Hello.

I have just launched a site from Lismore, Australia, about a mysterious phenomenon that briefly made international headlines in 1978 - The Glowing Cross.

Basically a headstone was found inexplicably glowing in a local cemetery. No-one was ever able to agree on what made the gross glow and eventually it was stolen. It has not been seen since 1986.

This may sound a little far-fetched, but please have a look at our website:
www.glowing-cross.com[/URL]
and decide for yourself.

I'd love to know what people think?

Wow...very interesting...Thanx for the link!

Well, that is interesting! Too bad the headstone was removed. Do you thing it was stolen or removed at a family member's request?

Hi JCF, welcome to SpiritKeep.

Hmm, well, I think the characteristics of the granite causing the glow sounds plausible (if it isn't out and out reflection).

I'd like to see this glowing stone for myself - too bad it was stolen/removed. Tell me, have they replaced the stone? If so, does the new one glow?

Kell

[ January 03, 2003, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]

One of the main reason's for the website is to see if we can get it back where it belongs (it's the 25th anniversary of it's disappearance this year!).

I've been asked the question about the family before, and they certainly weren't happy about the vandalism that came with the publicity. But overall the original source material gives the impression that this would be very out of character for them.

(Also: because of the recent publicity, I've been contacted by a family member who wants it back as much as anyone!)

I personally hope that the original is still around somewhere - but 25 years is a long time to cart a very heavy headstone around (not to mention being very socially unacceptable!).

There is a nearby river - perhaps it is at the bottom? I really don't know.

Thanks for your comments.

Thanks Kell (for the welcome and your feedback).

I replica has been put in the exact place - made out of exactly the same material (as was the original base which is still intact). But neither glows...

I'll put up a link to a photo shortly that clearly shows the original cross glowing (and the difference between the actual cross and the pedestal's reflective qualities).

Someone recently told me about another glowing headstone in Virginia City, but it is supposedly made out of limestone. The only link I've found is at:
www.ghrs.org/nevada/glowhead.htm[/URL]

Does anyone know anything about the geology of Granite by chance???

Yes, I'd like to see a pic of the glowing stone. It is quite possible that someone dumped it in the water - so sad. Have they considered sending divers down for a look?

Looks like that stone in VC is made of black marble.

Here's what I've found on the geology of granite-- there are several sites (more than what I have listed here)!

North Cascades National Park: Volcanoes and Their Roots: Making granite and its relatives [/URL]

geology of granite & marble[/URL]

Geologic Cycles: Origin of Granite[/URL]

Kell

The links for a daylight photo of the cross (from all the way back in October 1927) and a photo of the cross actually glowing (from April 1984) are at:

www.glowing-cross.com/gallery_1.html[/URL]

This page is not linked to the rest of the site as I promised a national newspaper that I wouldn't make it public until their article is published in a fortnight's time. I don't think that applies here...

To me it looks as if there is a fair amount of reflection from the camera flash - but the interesting part is that the pedestal doesn't reflect in the same way at all! And the cross still glowed (albeit fainter) on a moonless night during a blackout!

Photographs are a strange proposition in this day and age of image manipulation. But I think the public record backs these up as being genuine...

[ January 03, 2003, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: JCF ]