Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-19
CALLS MARY MAGDALENE
MUCH MALIGNED WOMAN
WEsTLAKE PASTOR GIVES NEW
CHARACTER PORTRAIT
Scholars Have Recognized the Mistake
Towards an Unfortunate Woman,
Probably Deranged, and Are Try
Ing to Rectify 1t

Rev. Will Lands, pastor of the West
lake Presbyterian church, preached tn,
fifth of series of sermons on Jesus
and Womanhood" last evening. Th,
character described was that of Mary
Magdalene.
He presented some new and attract
i've views of the character of the
woman history has regarded as a dis.
solute person. 1t was novel char
acter sketch. He said in part:
Mary Magdalene means that Mary
lived in the town of Magdala, a towr
with strong tower lying to the south.
west of the Sea of Galilee. When she
first met the Lord we do not know. II
may have been when he taught by the
seaside or in the crowded Capernaun
nearby, or in many other places. The
first reference in the Bible to her is
where 1t speaks of her being with Christ
and his disciples, and merely adds out
Of whom went seven devils 1t is
merely an incidental reference, almost
forgotten, and buried amid the number
OF miracles that Jesus performed.
There is no evidence that she was
ever a dissolute character. But history
mixed her name with another person
and the name of magdalen is often
synonymous with the fallen woman
God has fixed upon the penitent sinner
returning to the Christ begging for
giveness, and thus pictured Mary Mag.
dalene, but scholars have now recog.
nized the mistake and are. doing al
they can to rectify it. She was only
an unfortunate woman, demon-pos.
sessed, probably deranged falling ir
commissions, tearing her hair, foaminl
at the mouth and wild with rage. Jesu!
cured her mental trouble, and she wa,
a close follower of his ever afterwards
Her gratitude knew no limit. He
wealth was abundant 1t was used fo
Jesus. Yet her hands were not too gooC
TO minister to his daily needs.
she became close companion of hi
mother, while they regularly prepared
the meals for him and his disciples
She consecrated the commonplace
service to him.
Then, when all his disciples had flet
there remained band of a few womel
to see him die. They listened in tear
to his groans for ,ost world. The,
saw him when Nicodemus and JOSEPH
Of Arimathea took him down from tn,
cross. They watched where they buried
him.
His tomb had no other guard TIL,
first night, and some say they sat tn,
night through beside it. I cannot tell
II would be just like Mary to do so
When the soldiers came Saturda,
morning, sent by PLATE, she left. Sucl
Watching in sympathy and love 1t 4
only given to a true woman to do. Cal
her the weaker vessel if you want to
o man. The feebler fiber prove
stronger to watch in times of loveJ
vigils like this.
"One more scene shows the Maste
appearing first, not to Peter, the frs
apostle, nor to John, the beloved dis
cple, but to Mary who. had ministere,
to him so many times for the sake O
gratitude and love. She wept whel
she thought some one had removed hi
body She reJoiced when she saw hin
standing before her, but the Maste
said touch me not as she went t,
clasp his feet in adorlng worship. :
ascend to My Father and your Father
In other words, her worship must b
more spiritual now than ever, and Il
that way none can come too close L
Christ.
His last request of her was to TAX
a message to his disciples.
ITO sum her life up, IL was woman
hood redeemed conseerated to gervic
In need, watchfulness in sorrow an,
faithfulness i'm death Her crown vii
be set with many fair and brillian
stone"