Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THE BEANKSOME SLOGAN. 11 however, only mocks Christ, and refuses to take any part in the trial, saying that Pilate has power to condemn this man to death. Pilate, facing the angry mob once more, pleads Christ s innocence, harshly rebuking the priests for their baseless accusations. Turning to the people he asks which shall be released unto them, Christ or Barabbas, and with one voice they answer, Release Barabbas ! Seeing all his efforts to save Christ are in vain, Pilate, weakening before the clamor- ing mob, finally pronounces the sentence of death upon Christ, and orders the release of the robber. Then, breaking his sceptre and washing his hands, thus thinking to rid himself of this ignoble deed, he exclaims, I am innocent of the blood of this innocent man. It falls upon you and upon your children. With loud rejoicings the people receive this final word, and press eagerly on to finish the awful task they have taken upon themselves. Placing the heavy cross upon Christ, they urge Him on and on with cruel taunts and blows, until, utterly helpless. He falls beneath His burden. Just at this moment Mary, who has been seeking her Son everywhere, approaches with John and Magdalene. How pathetic is the scene as she recognizes Him, and realizes that He is to be so cruelly taken from her ! Finally, John, who has ever been her friend, persuades her to turn away, saying, It is the Father ' s will. ' ' But she cannot leave her Son to suffer alone, and, keeping at a safe dis- tance from the angry crowd, she and her companions are seen follow- ing Him to Golgotha. oThe soldiers, perceiving Christ ' s weakness, call upon Simon of. Cyrene, who is standing near, to bear the cross to the appointed place. In the meantime loving friends have gathered about Christ, who, as He leaves them, speaks comforting words as he sees the depth of their sorrow. Soon He is nailed upon the cross, with the two thieves on either side, the one rejecting Him, the other penitent of his sins, and receiving from Christ the promise of Heaven. Suddenly a crash- ing sound of stone and earth is heard, and Christ murmurs, It is finished ! Many, seeing in this sudden convulsion of nature the power of God, cry out for mercy, while others hasten to the Temple. Left alone with their Saviour, Mary and her companions kneel in adoration before Him, and then silently Joseph, Nicodemus and John lower the body from the cross. In her deep sorrow the mother holds her Son in a last embrace, and then He is taken from her and rever- ently laid in the tomb. Should the play end here, how gloomy would be the effect upon those who witness it. The soldiers who have been left to guard the tomb have fallen asleep on the third night of their watch, but as

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10 THE BEANKSOME SLOGAN. the Master, the feeling of remorse conveyed to the audience is so intense that one feels for the time that it is Judas himself, and not Johann Zwink, who speaks. Ottilie Zwink, his daughter, takes the part of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and although not much is required of her, yet does that small part beautifully. One of the most impres- sive moments of the play is when Christ bids her farewell before entering upon His ministry. During the morning session the seven acts which lead up to the arrest of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane are given, the latter being one of the most realistic scenes of all. Christ chooses Peter, James and John from among His beloved disciples to watch with Him while He prays, but even these faithful ones succumb to drowsy sleep, and forget their Master. Perceiving their weakness Christ again beseeches them to watch, and once more tseeks communion with Go d. An angel appears Avith words of comfort to strengthen Him in this His darkest hour. Suddenly a noise is heard close at hand, and Christ, turning to His sleeping friends, tells them of the approach of the betrayer. They awaken to the awful realization that already their beloved friend is surrounded by His enemies. Christ is then bound and cruelly brought to the judgment hall of Annas. From twelve until two an intermission is given for rest and lun- cheon. There was even a deeper eagerness upon the faces of the on- lookers as they took their seats to witness the closing scenes of the play. The eighth act opens with the scene in the Palace of Annas, who weakens before Christ and postpones judgment. Angered by this delay the people roughly le-ad Christ before Caiaphas, hoping to receive from him the sentence of death upon their silent prisoner, who patiently bears the hateful mockings of the soldiers about Him. Caiaphas decrees that Jesus must die, but has not the power to pro- nounce the death sentence and orders Christ to be taken before Pilate, the Eoman Governor. Outside, Judas, who has heard this, realizes the awfulness of such a sentence upon an innocent man whom, for the gain of thirty pieces of silver, he has so shamefully betrayed. Hurrying before the High Priest, he begs Christ ' s release, pleads His innocence: but seeing it is too late for mercy he dashes the money ba upon the floor and, with an oath of remorse, leaves his unre- lenting friends to carry out the awful deed. Then Judas, too weak to bear this terrible load of guilt, with loud curses upon himself, ends his remorse by taking his own life. Meanwhile, the hostile enemies, now at the height of their anger, gather before the house of Pilate. Finding the accused a Galilean, Pilate demands that He be judged by Herod, King of Galilee. Herod,

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12 THE BRAm SOME SLOGAN. morning draws near they awaken to see the stone which closes Chrisf s tomb slowly moving from its place. Awe-stricken, they approach the tomb, which they find empty ; and realizing this to be the fulfilment of Christ ' s own words, they hasten to tell the Pharisees of what they liave seen. They have been gone but a moment when Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of John come with spices to anoint the body of their Lord. But lo, they are too late, and turning away with heavy hearts they are confronted by an angel who tells them that Christ has risen. Then another voice is heard behind them, and turning, they behold the Saviour clothed in white garments speak- ing words of love and peace as He ascends into the presence of the Father. TJiere were many tear-stained yet happy faces throughout the theatre as the thousands of people silently withdrew, each one con- scious of his own peculiar impression. ' NONE BUT THE BRAVE DESERVE THE FAIR BY H. C. B. Some years ago, in a little Western town, a group of men gathered as evening fell in the sm ' all grocery store which found itself a not too successful rival of the Hudson Bay Company warehouse. Indeed, had the proprietor limited himself to the grocery business, as practised in the slower going East, he would have been obliged to give up long before. But such terms in that country were elaistic, and the sign in the centre of the window, Buy your Tea, Flour and Sugar Here — All, Three Pounds for a Dollar — Bring your own Wrapping Paper, ' ' was flianked on either side by piles of tooth-brushes, spectacles, mouth- organs and equally dissimilar articles. To tell the truth, it was necessary to fill the window with a display of this kind, for the supply of. flour, tobacco and other staples was running dangerously low, and the supply boiat could not possibly be in for another week. Across the street a lamp placed behind ia transparent sign illumin- ated the words, The Grand Emporium, and in the lighted window beneath, various specimens of what are technically known as boiled shirts were placed in a row, the central one adorned with a dazzling tie of purple and orange satin, the pride and admiration of the whole town.