Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14
Held in Vencration by Roman
Catholic Church.
INTERESTING HISTORY
THE CROWN OF THoRNS, CROSS
AND OTHER OBJECTS.
A Portion Of the Sacred, Cross Kept
in This City at st. Aloysius
Church-Keeping Of Relics.

The keeping of relics has ever formed
reverential and inspiring form of devotion
and remembrance. Memory of man run
meth not to the time when the case has
been otherwise, and it has been applauded
on all sides as happy and wholesome cir
cumstance. But in the keeping of relics
due regard has not always been taken to an
equitable distribution of them, and in con-
sequence at various times heated discussion
has been engendered. In secular matters a
spirit of lively legal contest has entered
into the possession Of some of the more
notable relics of soldiers and statesmen; in
ecclesiastical ones stealth has often been re-
sorted to for their possession.
The world at large has only recently had
an example of the latter character. when
a precious and valuable cope" large and
flowing garment like long cape which is
used for the vesper service in the Roman
Catholic Church, was surreptftiously taken.
The cope comes from the ancient Romans,
and is usually of fine material. Happily,
this relic, pilfered by Adventures, came
into the possession of j. Pierpont Morgan,
who Immediately, on learning the rightful
owners, ordered i. restored.
Rome is a veritable relquary 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 picturesQuey monumental walls
Ol
sacred passion of the Savior, and as this
event is the source of all happiness and
good to Christians, interest in these objects
TENDS TO not only respect, but generation as
well. OF the pillar at which Christ was
scourged it is said that this was anciently
kept at Jerusalem with other holy relics, on
Mount Zion. 1t is supposed to have remain
ed In the same place until the thirteenth
century, when it was brought to Rome by
Cardinal John Columna apostolic delegate
in the east under Pope Honorius Ill Placed
| In little chapel in the Church of ST. Prax-
edes 1t is shown there to this day The
pillar is of gray Or black and white mar
bic, one foot and 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 were tied 1t
is thought by some to be only the upper
part OF the pillar, as mentioned by an &C.
cleslastlcal historian; but others, and in
greater number, maintain it to be entire, as
tnere are no marks of a fracture
AS to the character of the crown of thorns
which was pressed on the Saviors head at
the time of his crucifixion there has been
a great deal of predetermined discussion
one version has it that they were plated
together SO as to entirely cover the top of
His head, like cap. and not merely as a
wreath to bind the temples or forehead.
Inns relic, 1t is said, has had an interesting
history. 1t was given by the Emperor
Baldwin II to ST. Louis, as his cousin and
great benefactor, when the city of Con-
stantinople was no longer considered as a
place OF security against the Saracens and
Greeks. st. Louis afterWard in reuuitaI
paid off a loan which that emperor had
borrowed of the Venetians. William of
Nangis and Vincent Beauvas and other
French historians of that time relate how
this sacred treasure was with great deyo-
ton carried in a sealed case by religious
men, by way of Venice, into France ST.
Louis, with the queen mother, prelates and
princes and goodly retinue, met the relic
many miles beyond Sens. 1t is related how
the pious king and Robert of Artois his sec
ond brother. being barefooted and in their
shirt sleeves, carried it into that city to
the cathedral of ST Stephen, the procession
attracting great multitude. 1t was thence
conveyed to Paris, where it is stated to
have been received with extraordinary
solemnity. ST. Louis built for it's reception
the Holy Chapel as it is called, and an
nexed thereto rich foundation of a chap
ter of canonS.
An Architectural Gem.
This church is one of the most famous
in Paris, being a Gothic gem as to archi-
lecture and notable not alone for the splen-
dor of its interior decorations, but as pos
sessing stained glass windows which, au-
thorities say. have not their equal in Eu-
rope. Here the thorns are kept amid all
the magnificence that human ingenuity can
provide. Some thorns have been distributed
from this treasure to other churches in Eu-
rope. They are said to be for the most
part long. 1t is unfortunately fact that
imitation has been resorted to, though not
with great success. There is a complete
record in existence of the distribution of
the original thOrns. Church authorities have
been very strict in this regard-it being a
high misdemeanor for any of the priests
to display a relic in church unless there is
absolute authenticity as to it's genuineness,
! and where this rule Is abridged excom-
munication is melted out to the offender.
If the cross on which the Savior was
crucified had been many leagues in length
and breadth it probably would not suffice
to appease the desire for a memento of
this most memorable and tragic occurrence.
What untold representations Of the cross
are in eXstence! There is scarcely a ham,
let or settlement in the world where, di-
rectly on entering, the traveller may not
behold this emblem of the Saviors crucifiX
ion affixed to the highest spiral, while in
the homes of millions are to be found cross
es of various sizes and kinds, some of them
fashioned out of the most expensive and
rarest of metals and jewels. But it is Of
the original cross that this column will
deal.
Roman Catholic churches celebrate
the I'd of May as a festival in mem
St. Helen in the year 1926, about
one hundred and eighty years after it had
been buried by the heathens. Out of an
aversion to Christianity, 1T is stated. the
enemies of the Savior had done all IN
their power to conceal the place where 1t
had therefore. it is related, heaped upon
this sepulche. a great quantity of stones
and rubbish, besides building a temple to
Venus, that those who came TO adore Him
might seem to pay their worship to mar
BILE idol, representing this Getty. They had
moreover, 1t is said. erected statue to
Jupiter in the place where Christ rose
from the dead. which figure is stated to
have continued there from the Emperor
ABRAMS time to Constantine's reign. The
precautions of the prosecutors evidently
showed the veneration which the Christians
must have paid from the beginning to the
Instruments of redemption.
Found by Helena.
Historians tell us/that Helena, Constan-
tines mother. being inspired with a great
desire to find the Identical cross on which
Christ had suffered for the sins of the
world. came to Jerusalem and consulted all
those whom she thought likely to assist her
in comprising her pious design. She Is
stated to have been creditably informed
that If she could find out the sepulcher she
would likewise find the instrument of the
| punishment. 1t being always custom
among the Jews to make great hole near
he MI MI ba bfafiv af a criminal