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The early Christians dared not put any written inscription that might be understood as well by their enemies as themselves. But the Fish said to the Christians what it refused to say to their enemies and most deadly persecutors. The Greek word for Fish is Ichthus (Ixœus), and the Christian saw in this the dearest object of his faith and adoration. I is the initial of Ipcous the Greek of Jesus, Xqioios Christ, Œeos of God, Vios the Son, and Earzp the Saviour.
Whenever and wherever the Christian saw this emblematical Fish, his holy devotion at once saw Jesus Christ, the Son of God, my Saviour, as a sort of door plate, announcing who lived there, and knew he was a younger brother of that Saviour. He was there a welcome guest and entered to enjoy his elder brother's loving hospitality. And when he came to leave this dark vale of tears, like unto the Jews in Egypt, they sprinkled the blood upon the door posts, that they thereby might be recognized as the people of God, so he put on his tomb, the symbolism, which to the archangel that should come to call to the first resurrection, spoke in holy accents, "Jesus Christ, the Son of God, my Saviour."
What a holy office therefore in the Church of God and in our association does the Fish sustain. Well may the Church militant have its earthly origin among the lowly followers of the Fish. Well may Fish minister to it in its helpless infancy. Well may we, as the orphaned followers of Hemsley and Harrie Nichols, who followed Christ, the Divine head, adopt and cherish as our symbol and emblem that same traditional Fish and returning Pasover. Well may we in equal imitation of the Egyptian Jew and the Early Christian keep and celebrate a "Fish Passover." Bat intensely Interesting as these thoughts and facts are, I must not linger, but must speed rapidly onward to reach my long journey's end in season.
