The Irish standard., 1917-12-22

Associations.
There is no sign, figure or token
within the alphabet of symbolism that
has so indelibly impressed itself upon
the minds of the people of all ages
and nations as the Sign of the Cross.
1t was to the pagans of the world a
presage OF peace, tranquility, happi-
ness, or it might be hazy conception
OF lost inheritance or a mystic re-
demption which was to be realized.
Ireland, the land of Saints and
Scholars, of churches and monasteries,
OF holy wells and sacred shrines, Of
ruins and memories, of crosses and
cruci1ixes, was famed for the diver
sity and splendor OF the emblem Of
the cross, and the clearest proof exists
that the highest Irish art and the
most skillful Irish artists were en-
ployed in it's design and execution
There was the Cross Muredach, or
Monasterboice-tha is, the Monas-
terry OF Boece, or Boetius-in County
Louth, which owed it's origin to the
celebrated Bishop and abbot of that
name, said to have been disciple
of St. Patrick. He died in $50.
The village of Monasterboice con-
tains the ruins of two churches, a
large round tower, an ancient church
yard, and three marble crosses of eN-
quisite beauty The crosses are elab-
orately sculptured with legends I'M
ages, and arlnorial bearings. in which
is discernible the Red Hand of the
O'Neills. One of these crosses, in
which the name Muredach is legible,
is believed to be the most ancient re-
ligious relic in Ireland
The splendidly sculptured cross of
Clonmacnoise, in Kings County, 13
miles from Athlone, stands close to
the ruins of churches, etc, in the
ancient churchyard, and is deemed, if
not equal to that of Monasaterboce,
only second to it in Ireland. Clon-
macncisc indicates that it was a re-
treat for the sons Of mobiles. St Kiar-
an founded a seat of learning there
in 54S. st. Coleba, its illustraous
president, visiting the Continent in
79l, was received at the Court of
Charlemagne, and presented by that
great monarch with so shekels Clon-
macnoise became an abbey of the
Canons Regular of st. Augustine, and
was enriched by kings and mobiles.
Then comes Cong, which is roman
tically situated on Lough Corrib,
three miles from Lough Mask, Coun-
ty Mayo, on the borders of Galway.
1t was the seat of the Kings of Con-
nacht, the last named native King be-
ing Roderick O'Connor, the bard and
hero, who died there in 1893. and was
buried in Clonmacnoise. There are
three remarkable crosses associated
with this historic place, two being
sculptured marble and the third is
that which has called forth the
greatest attention, and is known as
the gem of the Irish Academy, where
it now is, "and Affords" as DR.. Pc
trie says, "most striking evidence of
the advanced position of Irish art and
artiicers previous to the arrival of
the English"
1t was made by natives Of Roscom-
mon about the year 1923, in the reign
of Turlogh O'Connor, father of Rod
erick. 1t is esteemed as undoubtedly
one of the finest specimens of metal
work, enamel, niello and jewelry of
it's age in the Western world. 1t is
80 inches high, and the arms 19 inches
across. 1t consists of an oaken cross,
covered with plates of bronze and sill
yer, heavily washed in many places
with gold. In the front center, on
raised boss decorated with niello,
there is a large polished crystal of
quartz, in fact a double lens, one sur
face being much more convex than
the other, under which was originally
placed a piece of the true Cross, sent
by the Pope to King Turlogh in 1923.
1t is surrounded by wonderfully
beautiful golden filagree, and all the
rest of the cross, front and back, is a
mass of ornaments of the intertwined
pattern, or stray work, with gro
tesque animals, which is specially
characteristic of Irish ornamentation
in stone, metal and vitreous compost
tions, and is richly gilt in manner
not known, it is said, to modern art.
Both the tracery and the inscribed
edging-which is silver band-are
separated from the wooden frame by
plates of copper or bronze. The front
is divided by silver insertions into no
fewer than so panels, and the hands
and edges are decorated by 43 studs
or knobs.
Particolored enamels of various pat
terms, all of deep shade, set off the
crystal with striking effect. On the
silver sidebands are series of Latin
and Irish inscriptions in the Irish
character, and the letters are punched
into the silver by dies Of types, and
so deeply that Wilde says: 1.-THE met
al plates beneath are indented with
almost equal sharpness, which en-
ables US to read plainly even when
the external Mate had been injured