THE UNION JACK

Evening Star, Issue 19894, 16 June 1928, Page 10

THE UNION JACK

EMBLEMS OF CROSSES

No one seems to bo able to tell us ■definitely why it is that so many Hags of the nations .have Hie emblems of crosses'on them; hut there is one fine old story that helps ns to understand. ■■ln the days of the Homan Emperor Constantino there was a graduallygrowing menace against the Empire. Hordes of barbarians wore gathering on tho frontiers, and the civilisation ■'that had been built up by tho Homans was in grave peril. It was one day, when Constantine, going out to meet the enemy at tho head of his troops, was- perplexed and ill at ease, that he suddenly saw a vision high in the sky. It was a flaming cross, surrounded by a halo of beautiful colours, and arching over it were letters of fire that made the Latin words: “ IN HOC VINCE.” And these words told him that he would find victory if ho went into battle under the emblem of a cross. So he caused a jewelled cross to be made, ami attached it to a long .standard, and it is curious to think that for many a. year afterwards the Homan legions inarched to battle after battle carrying tho Labarnm, as their new emblem was called. Then we know that in tho days when knighthood was in flower, tho knight, clothed in symbolical garments. knelt all night in lonely vigil holding a env.s before bo undertook his enterprises.

These things may help to* explain why it is that most of the nations have adopted a similar emblem on their flags. If you look at Hie Union Jack you will timl that there arc three crosses. The foundation ot the design is the Cross of St. Andrew, I'at mn saint of Scotland. Tin’s is a white cross saltire (i.c., with' its lines going diagonally ’ like the letter X) on a bine Held. And the story of it is that near to the place now called St. Andrews, where St. Regains was believed to have buried some of the bones of the saint, the Piets and Scots banded themselves together to ward off ibeir common enemy, the Saxons, from the South. They had no flag in those days. The*, story lias it that the leader of Hie Scots .had-a vision something liko the- Emperor Constantine’s, only he saw a white cross in the bine sky. (It was on such a diagonal cross that St. Andrew was crucified, bead-downward.) They immediately adopted the symbol as their banner. Then there is the rod cross of Si. George, patron .saint of England, tiio renowned champion .of all the weak and defenceless, tho famous dragonslayer whose picture yon will find on tho hack of n golden sovereign—it yon can find the sovereign! This cross is upright and it is red. The colour is the colour that has always symbolized sacrifice. The red diagonal cross on the British flag is tho emblem ot Si. Patrick, patron .saint of Ireland, so that the,three crosses represent throe saints and three countries. . But thc meaning of the Union Jack is not understood even although you may. know all about its history. _ It. can be appreciated best only wben .it is remembered that in days when it has fluttered as a mere tattered and bloodstained rag, on burning plains, on kopjes or over trenches, men who were your sires have gladly given their lives in its defence. It is for the youth of to-day to remember that the old flag is still well worthy of defence, and to see to it that in the eyes of the whole world it will continue to represent what is noblest and best in the traditions of chivalry and honourable service.