The Ocala evening star., 1911-03-10


when watching alone in pain and sor-
row. But human flesh is weak-the
disciples again fall asleep. and again
the agony OF death steals over the Re
deemer. The beautiful profile Of the
pale. sorrow-stricken countenance
stands out from the background. and
the angel approaches him in his de-
spair. strengthened through the aid
OF the Father. the Son of Man goes
forth 10 meet his destiny. But We
know that the scriptures must be full
filled. Up TO now we have consoled
ourselves on hearing the sentence OF
death upon the Savior. that il cannot
be possible. We still hoped what the
prophets prophesied was only IN the
spirit, but when we see the Son OF God
in the hands OF his enemies. we know
that all comes to pass; that all now
stands out viSibly before Us which we
conceived 10 he impossible 10 be wit
messed. | forbear to depict scene for
scene-the cruel trials before Caiaphas
and Annas. the rough treatment by
the soldiers. the whole torment OF
martyrdom. which the God in man had
TO go through with. The way in which
the actors perform all things. with
what nicely Of perception-how all
the scenes, however boisterous. are
still kept within the bounds OF good
taste. To realize this we must wit
ness it. Amidst all this again comes
the affecting scenes Of the faithless
disciples: the repentance OF Peter: the
terrible ending of Judas. And now
they drag Him, the man without sin.
TO PLATE, tht ne may pronounce upon
him the sentence of death. \ fresh
gleam of hope rises in our hearts. The
noble Roman sees through the machi-
nations of the Jewish High Council.
Like sledge hammer blows his forci-
BILE arguments fall upon the heads OF
the High Priests. and ii really does
one good TO hear him tell them the
truth. But he is too weak To set the
Savior free. He sends him To Herod
that the latter may condemn him. But
this worldly sensualiSt. who had John
the Baptist executed in cold blood.
finds no fault in the Lamb Of God. He
sends him back again TO Pilate. but
Pllate again refuses To pass the sen
tence of death and asks to hear the
general voice % the people. In the
meantime. however he orders Christ
to be scourged. And now the awful
torture is continued. Christ is bound
10 the pillar, scourged. and when COW
cred all over with blood. crowned with
the crown of thorns. The manner in
which this scene is enacted. how the
soldier who put the crown of thorns
on him first of all puts on the iron
glove so not to hurt himself, and
the way in which the men press the
crown, with crossed swords. down on
the noble head-it is all so cruelty vet
quietly carried out that IL cuts into
our very souls. without. at the same
time. offending our aesthetic feelings.
He wishes to hear the voice OF the
people. Let him hear it, cry the
High Priests. and already that distant
| murmur Of an uproar begins to sound
in the streets of the city. Headed by
the High Council. spurred on by the
nfiammatOry words of the fanatical
priests, the misled. maddened crowd.
among whom are the traders which
Christ drove from the temple, rushes
out of all the streets of the city. As
| a mighty flood. the rioters move on to
| the front of PLATE palace. Pale with
fear. crying revolt rebellion" the
High Priests fall like frebrands
among the frenzied mob. kindlng
| flames Of ungovernable fury Once
again the governor. Pontius Pilate
endeavors TO save Christ: II will re-
| lease unto you Christ instead of this
| murder of Barabbas." But No" they
cry out once more. saying, Away with
this man, and release unto US Barab-
| bas." Not even the pale countenance
! of "Ecce Homo" can move the infur-
| lated rabble. When once the surging
| wave of passion has taken possession
| of the brains and hearts OF men, their
eyes are closed for the noble and beau
tiful and their hearts are dead 10 all
sense of sympathy His blood be
upon us and our children" they cry.
Oh, wretched, blinded humanity, how
| often have ye called down from heav-
en- the curse upon you and your de-
| Iscendants. from which whole genera
| tions have had to suffer, PLATE i
| forced to yield. He washes his hands.
| saying he i innocent Of the blood Of
| this just person, and breaks his staff.
| Reluctantly the words proceed from
his mouth: Take ye him and cruelty
him" Now come the two wonderful
tableauX: Isaac bearing the wood for
the sacrifice up Mount Moriah" and
the Setting up OF the brazen serpent
as a symbol OF the Cruciixion." Again
the curtain rises and we see the group
of the holy women, anXiously seeking
their Lord. and knowing yet nothing
of the fate which il to befall him.
out of one Of the city streets comes a
sad procession: a criminal who i be
ing dragged to execution. Unhappy
mother, Now becomes verified that
which was prophesied Of thee. that a
! word shall pierce thy soul: be firm, do
not break down tortured heart
! when thou seest Him-the innocent
man himself dragging the cloth 10
Golgotha For the third time ne falls
under the heavy burden. Then they
|