The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-03-25

of which SO much has been wrought
Of oorid.wilr gooo to humanity. and.
alas of great harm through Chris.
tian fanaticismL
Perhap. there is no other object on
earth about which there has been
more controversy. more disscnsions
and more suporstitions than about
this one great object for reverence
ON the one side. and for dcrision
on the other.
Ever since the crucifiNion it has
left strong Impress on the history
of the nations aud has been rcycrcd
in the religion of all the sects bear
ing the name of Christ 1t has been
surrounded by traditions and mysti-
cism and endowed with supernatural
and miraculous attributes. II has
been taken as the emblem of a faith
/ under the banner ~ which great
deeds OF hcroism have been done.
as in ,ldrn days when pioneer mes.
sengcrs Oi the Story of the Cross
filled with religious zeal entered
brayely into mcivilized and barba-
rian lands. fcarlcesly ignoring great
dangers.
lIcrdldcd by Christian banners the
procession Of civilization has spread
t. all parts OF the world. Romans
carried it to the Britons and SaNons.
The worship of the sun as observed
by the Incas was brought To an
end through the ascendancy OF span.
ish bearers of the cross.
/ Being the keynote and the glory"
Of the Christian religion this emblem
soon became p'ized in other drec-
/ tons besides those ccclcsiastic. With
the triumph of Christianity the cross
/ AT once was recognized aS a univer-
sal symbol of highest nobility and
honor. Il was now considered To add
! dignity TO the crowns and sccpters
| of empcrCT- and princes. 1t bccam"
/ the proudest ensign of knightly rank.
The greatest warriors were proud to
see the cr.ss on the hilts of their
swords ~ well as on the banners
under which they fought. II also be
came sign of merit for yalor and
bravery reward for dccde ol hon
or. as the iron cross OF Prussia es-
tablished by William III FIR pa.
triotic bravery in war.
II Vas worn also as prot,ctio
in times of trouble To denote the
conservation of those devoted To The
, aid OF the suffering and needy; the
Red Cross was the confederation of
societies In different countries for
the betterment OF conditions OF the
wounded soldiers in campaigns on
land and sea In Crusader days. be.
ginning with Peter the Hermit. in
1894. starting out tD deliver the
Holy Land from the dominion OF
the nfidcl. the brave warriors were
thus named because of the red cross
they w.rr a. badges on their right
shoulders.
The archbishop's crozier-the en-
sign Of his Onicc-is the stan with
cross head, DISTINGUISHING it from
the pastoral" stan of bishops and
abbots, which have shepherds
crock.
Thus hae been experienced IN
saying of Justin Martyr so many
years agO-that the sign uf the
cross was impressed upon the whole
o! nature. There Is hardly haul,
craftsman also but uses the figure ui
it among the implements of his in
dustry. 1t forms a part of man him
self Man has been created in thi
form aS has been beautifully iilu,
tratcd by Emily Collier in the paint
ing dcplctiug the Holy Child's cX
preston of his love-"So wide i,
my love"
In the middle ages and in cru
saders days the cross was the dis
tinctivo symbol of the Christian ii
contradietnction of the NJ hammed
an .
! The custom of marking ones sg
nature by "A cross. was first adopted
by Christians In the year 10 to dis
tineuish them from the pagans AN,
: It stood for "A silent oath.
The early Christians immediate
u,cd this sign, which was Connectc,
with their relgi-n, as a secret mes
sag. TO Cue another in their Nrs
days OF persecution Minglins sl,,
the pCr.c'utors of their faith, tac.
( could thus make themselves know
To each other without calling tn,
attention of these around them. II
al To- .1A.f tt.