Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-04-01

perpetually.
To cedar were His pierced feet nailed sore;
To beams OF sacred palm His outstretched hands;
cypress tree his tortured body bore,
On olive wood His kingy title stands.
But the legend OF the cross most widely
spread and most generally believed in
the olden time is as follows:
Adam having lived to great age, and
feeling that death was not far distant,
bade his son Seth bring 10 him either the
fruit of LIE which grew in the garden of
Eden, or the oil OF mercy which flowed
there and which had been promised to
Adam upon his expulsion from the gar
den. Seth made his way 10 Paradise by
the footprints OF Adam and Eve, over
which no grass had ever grown. The
angel to whom Seth made known his er-
rand gave him tree seeds, from fruit OF
the tree of which Adam had eaten and di-
rected that they be placed under Adams
tongue just before his burial In the
course of time Adam died and the angels
instructions were carried out.
Soon there sprang from Adams grave
in Hebron three trees-a cedar, a cypress
and pine tree. These long grew to-
gether, forming but one trunk, which
came TO be regarded as the symbol of the
Holy Trinity. This tree, transplanted by
Moses and later by David, grew TO be
very beautiful. But even its beauty did
not prevent Solomon from cutting il down
in order TO complete his temple, for
which beam Of enormous size was lack
ing. But each time that the beam cut
from this tree was fitted, ii twould be eth
er too large or too small, and such pc
culiar circumstance was taken as a sign
that il should not be used.
Some time afterward, most versions
agree, the beam was buried where the
pool of Bethesda was at a later time dis
covered. During Passion week the wood
rose and floated on the surface OF the
pool, and the Jews used it for the Cruel
fixion cross.
The legend Of the Holy Grail has an
important place in literature and art. Ac-
cording to tradition descendant OF Adam
and Eve found one OF the large emeralds
from the crown of Lucifer-an angel who
had been expelled from heaven-and
made from il beautiful cup. This cup
came into the possession of Joseph OF
Arimathea, in whose house Christ kept
the feast otthe Passover with his disciples.
AT the crucifxion Joseph received few
drops OF Christ'S blood into the cup, which
thereafter became known as the Sangraal,
Sangreal, or Holy Grail, because the blood
had not only sanctified it, but had given
miraculous powers as well. On every
Good Friday morning these powers were
renewed--a dove coming down from
heaven and depositing in the cup con-
secrated wafer. Many time did the
chalice aid and sustain Joseph and his
little band OF followers, who took il with
them 10 England, where they established
the first monastery at Glastonbury. But
sin finally appeared among the flock and
angels carried the Holy Grail away.
In Palestine there grows creeping
plant with long, hard thorns-the Spina
Christi-which may have furnished ma
terial for the crown Of thorns placed on
the Saviour's head. One of the legends
says that the willow was used for this
purpose, and that, in sorrow for causing
so much agony, it dropped and wept, its
sharp thornS changing into soft leaves,
that they might never again cause any
pain. And ever since it has been known
as the weeping willow. Other legends
relate that this change in the willow came
because its branches were used as
scourge upon the Saviour's back.
In Germany, France and England, it
was generally believed that the crown
was made from hawthorn twigs. In Italy
the barberry, in the West Indies the cas-
hew tree, and elsewhere the brier rose,
acanthus, wild hyssop and acacia bear
this stigma.
A great deal of bird lore is linked with
the stories Of the Passion. There is a
Danish legend that as Christ was suffer-
ing on the cross three birds came and
alghted uponit. One cried, "Styrk ham,
styrik ham ~ Strengthen him, strengthen
him , , and since that time the stork has
been known as bird of strength and
blessing. The second, it was interpreted,
cried "Sval ham, sval ham !" Refresh
him, refresh HIM and the swallow was
likewise thought 10 be bird OF blessing.
But the third cried, "Pnen ham :" Tor
ture him ,, and so from that hour the
lap-wing has been accused among birds
The Swedish legend is the same, with
the addition OF fourth bird. the turtle
dove, which, flying thither, cried. "kyne,
KYrie !" lord, Lord J and its voice has
ever since been limited to that single
word OF lament.
An owl, according TO the Spanish. was
so dazzled by the sunlight it did not per-
ceive that il had alighted upon the cross.
But as night came on il saw, and, fright
ened, called, Cruz, cruz !" Gross,
cross y as it flew away. And from that
moment the owl has kept repeating this