Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-04-04
SACRED LEGENDS
 AND TRADITIONS
Most of Those Which Center About the Life of Christ Had Their Origin During the
 Middle Ages.

eartn, came Into pOpuiarlty, TOT the most part, during the middle ages, and
 were given unbounded creGance by
 the ignorant, superstitious people of
 that day, whose beliefs were yet
 tinged by the influence of organism. Upon these sacred legends are based
 many of the most famous paintings in the world, and not little of it's poetry and song.
 The traditions concerning the cross upon which the Savior was crucified
 A Greek legend tells that when Adam
 was expelled from the garden of Eden. he took with him staff made from 2 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 four
 ished. And, when, years later, it was
 cut down, it served as the cross of the crucifixion,
 The story of the mistletoe is better
 known-how once it was tall, stout, tree but how, after being used for the NAOS6. AC OCCdAO dCSuASCu, AAOA V
 weak parasite. The legend that the aspen tree was used for the cross is assigned to the Germans, who be- lieved that out of remorse and fear. it's leaves were made to shiver 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, distant, bade 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 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 together, forming but one trunk,
 which came to be regarded as symbol
 of the Holy Trinity. This tree, trans-
 planted by Moses and later by David.
 grew to be very beautiful. But even it's beauty did not prevent Solomon from cutting 1t 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 strange cir cumstance was taken as sign that 1t should not be used. Some time afterward, most versions agree, the beam was buried where the pool of Bethesda was at later time
 discovered During Passion week the
 wood rose and foated on the surface
 of the pool, and the Jews used it for the crucifixion cross.
 The legend of the Holy Grail has an 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 1t . beautiful cup. This cup came into the possession of Joseph of Arimathea, In
 whose house Christ kept the feast of
 the Passover with his disciples. At the crucif1xion Joseph received a few
 drops of Christ's blood into the cup, which thereafter became known as the Sangraal, Sangreal, or Holy Grail, be- cause the blood had not only sancti. fled it, but had given miraculous pow CTS as we'll. On every Good Friday
 morning these powers were renewed a dove coming down from heaven and depositing in the cup . consecrated wafer. Many a time did the chalice aid and sustain Joseph and his little
 band of followers, who took 1t with them to England. where they estab- lished the first monastery at Glaston-
 bury. 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 fur
 .nished material for the crown of thorn placed on the Saviors head. One of the legends says that the willow was used for this purpose, and that, in sorrow for causing 50 much agony. 1t
 dropped. and wept, it's 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 Savior's back.