Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
FRAGMENTS FROM TRUE CROSS
BELIEVED IN NATIONAL MUSEUM
Collection Revealed by Rec
ordS of Late Dr..
CasanoWicz.
Personal Articles Said to
Connect With Lives of Jesus
and Saints.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
Two supposed fragments of the
actual Cross OF Calvary and alleged
personal relics of Jesus, Mary, st. Jo-
seph, st. Anne, the mother Of Mary;
st. Clement, ST. Theresa, st. Francis
Xavier and st. John Of the Cross, are
In the collections Of the United States
National Museum, it was revealed
yesterday.
Some OF these, according to the rec
ords, are sealed with the Episcopal seal
Of the Catholic Church. This seal, II it
is not forged, would authenticate them
as true relics or, at least, as having a
substantial body Of tradition behind
them. Those without the seal probably
will be considered spurious.
Although these articles have been in
the National Museum for years, few
have suspected their existence. They
came TO light with the publication OF a
catalogue Of the comparative religions
collection prepared just before his death
by the late DR.. Emmanuel CasanowicZ,
for IS years assistant curator Of old
world archaeology at the Museum and
recognized as q foremost authority on
the subject, who died more than year
ago.
When this catalogue appeared the
relics we're found as recorded by DR..
CasanowicZ, and also the notation Of
their accession. The National Museum
STAFF realized that they had in their
custody collection OF objects. some Of
which, If authenticated, would be held
in the highest veneration by large
part OF Christendom.
For years DR.. Casanowicz had pur-
sued his lonely and quiet way, an
auro OF medievalism about his stopped
figure, among the mysteries OF strange
creeds, gods and devils. He kept his
own counsel while hundreds Of articles
were added to the collection from time
to time. He was figure out OF a dis
tant past. living in a new age with new
interests.
Heart in His Work.
Established soon after the museum
started, the comparative religious col.
lection consisted for a long time Of a
large number of articles Illustrative Of
the ceremonial practices Of various
creedS. The heart OF DR.. Casanowicz
was In his assembly OF fantastic statues
Of Buddhas and Jewish, Mohammedan,
Parshee, BrahmAn, Taoist and Shinto
objects. All this time he kept his own
counsel, working with his ancient Bibles
and Hebrew, Greek and Pail texts. DR..
CaSanowicz had followed the policy Of
displaying In the showcases religious
articles, not according to their intrinsic
or historic importance, but for their
aptness in illustrating the beliefs and
ceremonial practices OF the worlds
major cults. A great many OF the
articles were kept on file by the curator.
unknown to the general public, but
available for the use Of scholars who
seldom came.
For the world had passed into a ma
terialistic age and left Or. Casanowicz
far behind. Then came the publication
Of his catalogue and the revelation OF
possibly unsupported treasures
DR.. CaSanowicz' interests lay in the
comparative study Of the religious be-
nefS Of others and he carried on this
work with complete scientific detach-
ment and absence Of emotion. His own
opinions on the great mysteries Of life
and death remained within himself.
Hence, so far as the outer man was
concerned. cult objects would have had
been valued to illustrate what other
men believed, without any speculation
as to whether or not the beliefs were
justified. So he would not have re-
garded these particular objects with the
same sentiment members of apostolic
churches would attach TO them II they
were authenticated.
Rare Collection Recorded.
DIR Casanowicz recorded the follow
ing objects which were found In his
collection:
Silver rehquary. made in the form OF
an oStenSory, encompassed by sHnbeams.
Behind the glass Is seen a croSslet, sup
posed TO. be made from particle OF
the true cross BY the true cross is
meant the actual cross upon which
Christ was crucified. II Is believed by
both the Roman Catholic and Eastern
Church that the cross buried upon Col
gotha was found in 32S AID. by the En-
press Helena. mother Of Consts ntine the
Great. Height, sl2 inches. Seville
Spain.
"Reliquart consisting Of an oval metal
frame. Behind the glass In front is q
/ tiny cross set in q gilt frame Of scroll
design. An inscription reads, Lgnun1
S. 8. crusis D. N. J. C. wood OF the
most holy cross Of our Lord Jesus
Christi. On the back is the episcopal
Of the relic Probably from Italy.
Relic of st. Anne, mother Of Mary
in an oval case of white metal. On the
back In relief Is an efhgy Of Mary and
the petition lin French: 20 Mary con-
| ceived without sin, pray for US who take
their refuge to thee"
Relic Of st. Peter, in an oval case
of.white metal with the episcopal seal
Relies Of st. Clement, consisting OF
two molar teeth in a brass frame. St
Clement was the third Bishop of Rome
toward the end Of the first century.
Relics Of Christ Mary, ST, Joseph
st. Francis a Paula I416-1507), st
Francis. Xavier l506-l552), st. Theresa
Q5l6-l5s2b and st. AIoysius Coinage
| U56s-15sD.
Relic of st. Charles Borrorneo 1S3s-
1584), in an oval case Of white meta
with the episcopal seal. St. Borromec
was cardinal and Archbishop OF. Milan,
Silver reliquary containing relics Of
Mary, st. Joseph, st. John of the Gross
and st. Theresa, framed by a fora
design In nlligree work, studded with
colored stones. With the Episcopal seal
silver reliquary with miniature
painting Of Mary, brought to New Mex.
leo In 1888 by Padre Sanchez"
Definition Previously Given. -
Previously Or. Casanowicz had de.
| hned relics IS remains OF departed
-