>From somewhere in the distant past, your request dredged up an old story
that the cross was made of dogwood. As a result, the tree has grown crooked
and fragile ever since so that it can never be so used again and its white
flower is strained with a bloody cross. I don't recall where this came
from. Sorry.
Jo Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: Atchley, Clinton <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2000 4:37 PM
Subject: wood of the cross
>
>In Capitulum 70 of *Jacob's Well* (c. 1500), the preacher tells us that the
>cross used in the crucifixion was composed of four woods--cedar, cypress,
>palm, and olive--which represent various things. In the 12c Old English
>version of the *History of the Holy Rood-Tree*, we find the cross made of
>cypress, cedar, and pine representing the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
>respectively. Can anyone tell me who started this convention of associating
>the cross with a variety of woods? Other examples?
>
>Dr. Clinton Atchley
>Department of English
>Box 7652
>Henderson State University
>Arkadelphia, AR 71999
>Phone: 870.230.5276
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>URL: http://www.hsu.edu/faculty/atchlec
>
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