The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-05
International
SundaySchoolLesson
ny vx-TrTIANF n ETTTS
ny WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


For Dec. Z Is. Peter and John Asleep
in Gethsemane."- 14:32-54.
Modern Memories of OIivet.
1t was only last summer that 1 So
Journed in Jerusalem; and visited, re-
peatedly, the Mount of Olives, on the
western slope OF which is the Garden
of Gethsemane-symbol of the ordeal
of all spirits who suffer seh-renuncia-
ton to the point of agony; and scene
of the actual ordeal OF Jesus.
War has left this hallowed spot un-7
touched; the British refused to bonn
bard Jerusalem. From the wall of the
city. within the temple enclosure, the
Mount of Olives looks like a collee~
tion of gardens with high walls and
circuitous roads Sectarian zeal has
enclosed all the traditional sites within
these high limestone walls; so that
the soldiers on top of the many mo-
tor lories that pass to and from the
( Jericho camp can scarcely see over
the top of them.
Inside the enclosure of the Fran
ciscans is what is generally regarded
as the true site of the Garden of
Gethsemane. Certainly it was some
where within few yards of this spot
that the Saviour underwent his agony
of the bloody sweat. Devotion wants to
agree with the sanity old monk who
mas Tor so many years tenderly cared
for the garden, that this venerable
olive tree, an ancient giant, gnarled
and twisted, but still bearing fruit
after many centuries. was the identi-
cal tree under which Jesus prayed
alone. Such as these were "the little
green leaves that were kind to him."
" 'Tis midnight; and on olives brow
The star is dimmed that lately shone
lis midnight; in the garden, now,
The suffering Saviour prays alone.
" 'ris midnight; and from all removed,
Emmanuel wreStles lone with fears;
Zen the disciple that he loved
Heeds not his Masters grief and tears
" 'Tis midnight; and. for others guilt,
The Man of Sorrows weeps in blood:
1et ne that hath, in anguish knelt
1t not fors2ken by his God"
Moonlight on oliyet.
One night three of us. Americans,
went out from our hotel near the
Jaffa Gate, and, crossing the city, and
the Brook Kedron. we climbed the
steep road up to the crest of the Mount
OF Olives. Several times we paused to
look back npon the city at our feet.
1t was, we know, upon just such a
night, with the effulgence of the full
Lord went out for the last time to this,
hillside which He loved, to muse upon
the city of his desire.
There lay Jerusalem, softened and
beautified by the moonlight. All the
ugliness which sunlight reveals was
gone. Near US, on the site of Solo
mons Temple, rose the Dome of the
Rock. Other mosques with cupolas,
and the two German church towers,
and the dome of the Church of the
Holy Sepulehre, were clearly traceable.
The eastern walls were visible; and
here and there in the city a feeble
light shone.
h02 Ifxy &c Of oh I.i{ y
all: and to the visitor come thronging
memories of the prophets. saints and
martyrs; the soldiers, kings and tray-
ellers, who had felt the fulfilment of
their hearts desire in viewing the Holy
City from this hillside made sacred by
the supreme experience of the Re-
deemer. Something Of his yearning
and compassion for this city of. David
wells up toward it. and all the other
cities which today shelter blindness
and unbelief and sin and perpleXity.
over the spirit there steals a sense of
confidence: verify, the travail of his
soul shall be satisfied Even the pres
.ence of the British soldiers synbolizes
an answer to the prayer sof Jesus.
A Garden of Fellowship.
( Once this hillside echoed, to the
shouts of the Roman soldiers fand the
Jewish temple police. as they exulted
over the capture of the Master. For
merly, it had been jubilant with the
hosannaS of the multitudes who ae-
claimed him as Conqueror. Amid the
shadows of these rocks the frightened
disciples scurried for cover at the hour
when Jesus needed them most. But
above all else. the memory reeurs that
this friendly hillside was Christ's fav-
orite place of prayer. Here he met
the Father; and here all suffering
spirits meet him, in the Garden OF
Fellowship. In her earlier years Ella
Wheeler Wilcox saw this clearly:
in golden youth, when seems the earth
A summer land for singing mtrth.,
When souls are glad and hearts are light.
And not shadow turks in sight.
We do not know it, but there lies
Somewhere. yelled under evening skies,
A garden all must sometime see
Somewhere lies our Gethsemane.
with toyour steps we go our ways.
Love lends halo to our days.
Light sorrows sail like clouds afar:
We laugh, and say how strong we are.
We hurry on, and huFrying, go
Close to the bordeFland Of woe.
That waits for you and waits for me
Forever waits Gethsemane.
Down shadowy lanes, across strange
-Bridged over by our broken dreams,
BEHIND the misty caps Of years,
The garden les; strive as you may,
You cannot miss it in your way.
All paths that have been. or shall be-
Pass somewhere thru Gethsemane.
"Al1 those who journey. soon or late
Must pass within that gardens gate,
Must knee1 alone in darkness there.
And hattie with some fierce despair.
Not mine, but thine, who only pray,
/ Let this cup pass and cannot see
The purpose In Gethsemane."
The Tragedy of Time.
All time that has been and will be
focused its supreme tragedy upon this
gray hillside. Our lesson story itself
is, more important than any comment.
quote the Weymouth Version:
$50 they came to a place called
Gethsenane. There He said to His
disciples
:. Sit dawn here till I have prayed
| Then He took with Him Peter and
James and John, and began to be full