[20] An interesting _Lecture on Symbolism_, by CHARLES BROWN, Esq. is published by Masters and Co. Price 2_s._ _Sacred Monograms._ [Sidenote: Acts, iv. 12.] [Illustration: There is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.] It is surprising how much the real meaning of the letters IHS, or IHC, has been lost sight of, emblazoned as it is on the pulpit-coverings, altar-cloths, and windows of our Churches. The interpretation has been guessed at, or supposed to signify the initial letters of the following sentences:--"_Jesus Hominum Salvator_"--Jesus, Saviour of men. "_Inspiration_ (of the) _Holy Spirit_;" or, "_Jesus Humanitatis Consolator_"--Jesus, Comforter of mankind. None of these interpretations are correct. On the tombs of the early Christians, in the Roman catacombs, these letters (ΙΗΣ) were sometimes found (though not so frequently as the next monogram). They are, in the Greek character, the first three letters of the sacred name of Jesus--ΙΗΣΟΥΣ. The third letter, _sigma_, had in early Greek two forms, C and Σ; hence the apparent variety in what is really one and the same Monogram. The second Monogram, now rarely seen, but formerly much employed in memorial inscriptions, is called the Cross of Constantine. It consists of the two Greek characters, Χ and Ρ. Χ stands for, or is equivalent to, our CH; Ρ, the Greek _rho_, is translated by our letter R: thus we have the equivalent of the first three letters of the sacred name of CHRIST--in Greek, ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ. It is related, on the authority of Eusebius, that the Emperor Constantine, while engaged in prayer, suddenly saw this sign in the sky, and that it was also visible to his whole army; over the sign was an inscription signifying "Conquer by this," or, "In this sign thou shalt conquer" (_In hoc signo vinces_). On the same night the Emperor had a dream--a vision of the SAVIOUR appearing to him with the same sign, commanding him thenceforth to bear it on his banner, whereby he should always be victorious. In obedience to this revelation, the Emperor immediately caused such a banner to be constructed, and afterwards wore the sacred sign upon his helmet. This banner was called a _labarum_, of which we find the following brief account in Fosbrooke's _Encyclopædia of Antiquities_:-- "The name, but not the thing, commences with Constantine. It is a standard, with a cross-piece, from which hung a piece of stuff. The Romans borrowed it from the Germans, Dacians, &c.; and upon coins of Augustus, and the emperors preceding Constantine, it refers to some conquered nation. It had an eagle painted or embroidered, till Constantine, who added the cross, monogram of Jesus Christ, and Α and Ω" (Alpha and Omega: see Rev. i. 8). "Sometimes, above the flag, was a crown, in the midst of which was the monogram mentioned. From the cross-piece hung a square stuff, upon which Constantine placed the figures of himself and his children in gold." [Illustration]