The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1910-03-24

one great object ion reverence on the
one side. and Tor derisiou on the other
Ever since the cruciflxion IL haf
left a strong impress on the history oi
the nations and has been revered ~
the religion OF all the sects bearing
the name of Christ II has been sur
rounded by traditions and mysticism
and endowed with supernatural and
miraculous attributes II has been ia
ken as the emblem of faith under
the banner OF which great deeds OF
heroism have been done. as in olden
days when pioneer messengers of the
Story of the Cross filled with religious
zeal entered bravely into unciyilized
and barbarian lands, fearlesly ignor-
ing great dangers
Heralded by Christian banners the
procession OF civilization has spread
to all parts Of, the world Romans car
ried it to the Britons and Saxons. The
worship OF the sun. as observed by the
Incas was brought to an end through
the ascendancy of Spanish bearers of
the cross.
,ReipR the keynote and the glory"
OF the, Christian religion this emblem
soon became priced in other directions
besides those ecciesiastic with the
triumph Of Christianity the cross at
once gas recognized as universal
symbol of highest nobility and honor.
II was now considered TO add dignity
10 the crowns and scepters of emper-
ors and princes II became the proud
est ensign OF knightly rank. The
greatest warriors were proud to see the
cross on the hilts OF their swords as
well as on the banners under which
they. fought Il also became a, sign of
merit for yalor and bravery reward
for deeds OF honor. as the iron cross
OF Prussia established by William III.
for patriotic bravery in war.
It was worn also as a protection in
times oil trouble To denote the con-
secration 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 1924, start
ing out 70 deliver the Holy Land from
the dominion of the tnfidel, the brave
warriors we're thus named because of
the red cross they wore as badges on
their right shoulders.
The archbishop's crozier-the en-
sign OF his ofice--is the star with
cross head, distinguishing II from the
pastoral" staff of bishops and abbots.
which have a 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 1t among the
implements of his Industry. II forms
part of man himself" Man has been
created In this form as has been beau
tifully illustrated by Emily Collier In
the painting depicting the Holy Child's
expression of his love--"So wide is
my love-"
In the middle ages and in Crusaders
udgo tnC CiObS was tue
symbol OF the Christian In contradis.
tinction to the Crescent of the Mo-
hammedsn
The custom OF marking ones sig
nature by cross was first adopted
by Christians in the year ITO to dis
tinguish them from the pagans. and It
stood for silent oath
The early Christians Immediately
used this sign, which was connected
with their religion, as secret mes
sage to one another in their first days
of persecution. Mingling with the
prosecutors of their faith they could
thus make themselves known to each
other without calling the attention Of
those around them. In visiting the
catacombs in Rome, where they hid
from fear of their prosecutors. 1t is in
tensely interesting to notice that the
sign so sacred to them is carved and
engraven all around the walls OF their
prison cells and above the tombs OF
their brethren.