THE UNION JACK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 139, 26 May 1928, Page 9

THE UNION JACK

jVO ONE seems to be able to tell ■k' us definitely why it is that so many flags of the nations have the emblems of crosses on them; but there is one fine old story that helps us to understand.

In the days of the Roman Emperor Constantine, there was a gradually growing menace against the Empire. Hordes of barbarians were gathering on the frontiers, and the civilisation that had been built up by the Romans wa 8 in grave peril. It was one day, when Constantine, going out to meet the enemy at the 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 he went into battle under the emblem of a cross. So he caused a jewelled cross to be made and attached it to a long standard, and it is curious to think that for many a year afterwards the Roman legions marched to battle after battle carrying the Labarum, as thei r new emblem was called Then we know that in the days when knighthood was in flower, the knight, clothed in symbolical garments, knelt all night in lonely vigil holding a cross before he 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 the Union Jack, you wjl; find that there are three crosses The foundation of the design is the Cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. Thi s is a white cross saltire (i.e.. with its lines

going diagonally like the letter “X”) on a blue field. And the story of it is that near to the place now 'called St. Andrews'* where St. Regulus was believed to have buried some of the bones of the saint, the Picts and Scots banded themselves together to ward off their common enemy, the Saxons, from the South. They had no flag in those days. The story has it that the leader of the Scots had a vision something like the Emperor Constantine’s, only he saw a white cross in. the blue sky (If was on such a diagonal cross that St. Andrew was crucified, head-downward). They immediately adopted the symbol as their banner.

Then there is the red cros 6 of St. George, patron saint of England, the renowned champion of all the weak and defenceless, the famous dragonslayer whose picture you will find on the back of a golden sovereign if you can find the sovereign! This cross is upright, and it is red. The colour is the colour that has always symbolised sacrifice.

The red diagonal cross on the British flag is the emblem of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, so that the three crosses represent three saints and three countries. But the meaning of the Union Jack is not understood even although you may know all about ite history. It can be appreciated best only when it is remembered that in days when it has fluttered as a mere tattered and blood-stained rag, in burning plains on kopjes or over trenches, men who were your sires have gladly given their lives in ite defence. It i 8 for the youth of to-day to remember that the olff 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.