The Columbus journal., 1910-03-16

lowed tho lines OF q cross, 30 tnot inc
very walls from their foundations up
ward might carry with them a they
rose the image of the sacred sign. to
receive its GROWING figure displayed
in the ridge line Of its roofs. Crosses,
In an endless variety Of forms. still
surmount the Hottest and finest parts
Of the architecture Of the cathedrals
and churches Of Europe. Above the
tombs Of the departed or even in the
pavements Of the church above the
monumental vaults In these cathedrals
this same sign proclaims the faith ol
those who rest beneath.
Being the keynote and the glory
{: the Christian religion this emblem
soon became priced In other directions
besides those ecclesiastic. With the
triumph Of Christianity the cross 1t
once vas recognised a. q universal
symbol Of highest nobility and honor.
Il Was Cow considered to add dignity
to the crowns and scepters Of empsr.
ors and princes. II became the proud,
est ensign Of mighty rank. The
greatest warriors were proud to ZEE the
cross on the hits Of their swords -
well - On the banners under which
they fought Il also became Q sign Of
merit for valor and bravery-a reward
for deeds Of honor. a the iron cross
OF Prussia established By william III
for patriotic bravery In var.
Il Wss worn also - Q protection IN
times Of trouble. To denote the con-
secretion Of those devoted to the aid
Of the suffering and needy: the Red
Cross was the Confederation Of socie.
ties in different countries for the bet
terment Of conditions Of the wounded
soldiers In campaigns on land and
sea In Crusader days. beginning
with Peter the Hermit. in 1894. start
ing out to deliver the Holy Land from
the dominion Of the infidel. the brave
warriors were thus named because Of
the red cross they wore ~ badges on
their hight shoulders.
The archbishop's crozier-the en-
sign Of his Objects the stan with Q
cross head. distinguishing 1t from the
which nave shepherds crook.
Thus has been experienced the say
ing Of Justin Martyr SO many years
ago-that the sign Of the cross was
impressed upon the whole Of nature.
There Is hardly . handicraftsman also
but uses the figure Of IT among the
implements Of his industry. It forms
. part Of nan himself" Man has been
created in this form a. has been beau.
tifuily illustrated by Emily Collier In
the painting depicting the Holy Child's
expression OF his love-"So vide u
my love-"
In the middle ages and in Crusaders
days the cross was the distinctive
symbol of the Christian In contradis.
tinction to the Crescent Of the Mo
hammedan.
The custom Of marking ones sig.
nature by . cross was first adopted
BY Christians in the year no to dis
tinguish them from the pagans. and Il
stood for . silent oath.
The early Christians Immediately
used this sign. which was connected
with their religion. as q secret mes
sage to one another in their FIRST days
Of persecution Mineling with the
prosecutors Of their faith. they could
thus make themselves known to each
other without cal''-x the attention OF
those arotnd them. In visiting the
catacombS In Rome. where they hid
from fear Of their prosecutors. It 10 In
tensely interesting to notice that the
sign 20 sacred to them II carved and
engraven all around the walls Of their
prison cells and above the tombs Of