How They Say 1t.
Let us take this sentence and see how