GREENVILLE, PA. Retired pastor makes many designs of the cross

There are more than 400 different designs of the crosses of Christianity.
By LAURI GALENTINE
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The first cross the Rev. Mearl Henley made was a plain one.
The Latin cross is the most well-known variation of one of the most popular symbols of Christianity, the Rev. Mr. Henley said.
Since that day in 1990, the retired pastor said he has learned that there are more than 400 designs for the cross, and each has a special significance for the culture that designed it.
Mr. Henley said he picked up his woodworking hobby while he was pastor at the United Methodist Church in North East, Pa. His son came to him with a good deal on a saw and other equipment, he said.
Then, Mr. Henley said, "I found a piece of wood one day and I looked at it and said that would make a good cross. I saw that cross in that piece of wood."
Since then he's seen lots of crosses in lots of pieces of wood.
Retired: Mr. Henley retired from the ministry in 1994. He and his wife moved back to Greenville, where they had started in 1970 with a pastorship at the Calvary United Methodist Church.
He has gathered a personal collection of 16 crosses of basic design and, in his spare time, presents programs to churches and church groups on the history of the individual designs.
While there are more than 400 designs, Mr. Henley said, he likes to keep it simple. He said he hasn't made any more of them because he has enough to fill a program.
He said that even if he did expand his collection, there are a few designs that he wouldn't make for obvious reasons. The swastika, before Adolph Hitler, was revered in India, China and other oriental countries as a symbol of life, he said.
Among those he does make are:
UAnchor cross: It is said to have been designed by early Christians under persecution. They were able to display the symbol publicly and not give themselves away, but other Christians recognized the significance of it.
USt. Andrews cross: The national cross of Scotland. It is said that when St. Andrew was about to be crucified he told his executioners that he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ did and, therefore, he wanted to be crucified upside down.
UTau cross: Regarded as a primitive pre-Christian cross, it is said to have been the sign made by the Israelites on the door posts of their homes during Passover. It is also said to have been the shape of the staff that Moses used in the wilderness.
UMaltese cross: The symbol of St. John, better known as John the Baptist. It has eight outer points that are said to symbolize the eight Beatitudes found in the Gospel of Matthew.
UJerusalem cross: Composed of four Tau crosses joined at the base, it is said to symbolize the four gospels and the four corners of the earth.
Takes orders: Mr. Henley has several other designs in his collection and is always willing to show them. He also takes orders for many of them and he enjoys making smaller versions to present to Sunday School classes for special occasions.
He just gave 12 of the miniature versions to his son for gifts to a group of kids on their Confirmation Day, he said.
His talent isn't limited to making crosses, however.
Mr. Henley also enjoys making furniture and has provided the Good Shepherd Center in downtown Greenville with desks, racks and picture frames.