Emblems of 07ir Lord 



the beginning and the ending, the first and the 

 last." 



It has been already shown, in speaking of the 

 Cross of Constantine, how that the name of Christ 

 has been made to assume the form of a Cross. There 

 yet remains to speak of the name of Jesus, as it is 

 used in the form of a monogram. This form, which is 

 variously made (see the drawings on Plate XXIII.), 

 is simply the abbreviated form of the Holy name, the 

 label which is seen over the middle letter being the 

 sign of contraction. The monogram is of Greek 

 origin, the letters I. H. S., or I. H. C, being the 

 English representation of the Greek letters, J E S. 

 This form is mostly found represented in stained 

 glass, carved work, or manuscripts, in the manner 

 represented by figs, i and 2, Plate XXIII., when the 

 mark of contraction is properly shown; but sometimes 

 it is drawn with capital letters, and then with a cross 

 through the letter H. From this circumstance has 

 probably arisen the notion that these letters are the 

 initials of the words, Jesus Hominum Salvator," or 



