Stained Glass.—Ii.

has the Latin cross on a nimbus , elevated from the head , as

Jig . 15 . All the lambs seem to be advancing to the mound on which Jesus and the lamb are standing , teaching us , that all Christianity should thus be tending towards that stream of baptism I which flows at his feet . In Jig . 16 is

a cruciform nimbus of the eleventh century , elevated entirely above the head . In the tenth century the Lamb of God was frequently represented with a nimbusthe bases of which were

, opaque , but bearing in the centre of each a perfect cross , as in . jig . 17 . The cruciform nimbus was a sign characterising equally the Son and the other two persons of the Trinity , but the cross itself is an attribute which

belongs immediately to Christ , and through whom the Father and Holy Ghost have it quartered , as it were , on the field of their nimbus . The Greek church particularly honours Christ ,

l . *» . Cruciform nimbus of lite Divine Lamb .

believing that he alone is the source of being . It is thus that he is represented

IS . Cruciform nimbus .

on their iconoclasts and in their stained glass . He is also rejn-esented governing the Greek church as he does the world . His form , too , is more often represented than that of either the Father or Holy Ghost .

In every era this has been the principal form delineated , sometimes as a youth , sometimes as a young man with a flowing beard , but it remained with the papacy to depict him as an old man , under the figure of a Pope ,

almost worn out with old age . In very many paintings he is represented as the creator of the world , with a cruciform nimbus , and holding in his hand , or resting his hand upon , a globesymbolic of the world of his

, creation . In Rheims Cathedral it is also the custom to give greater honour to the Son , during the service , than to the

\ -. Cimdar cruciform nimbus otllel" persons of the Trinity . It is of the Divine Lumo . a curious custom , and peculiar to one or two of the continental churches . AVhen the Gloria Patriot is said , the name of the "Father is passed over without any notice , but at tho word "Filio , " the clergy and choristers rise , and reverentially incline the head , seating themselves when the Holy Ghost is mentioned .

This may arise from the force of early impressions , but holy writ fully justifies this adoration ; and from that passage in St . Paul to the Philippians , " At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow , & c , " we may trace the origin ofthc innumerable representations of the Son over the Father and the S pirit . While this prominence is given to the Sonthe Deitor

, y , God the Father , is sometimes represented by a portion only of the bod y , most frequently the hand . In this case it is usually surrounded by a circular nimbus with cross bars forming a cross , and with rays of light decorating the remainder of the field . These are supposed to form the earliest representation of the Fatherand the Land is usually

ex-, tended as if in the act of blessing . In the frescoes of St . Savin ( twelfth century ) the . hand of God , without a nimbus is extended from the clouds , blessing Melchizecleck . There , -ire several other examples of the divine hand being without

a nimbus , but where a nimbus is shown it is nearly always decorated by the cross . There is another form of nimbus that we have only incidentally mentioned , and that is the triangle ; some artists have connected the rays from the temples with those of the browsforming a pyramidthe base line of which extends

, , through the forehead as in fig . 3 . There has been something - more than accident , however , in thus forming the triangle . Members of the Eoyal Arch degree of Freemasons know perfectly well some of the attributes of this sacred figure , attributes peculiar to the Craft ; but independently of these , the triangle possesses a mystical reason which maintains its importance

among other geometrical forms . It ever has been considered as the geometrical emblem of the Trinity , representing in its unbroken area , the unity of one God in three persons . Throughout the whole of Asia the triad is a mystic number . It is symbolic of the attributes of the Supreme Being , uniting in itself the properties of the two first numbers of the unity

and the duad . The Grecians adopted this form at a very early date , but it remained with the Italians to elevate it as a fitting symbol of the Great Architect of the Universe , the Great I AM . This expresses perfect divinity , but the Greek Masons by adding another triangle , symbolized the infinity as well as the divinity of the godhead . In the centre of tho

double triangle are sometimes written three Greek words , called by Eoyal Arch Masons the Holy Tau , and which indicate the Supreme Being . The words then represent the great Jehovah ; the triangle , the Trinity ; and the double triangle the infinity of God . In a fresco at Mount Atbos , the three persons are represented with each a different nimbus .

The Father with the double triangle , with three Greek words signifying "I am that I am ; " the Son with a circular nimbus with cross bars , and the same words ; and the Holy Ghost as a dove , without a nimbus , but in an aureola .

Another fresco in the same place contains the coronation of the Virgin by the Holy Trinity . Mary has a circular nimbus , the Holy Ghost a circular radiating nimbus , Christ a circular cruciform nimbus , and the Father a triangular radiating nimbus . These different forms show different

gradations of dignity , and are made to indicate , moreover , the hierarchy of created beings , and the relative position of the different persons of the Trinity . In our own times Camby asserts that the triangle expressed three of the inseparable attributes of Deity— "to be , to think , to act . " It has thus been , undoubtedly , the geometrical expression of the Trinit yand it can therefore be easily conceived that the

, triangular nimbus would bo peculiarly appropriate to Gou the Father . The triangle thus belongs especially to the Father , is sometimes given to the Sou , but never to the Virgin . Angels , saints , and holy men arc frequently decorated with a nimbus ; but in these instances they are mostly

confined to a circular form with the field of the disc perfectly plain . St . John the Baptist is never represented without a . nimbus , in most cases consisting of a double circle . Joseph , the husband of Mary , is also occasionally represented with , one , as in the Cathedral of Chart-res . The nimbus of the Virgin Mary is frequently highly decorated with jewels , etc .,

and having rays , but in very few instances cruciform . The apostles are always adorned with the nimbus . In the porch of Ehcinis Cathedral , the nimbi of St . Peter and St . Paul are adorned with pearls , and on the chancel windows nearly all the apostles are represented with nimbi ornamented with precious stones , emeralds , rubies and sapphires .

The nimbus has been given by the ancients to allegorical figures as well , but they confined it solely to everything powerful , and everything good . Any creature supposed to be infirm , or destitute of power , or deficient in virtue was denied it . The , nimbus is the characteristic of physical energy , as well as of moral strength , of civil and political power , as well as of religious authoritv .