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the sponge offered, and also a spear in the hands of an attendant. If the age 
of these crosses were certainly an age anterior to Christianity, there would 
then be an argument which would go greatly against much of the evidence 
which Mr. Titcomb has so industriously brought together. I merely throw 
out these remarks for discussion. 
The following are some of the Scriptural Subjects illustrated on the Runic 
Crosses : — 
“ On east side of S.E. cross Monasterboice (about 34 miles from Dublin, 
in county Louth) is shown in one panel Adam and Eve, an^ in 
another the last judgment ; and on west side of same cross is a 
crucifixion. 
“ Tuam cross has a panel illustrating a crucifixion. 
“ Termonfeckin cross (county Louth) shows a crucifixion (very rude). 
“ Cross in churchyard at Kells (county Meath) shows in one panel Adam 
and Eve and Cain and Abel, and above this panel the children m the 
fiery furnace. 
“ East side of Arboe cross (county Tyrone), Adam and Eve, Abraham's 
sacrifice, and the children in the fiery furnace. 
“ The east side of the cross at Drumcliff (four miles from Sligo), Adam 
and Eve, the serpent, and the tree, finely sculptured. Also the last 
judgment. On the west side a crucifixion.” 
Mr. Titcomb.— May I ask in what way the crosses you mention would go 
against the main body of my paper ? I do not see how they can affect my 
evidence at all. 
Mr. Newton.— The evidence of these Runic Crosses might go thus far, 
we should find on crosses erected before Christianity that there existed 
pictures or representations of scenes which are to be found in the New 
Testament. 
Mr. Titcomb.— But that is assuming that the crosses were erected before 
Christianity existed. 
Mr. Newton. — Precisely so ; I only buildup my argument upon that. Bu 0 
I believe I have Mr. Fergusson’s evidence, and also the evidence of that 
other gentleman of whose judgment I have the highest opinion. I 
have their belief that these are very ancient crosses ; and if we find that they 
are pre-Christian crosses, and that they contain clear illustrations of the last 
judgment and of the crucifixion, then it is possible that many of the illus- 
trations given in the paper before us may bear another and a very different 
interpretation from that which we are now inclined to put upon them. 
The Rev. C. Graham.— I should like to make one or two observations 
upon this subject. As to what has fallen from Mr. Newton I would say that 
a cross is now generally a thing connected with Christianity. Christianity 
has suggested the making and setting up of crosses. I think that you 
will find, in Ireland, these crosses are all venerated, and in some instances 
