The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-07-21
CHURCH RELICS ARE
VENERATED IN ROME
Some of Most Notable Treas
ures of the Christian
World.
A VERiTABLE
The Famous "Cope," But Recently Re-
turned, One of the Most
Valued Possessions of
Roman Church.
A VERlTABLE

st. Louis Republic: The keeping Of
relics has ever formed a reVerental
and inspiring form of devotion and re-
membrance. Memory Of mar runneth
not to the time when the case has been
otherwise, and it has been applauded
on all sides as q happy and Wholesome
circumstance. But in the keeping of
relics due regard has not always been
taken to an equitable distribution Of
them, and in consequence at various
times heated discussion has been en-
rendered.. In secular matters a spirit
of lively legal contest has entered into
the possession of some Of the more
notable relics OF soldlers n states
men; in ecclesiastical ones stealth has
often been resorted to for their. posses
sion.
The world at large has only recently
had an example of the latter character,
when a previous and valuable cope
a large and flowing garment like a long
! cape which is used for the vesper
service in the Roman Catholic church,
was surreptitiously taken. The cope
| comes from the ancient Romans, and is
usually Of fine material. Happily, this
relic, pilfered by Adventures, came In
to the possession Of ]. Pierpont Nor
gan, who Immediately, on learning the
rightful owners, ordered 1t restored.
Rome is a verltable reliquary. At
this famous capital are housed some OF
the most famous and interesting relics
of all the world-the Christian world,
at least-for within its picturesquely
monumental walls are kept some of the
principal relics of the sacred passion
of the Savior, and as this event Is the
source of ali happiness and good to
Christians, interest in these objects
tends to not only respect but venera-
ton as we'll. OF the pillar at which
the Savior was scourged 1T is said that
this was a%nciently kept at Jerusalem
with other holy relics on Mount Zion
Brought to Rome.
1t is supposed to have remained In
the same place until the thirteenth
century, when it vase brought to Rome
delegate in the East under Pope Hon
orius III. Placed in a little chapel in
the church Of St. Praxedes, it is shown
there to this day. The pillar is OF
gray or black and white marble, one
foot and a half long or two Italian feet
and one foot in diameter at the bottom
and eight inches at the top, where Is
an iron ring to which criminals We're
tied. 1t is thought by some to be only
the upper part Of the pillar, as men
toned by an ecclesiastical historian;
but others. and in greater number
maintain 1t to be entire, as there are
no marks of a fracture.
AS 10 tllt ~ laSlCA III ~
thorns hich was pressed on thu
Savior's head at the time of His cruel
ixion there has been a great deal o;
problematical discussion. One version
mas it that they were plated together
30 as to entirely cover the top of Hi
aead, like a cap, and not merely as {
wreath, to bind the temples and fore
aead. h relic, it is said, has had al
interesting history. 1t was given b.
The Emperor Baldwin II to St. Louis
IS his cousin and great benefactor
when the city of ~Constantinople was NJ
longer considered a place Of securlt.
against the Saracens and Greeks. ST
Louis afterward In requital paid off
oan which that Emperor nae borrowe,
Of the Venetians. William of Nangt
and Vincent Beauvais and othe
French historians Of that time relat
how this sacred treasure was Wit
great devotion carried in a sealed cas-
By religious men. by way of Venice
nlto France. St. Louis, with the quee
mother, prelates and princes and
goodly retinue, met he relicsfnau
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