Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-14

! A BOVE the timberline In th'
a Rockies, and beneath the gian
N cross of eternal snow which
has given the famous Mount
of the Holy Cross it's name
several Colorado churchmen particl
pated In a unique and impressive com
memorative service short time ago
Bishop Benjamin Brewster, Arch
deacon Dennis, Rev. j. W. Hard o.
/ Glenwood Springs, and Rev. F. Z
Smith of Grand Junction, Colo, bravet
1 the hardships of one of the toughest
/ steepest trails in the Rocky mountains
| In order to make a long-contemplatec
| pilgrimage to the Mount of the HOLY
/ Cross. The staff and scrip OF these
| modern pilgrims was represented by
| blanket rolls, knapsacks. grub anc
/ religious vestments. Supplies were
/ packed on burros as far as those faith
/ full and sure-footed animals could be
| taken. Then the pilgrims struggled
| the rest of the way on foot, crawling
over huge boulders and risking life
and limb until at last they had reach
ed a place on Notch mountain. far
above timber line, from which a glori
Gus view of the Mount of the Holy
| Cross rewarded their efforts.
| After selecting a large rock as the
altar. the churchmen donned their re-
| ligious vestments and the common
orative service was held, after which
the altar was marked with a cross OF
loose stones.
inspiration for Artists.
Bishop Brewsters missionary dis
trict in western Colorado includes the
Mount of the Holy Cross, which has
inspired poets and painters for gen
erations trip to the mountain has
been long in contemplation and
short time ago the start was made
from Red Cliff. The difficulties OF
| the journey were well understood by
/ the churchmen, who have all lived
/ In the Rocky mountain country many
years There are only two available
routes from Red Cliff, one being Is
miles long. with a mountain climb al
| the end, and the other up the can
yon, route some six or eight miles
In actual length, but taxing the
strength of the best mountain climber
all the way. The latter route was
chosen. with a miner Of the neighbor
hood as. a guide.
The dignified churchmen scrambled
up the creek bed alternately pushing
| and pulling the burros on which had
been packed their camp equipage
| Camp was made at night well up the
divide, and the next morning the bur
ros were left behind, while the pill
| grims started on the rough end peril
Gus part of the ascent. After climb
| Ing the divide the clergymen found
Notch mountain looming in the fore
ground Notch mountain faces the
| Mount of the Holy Cross. From Its
! top one can look across a great rock
strewn basin, above timberline, and
can get the full majesty OF the giant
cross of snow which gives the larger
mountain its name Notch mountain
above timberline. is simply a great
pile of boulders. thrown together as
II from the wheelbarrow Of some
giant workman Scrambling over these
boulders proved hard and dangerous
work. and with torn clothes and
bleeding hands the clergvmen finally
stood on the summit. and commanded
superb view Of the object OF their
trip
| A storm was threatening, but as
the religious service on the mountair
/ progressed the clouds lifted and the
cross Of snow doomed white in the
/ sunshine The clergvmen unite IT
( declaring that il was the most impress
/ sive hour Of their lives. Snow field:
were on every hand. and the pineclat
/ Rockies stretched out below. In the
/ Immediate vicinity. however there
/ was no verdure. save the Anime fow
! ers and grasses that flourish above
/ Underline even in the rockiest local
/ tiles Longs Peak and other promi
nent mountains could be seen in the
distance, and to the north the i'm
/ pressive Gorge range was outlined
against the skv
There should be some means of let
ting the public glimnse this imnres
( sive spectacle" said Rev F c. Smith
/ who took part In the Holy Cross serv
/ ice. This view is one Of the creates
in the world beyond all doubt. A trai
could be made from Red Cliff which
would enable tourists to make the
round trip in a day, with an early
start Even with the trail in its pres
4 ,l4, cOndluon, the trip is we'll wortl
anybody's time and effort The males
/ ~ of this great cross. when viewed
close at hand, will never be forgotten
! by the onlooker"
The Mount of the Holy Cross hai
| been a source of inspiration to poet;
| and painters for generations. Eugene
/ Field has written pretty legend con
| corning it. He tells of a monk who
/ is Informed in vision that his sins
will not be forgiven until he finds
I suspended between heaven and eartf
/ tic symbol of the faith. The monl
Journeys many years through many
lands, and at last he penetrates the