Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-26
FROM A HISTORIC TREE
Graftings of the Famous Glas-
tonbury Thorn.
PROUDLY FLOURISHING
FIVE OF THEM NEAR SITE OF
NEW EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL.
Many Quaint and Beautiful Legends
Cluster About Them-Presented
by Stanley Austin.
PROUDLY FLOURISHING
Written for The Evening Star.

written IOT Inc ENenluS Stdr
Among the very interesting features of
the beginning of the national cathedral of
SITS. Peter and Paul, adjoining the site of
ST. Adams Episcopal Church. Tenleytown
road near Woodley lane from the point
of historical and legendary associations with
the famous old Glastonbury Abbey, in
Somersetshire, England. are the five graft
ings of the glastonbury thorn" donated
by Mr.. Stanley Austin They occupy
space OF ground at the northeastern corner
OF the little sanctuary. They are the off
shoots of the celebrated thorn tree around
which cluster so many quaint and beautiful
legends.
The original thorn was supposed to have
been brought to Britain from the Holy
Land by Joseph of Aramathea, wealthy
nobleman and senator mentioned by the
four evangelists having been so closely
identified with the life Of our Savior Christ.
II was he who begged of PLATE the body of
Christ after the cricifixion. that he might
afford 1t decent burial; and 1T was in the
rock-hewn sepulchre, the property of Jo-
seph of Aramathea that our Lords body
lay until the day of resurrection.
Cost st. Joseph His Freedom.
For this noble action the Jews threw St.
Joseph into prison, whence he was miracu-
lousy delivered by angel on the night of
the resurrection. This so enraged the Jews
that they put him and some companions
into IAN open vessel without stern and
tackling" and turned them to sea. History
SAYS that the boat was first driven to Mar
settles, whence st. Joseph came to Great
Britain, where he remained preaching the
gospel until his death
Old historians say that he came hlther
A. D. 63, bringing with him twelve COM
panions. He landed not far from town
or place where there was an oak planted in
memory of his landing, called the oak OF
Avalon, That he and his companions pan ms
the south side of the town. and there being
weary rested themselves. which gave the
hill the name of Weary adj Hill That ST.
Joseph stuck on the hill his stan, being
dry hawthorne stick. which grew and con-
stantly budded. and bowed on Christmas
day"
Original Tres Had Two Trunks.
The original tree had two trunks or
bodies until the reign Of Queen Elizabeth,
when saint-like puritan, taking ohense at
it. hewed down the biggest of the two
trunks and had cut down the other IN all
likelihood had he not been miraculousiy
punished Saith my author), by cutting ms
leg and one Of the chips flying up to the
head which put out one of his eyes
The remaining trunk was as pig as tne
body of a man and was viewed with wonder
by strangers; and the blossoms were e. es 5I
nations that the British merchants made
traffic of them and exported them in great
quantities into foreign parts.
In the great rebellion during the reign
of King Charles 1 the remaining trunk Of
this tree was also cut down; but other
trees from it's branches are still growing IN
the many gardens of Glastonbury and in
the different nurseries of the kingdom
Replete With Legendary Interest.
The white thorn of England has from
earliest times been replete with legendary
interest and superstition. AS Collnson
says 1T is strange to see how much the
tree was sought after by the credulous;
and though a common thorn, Queen Anne
King James and many of the realm, even
when the times Of rankest superstition had
ceased, gave large sums of money for small
cuttings of the original
1t was considered by the very superSti-
tious an antidote to the Vaccinations OF
witchcraft. Some writer's attribute the
peculiar sanctity of the white thorn to the
belief that the crown placed in derision on
the head of Christ previous to His crucif1x-
ion was made from the branches of this
tree.
Some Of the most beautiful English poetry
has been inspired by these many legends.
Tennyson's Search for the Holy Grail Is
possibly the more familiar to ALL The Holy
Grail is supposed to have been the bowl out
of which our Lord, on the night Of His be-
trayal. ate the paschal lamb. 1t was re-
moved from the supper room by Joseph of
Aramathea and used by him to catch the
blood from Christs wounds the body was
taken from the cross.
Joseph Carried It to Great Britain.
Joseph carried it with him to Great Bril-
tain. The Holy Grail had miraculous quail
ties. one historian saying that by it Joseph
was kept alive without food for forty-two
years while imprisoned by the Jews. Final
ly one of Joseph's descendants. to whom
the keeping of the Holy Grail had come.
proved unworthy. and thus the cup was
lost. In this way began the quest for the
Holy Grail
According to tradition King Arthur and
Queen Gunevere were buried in the ceme-
terry of the abbey. This was also the theme
of Waguers grand opera of "Parsiphal." In
the Boston Library Abbey has immortalized
the subject in series of paintings of the
Search for the Holy Grail"
The five graftings of the Glastonbury
thorn that were planted near the little
chapel out the Tenleytown road are
fourishing. Persons of the Episcopal faith
from all parts of the country have come to
see them.