Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1915-04-02
SACRED LEGENDS
and TRADITIONS
Most of Those Which Center
About the Life of Christ Had
Their Origin During the
Middle Ages.

THE countless legends which center
1 about the life of Christ while upon
earth, came into popularity, for the
most part, during the middle ages, and
we're given unbounded credence by
the ignorant, superstitious people Of
that day, whose beliefs we're yet
tinged by the influence of paganism.
Upon these sacred legends are based
many of the most famous paintings in
the world, and not a little of its poetry
and song.
The traditions concerning the cross
upon which the Savior was crucifed
have come down to us in varied forms.
A Greek legend tells that when Adam
was expelled from the garden of Eden,
he took with him a staff made from a
branch of the Tree of knowledge. Dur
ing his wanderings he reached the site
of Jerusalem, and thrusting the staff
into the earth it took root and flour
ished. And, when, years later, it was
cut down, it served as the cross Of
the crucifxion,
The story of the mistletoe is better
known-how once it was a tall. stout,
tree but how, after being used for the
cross, it became accursed, a mere
weak parasite. The legend that the
aspen tree was used for the cross is
assigned to the Germans, who be-
lleved that, out of remorse and fear,
its leaves we're made to SILVER per
petually.
To cedar were His pierced feet nailed sore
To beams OF sacred palm His outstretch-
ed hands:
A cypress tree His tortured body bore.
On olive wood His kingly title stands.
But the legend of the cross most
widely spread and most generally be-
lieved in the olden time is as follows:
Adam, having lived to a great age,
and feeling that death was not far
distant, babe his son Seth bring to
him either the fruit of life 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 garden. Seth made
his way to Paradise by the footprints
of Adam and Eve, over which no grass
had ever grown. The angel to whom
Seth made known his errand gave him
tree seeds. from the fruit of the tree
of which Adam had eaten. and d.
rected that they be placed under
Adams tongue just before his burial.
In the course of time Adam died and
the angels instructions we're carried
out.
Soon there sprang from Adams
grave in Hebron three trees-a cedar
a cypress and a pine tree. These long
grew together, forming but one trunk
which came to be regarded as a symbol
of the Holy Trinity. This tree, trans
planted by Moses and later by David
grew to be very beautiful. But ever
its beauty did not prevent Solomon
from cutting it down in order to com
plete his temple, for which a beam OF
enormous size was lacking. But each
time that the beam cut from this tree
was fitted, It would be either too large
or too small, and such a strange cir
cumstance was taken a. a sign that II
should not be used.
Some time afterward, most versions
agree. the beam was buried where the
pool of Bethesda was at a later time
discovered. During Passion week the
wood rose and ioated on the surface
Of the pool, and the Jews used It fol
the crucihxion cross.
The legend of the Holy Gran has al
important place in literature and art
According to tradition a descendant
Of Adam and Eve found one Of the
large emeralds from the crown Of Luci
fer-an angel who had been expelled
from heaven-and made from It 1
beautiful cup. This cup came into the
possession Of Joseph of Arimathea, II
whose house Christ kept the feast o.
the Passover with his disciples. A
the crueihxion Joseph received a few
drops Of Chrlst's blood into the cup
which thereafter became known as thu
sangraal, Sangreal. or Holy Grail, be
u the blood had not only sancti
fed il. but had given miraculous pow
ers as well. On every Good FRIDAY
morning these powers were renewed
a dove coming down from heaven an'
depositing In the cup a %consecrate'
wafer. Many a time did the chalicI
aid and sustain Joseph and his littll
band Of followers. who took 1t will
them TO England, where they estah
lished the arst monastery at Glaston