1905
A limestone pebble, bearing a striking image of the face of Christ, which was picked up at Oberammergau in September, 1880, the day after the decennial performance of the "Passion Play", is the remarkable possession of Mrs. Eugenia Jones Bacon of Atlanta, Georgia.
The likeness can only be seen when the light falls upon the stone from a certain direction. The countenance is perfect in every detail as portrayed by the great masters, and the closed eyes with the pallid color of the stone give the face a sad expression. The nostrils are thin and across the brow are the deep furrows of worry and anguish.
Religious Services for Car Men
After an experience of several years in holding services for the benefit of the employees of the Philadelphia Trolley Company at two of the barns in West Philadelphia, a third car barn will he visited by the members of the Brotherhood or St. Andrew.
Arabian Missionary on a Visit
The Rev. Archibald Forder, the only Christian missionary in Arabia, is on a leave of absence in the United States.
Showing posts with label relics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relics. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Buddha's Sacred Eyeball Kept as Relic
1893
It Is the Veritable Visible Organ of Buddha
The following on Buddha's sacred eyeball is from the pen of a traveler who visited the Orient in 1888:
"Among the sacred relics of Horluji is the veritable eyeball of Buddha. It looks like nothing else but the tiny, black, veil-boiled pearl that one so often finds in an oyster stew. This 'Eye of Buddha' is shown every day at high noon, special mass being chanted by the priests while the relic is being brought out and displayed.
"For a consideration, and for the welfare of the temple's treasury, the mass can be repeated at any hour. We sent for the old priest, who came in company with a brother whose office was that of holding a big yellow umbrella over the 'holy man's' head. First he knelt, touched a silver gong and played before a gilded shrine with closed doors and golden lotus ornaments. Next he drew from one side of the shrine a large bundle covered with a wrapping of rich old gold and red brocade and tied with silk cords. This was reverently laid on a low ornamented table near the altar. Then, with muttered chants of prayer going on all the time, the old priest untied and laid out bag after bag of brocade, each lined with some dull contrasting color and tied with silken cords. After the ninth bag had been taken out and untied, an upright box, covered with more brocade, appeared and, lifting it out, the priest opened it and produced a little rock crystal reliquary and set it upon a gilded lotus pedestal that stood near. This reliquary was shaped like the tombstones in a cemetery — a cube, a sphere and a pyramid being placed one above the other and held together with gold wire. In the hollow of the sphere lay the tiny little dingy relic, which rattled around like a pearl or pebble when the priest turned and tipped the box so that I could get a better view of the sacred object.
"He never stopped once in his muttered chant, and after a proper time had been given for me to see it to my satisfaction he replaced the relic in its ten wrappings and again consigned it to its sacred shrine."
It Is the Veritable Visible Organ of Buddha
The following on Buddha's sacred eyeball is from the pen of a traveler who visited the Orient in 1888:
"Among the sacred relics of Horluji is the veritable eyeball of Buddha. It looks like nothing else but the tiny, black, veil-boiled pearl that one so often finds in an oyster stew. This 'Eye of Buddha' is shown every day at high noon, special mass being chanted by the priests while the relic is being brought out and displayed.
"For a consideration, and for the welfare of the temple's treasury, the mass can be repeated at any hour. We sent for the old priest, who came in company with a brother whose office was that of holding a big yellow umbrella over the 'holy man's' head. First he knelt, touched a silver gong and played before a gilded shrine with closed doors and golden lotus ornaments. Next he drew from one side of the shrine a large bundle covered with a wrapping of rich old gold and red brocade and tied with silk cords. This was reverently laid on a low ornamented table near the altar. Then, with muttered chants of prayer going on all the time, the old priest untied and laid out bag after bag of brocade, each lined with some dull contrasting color and tied with silken cords. After the ninth bag had been taken out and untied, an upright box, covered with more brocade, appeared and, lifting it out, the priest opened it and produced a little rock crystal reliquary and set it upon a gilded lotus pedestal that stood near. This reliquary was shaped like the tombstones in a cemetery — a cube, a sphere and a pyramid being placed one above the other and held together with gold wire. In the hollow of the sphere lay the tiny little dingy relic, which rattled around like a pearl or pebble when the priest turned and tipped the box so that I could get a better view of the sacred object.
"He never stopped once in his muttered chant, and after a proper time had been given for me to see it to my satisfaction he replaced the relic in its ten wrappings and again consigned it to its sacred shrine."
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Easter Story Says Cross Found Near Tomb, A.D. 326
1950
Easter Story Says Cross Found Near Tomb, A.D. 326
BY THE CHURCH EDITOR
What became of the Cross? An article by T. B. Gleave, in the United Church Observer, retells the story of the memorable day, almost a second Easter, when on May 3, 326 A.D., Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, after a year's search unearthed, first the Sepulchre; then, in a nearby pit, the Cross itself, with the crosspiece still bearing Pilate's inscription, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. The Cross remained in actual existence, definitely in historical records, until 1192. It is said to have been made of aspen wood.
The Easter Message
The religious significance of Easter is the subject of an article by H. Beverley Ketchen in The Presbyterian Record. Mr. Ketchen says: "The Easter message is the assurance of 'another continent' where, we may be sure, every pure aspiration shall be satisfied, where every true prayer shall find its answer. This 'instinct of another continent' makes what we call death just a romantic adventure."
--Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, April 8, 1950, page 10.
Comment: This would be a good place to say, "The opinions and viewpoints represented in the articles at this website do not necessarily reflect those of me." Maybe Jesus' cross was found in 326 and remained in actual existence until 1192 and maybe it didn't. Some of the stories of relics like this, while interesting and maybe of value to some people, are no doubt good fiction. But if they really found the Cross and it really vanished in 1192, it's probably a good thing; I'd hate to see it pop up on eBay!
Easter Story Says Cross Found Near Tomb, A.D. 326
BY THE CHURCH EDITOR
What became of the Cross? An article by T. B. Gleave, in the United Church Observer, retells the story of the memorable day, almost a second Easter, when on May 3, 326 A.D., Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, after a year's search unearthed, first the Sepulchre; then, in a nearby pit, the Cross itself, with the crosspiece still bearing Pilate's inscription, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. The Cross remained in actual existence, definitely in historical records, until 1192. It is said to have been made of aspen wood.
The Easter Message
The religious significance of Easter is the subject of an article by H. Beverley Ketchen in The Presbyterian Record. Mr. Ketchen says: "The Easter message is the assurance of 'another continent' where, we may be sure, every pure aspiration shall be satisfied, where every true prayer shall find its answer. This 'instinct of another continent' makes what we call death just a romantic adventure."
--Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, April 8, 1950, page 10.
Comment: This would be a good place to say, "The opinions and viewpoints represented in the articles at this website do not necessarily reflect those of me." Maybe Jesus' cross was found in 326 and remained in actual existence until 1192 and maybe it didn't. Some of the stories of relics like this, while interesting and maybe of value to some people, are no doubt good fiction. But if they really found the Cross and it really vanished in 1192, it's probably a good thing; I'd hate to see it pop up on eBay!
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