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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News Record, 1940-03-21, Page 7'THURS., MARCH 21, 1940 THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD II.OUSEH OLD ECONOMICS CARE OF CHILDREN e i ded F The Forsaken Saviour By "PEG" In ancient Roman times death by crucifixion was considered the lowest as well as the most cruel farm of punishment. Usually the victim was fastened to the cross before it was banged into the excavation. The agony of this torture must have been something terrible. In the majority of cases it was a lingering death, lasting—Earn two to three days. It was to this form of torture and death to which our Saviour was sent- enced by Pilate for a ,supposed crime of which He was absolutely innocent. Ott either side of Him the body of a . thief wa'e suspended on a like cross. These men were being justly punish- ed for 'their sins, if such a punish- ment could be called just. What really was the significance of the cross? The cross meant vic- •tory. It was a victory according to the law of the land. As we look over the world today we are inclined to say that man is doing his best to overule the victory of Christ. The end of Earthly time is not yet come,' but we ]prow that when it does come that Jesus will be victor over all at- tacks of the devil, If we choose to follow Jesus we will be soldiers in a victorious army, but if we persist in staying with the evil one then defeat will surely be ours. In this story of the death of Christ on MountCalvary the have same of the saddest words in the entire New' Testament. "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" Jesus came willingly to Earth to die for our' salvation. Before He left His Heav- enly Home He knew what was before Him. He also knew that if He fail- ed in one particular there would be' no assurance to us of happiness, either here or in the Beyond. I We follow Him through His unjust trial, through the scoffing and jeer -I ing of the mob, through the dreadful nailing to the cross, and through the first three hours of His 'hanging on the cross. All through that time; there was no murmur. Then darkness fell upon the earth and what Jesus suffered then could simply not be' told. Is it any wonder that He cried "My God, my God, why hast Thou! forsaken rue?" It is hard to believe that Gocl would forsake Jesus, and yet we have our Saviour's own words for it. We believe that God tested Jesus to the very limit, and gave Hint every chance to go back on His agreement to die for us. Practically all His earthly friends could forsake FIin and yet He said nothing, but when He realized that He had not even God to support Him, we cannot cain- prebend His agony. Just a week before this time there' had been the triumphant entry into Jerusalem when the mob was ready to welcome Him as an Earthly King.. Now there are the jeers "If Thou be the Son of God come down from the cross." There had been the march i from the Judgment Hall to Mount; Calvary with all its agony. More than all these was the awful feeling that' God had forsaken Him. Through the jeering, God had been with Him, but now He had reason to believe that Ile was absolutely alone. Jesus was forsaken and died that we might have everlasting life. He died that our sins might be forgiven. There was no one there to reply to His cry. His mother or friends could not help Him. To choose to be alt Earthly King and thus be taken down' from the cross would mean defeat! to the plain of salvation. The people! eared nothing for Him but to mock Him, and the cross meant the most bitter loneliness of His life. There was no one who could take His place on the cross. In spite of it all Jesus went through it for us, yet we very: often da little but add to that suf- fering and loneliness. Have we ever been startled by a • little child crying on the street' "Mother." "Daddy", and have real- ized ealized that some little one was lost. The help on which he or she had de- pended had for the time being dis- appeared, The distressed look on the little face and the plaintiff startled cry aroused our .sympathy and we were at once ready to help find the • 1. parents. In a large perfcentage of , these cases the separation was' ac- t cidehtal but in, the '>rase df ,Jesus Christ we believe God withdrew His presence from His Son in order that Jesus might realize to the full the great sacrifice which He was making for us. The withdrawal of God from Him :together with the suffering which proceeded it must Have been agonizing beyond expression. Yet Jesus went through it, not for Him- self, but for us. We sometimes think this sacrifice was for some one else. How slow we are in believing it was for us. Yet it is only when this thought enters our hearts that we see Christ dying on the cross for us indjvidually. The fact that He died for some one else does not mean nearly so much to us as the reality that He died for you and for me: ' We cannot say that we are not at all responsible for His death for we know that we are. Each day of our lives doing just the very same things as those who crucified Him did. We are willing to sell IIim for less than thirty pieces of silver; we stand with the crowd and ery "Crucify Hintl Crucify Him"; we are in the mob which accompanied Him from the Court of Justice tc Calvary and we are continually scoffing at Him. All we have to clo is to look back aver our day and we can readily see how we have been doing the:z things. What a shame it is to usd Yet we go on with this day after day caring not what we ale doing. Let us right now get down on our knees and ask God to show us just what His sacrificial death on the cross meant for each one of us and accept His offer to help us so to live day by day that we will even in a small way deserve what He has done for us. "In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time; All the light .of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime. When tha woes of life o'er take me, Hopes deceive and fears annoy, Never shall the Cross forsake tie, Lod it glows with peace and joy. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, By the Gross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows uo measure, Joys that through all time abide." "PEG" EASTER LILIES What heart can carry doubt when these appear Year after year Cleaving their sure way through re- luctant sod To point to God; Climbing the ladders of the air to show The way to go? Rising in glory, slim and straight and white Out of the night, Writing' the letters of a holy name In living flame. Here at an altar, there at a chancel's rim— Speaking of Him. Speaking of One who cleft the earth, as they Cleave it today Rising, as they have risen, pure and white Out of the night. These for remembrance—lilies bloom- ing yet, Lest we forget. —Grace Noll Crowell. GETHSEMANE A short while shite, 'twos day. Bat then the night Cast its mysterious shroud o'er Olive's mount. Among the trees, a rustling chill; beneath— One in whose soul black darkness strove'with light, Fear against faith, and hopeful life with death. Dark shadows fall again. A creep- ing chill Moves o'er the world. And, sorely agonied, Fair Peace bows, conflict -torn twixt hope and fear. The sins of men — ah, still they blight and kill; S1ti111 thwart the starer: hopes; the Christ held dear. —T. A. Payne: CALVARY — Jut what did God see, at dark Calvary When, Jesus hung there on the Gross? What did it cost Him to save you and me From endless and infinite loss? God knew His !peva son, so faithful and true, That righteousness. was His delight. His Father's good will it. pleased Hiin to do And loved only that which was. right. God saw what He left, `the glory above, To come down and live here on earth. And saw in His heart that infinite love Which shows what a lost soul is worth. He saw as a whole and knew in detail Man's long record of sin, and shame. And what it would mean all this to unveil And lay on His Son all the blame, The sins of the world, in thought, word and deed, Those shameful and dead works of man; AndsGod knows them all, 'tis He who can read Men's hearts since the world first began. God knew what it meant for Jesus His Son To carry our sins with Him there, How much it cost to say, "Thy will be done" Which meant all this burden to bear. To meet that appointment of death for man And after this,, judgment to face. For by His knowledge His vision could span • The sinners eternal disgrace. He suffered it all for you and for me, God offers us life for a look: At Him who was offered by God on the TREE We read this in God's Holy Book. God so loved the world, He gave His own Son, That those who believe might be saved. To those who reject God won't say "Well done", No natter how well they've behaved. Just what God did see, at dark Calvary, Was the One who. was willing to give Himself and His ail to save you and me— Believe it, accept it and live. COOKING PAGE 7 MARY AT THE CROSS Within the judgment hall she stood Aniid that cruel, noisy mob: Ah! who can know the agony As from her heart is wrung a sob She sees Ills head now crowned with thorns That once upon her breast did lay, The blow that struck Him wounded her: They crucified her, too, that day. With trembling feet and breaking heart She climbed the side of Calvary steep, And from her lips was wrung the cry: "Have pity," as they pierced His feet: Those feet that once she fondled there In humble cot of Nazareth: Those hands that once her neck en- twined Her Holy Child now done to death. She knew He was not of this world, Through her had come this miracle, That through those hallowed, sacred days Within her dwelt Immanuel. Alt! Who can tell the agony That she endured while standing there? The darkness spread, the mob was hushed As Mary bowed her head in prayer. And while the earth with trembling quaked Seeing its Maker hanging there, And era with bated breaththey heard The Savour's last heart -broken prayer He turns and sees that form so dear, The vessel He had dwelt within: And to John's keeping giveth het'. Ere Paradise He entered in: They lift Him from that cruel tree, Her hands His pierced feet embraced, And that vile cloth„ the felon's robe, By her own garment was replaced. And she who first held Bethlehem's Babe Was last to fold those hands so dear. And as she cried: "Thy will be done," A host of angels doth appear. The Resurrection And then there came that Easter mom When from, despair new hope was born An empty tomb. He who was 'slain To those He loved appeared again. To Peter whom His Lord denied And Thomas saw His hands and side, And Mary's tears were wiped away Upon that resurrection day. Called Pithis !Sunday, Fig Sunday Recently we were talking to a friend and he referred to "Pahn Sun- day" as "Fig Sunday." I asked. him Where rte got that name for the Sun- day before Easter and he said it was a term his •mother used to use, back' in England, for the Sunday before Raster. We asked him how it came. to be pained that way there and he could not explain it., That starbed us asking qustions elsewhere, and we learned that in some of the Midland counties of England they still cele- brate Palm Sunday by eating figs. And back of that is the ancient tradi- tion'that the tree into which Zaecheus climbed to witness the Lord's entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday befova His crucifixion was not a sycamore tree, as our English Bible has it, but a fig tree. Nat important, but cur- ious and, to us,, interesting. — A GLIMPSE OF GETHSEMANE In thought I stand by a Garden gate, The night is dark and the hour is late. From so'mewheve, borne on the stilly air, There comes the sound of a Voice in prayer. I'm listening and wondering Who it can be— Praying to -night in Gethsemane: My heart is touched as I bear hini say, "0 Father, let this :cup pass, I pray; Yet, not my will, but Thine be done, Thy name be glorified through Thy Son!" It is JESUS—the. Man of Galilee,. Praying to -night in Gethsemane. • I come still nearer and there behold His visage marred by grief untold Then (turning for comfort and sympathy To those He loved) I hear Him say • "Could ye not watch for an hour with Me, While I pray to -night in Gethsemane?" The scene has .changed—He has drunk the cup; His life on the Gross has been offered up. The purpose is finished for which Be came From Heavenly glory to earthly shame, And death has been swallowed in victory Through triumphant prayer in Gethsemane. Again I stand at the Garden gate; The night is dark and the hour is late, Life's burden's seem more than I can bear, Within the Garden I kneel in prayer. 0 loving Saviour, keep watch with me While I pray to -night in Gethsemane! Dear Father, Thou knowest the way I -take, The weary heart with its pain and ache; Thou knowest the crosses that; I must bear, If I would the Saviour's glory share. Oh, send Thine Angel to strengthen nee, While I pray to -night in Gethsemane! "YOUR HOME STATION" CKIX 1200 kcs. WINGHAM 230 metres WEEKLY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY, MARGIT 22nd: 11.15 am "Mary, Queen of Scots" 12.45 p.m. The Bell Boys 7.00 pen. Landt Trio 8.15 p.m. "The Crucifixion" SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd: 8.30 a.m. Biddies' Party .... ... 1.00 p.m. Leigh H. Snider 0.00 pan, W. E. Harris 6.45 p.m. R. J. Deachman 8.00 pmt. Barn; Dance 8.45 pan. L. E. Cardiff SUNDAY, MARCH 24th: 11.00. a.m. Anglican Church 2.00 pan. Triple -V Bible Class '7.00 p.m. Presbyterian Church MONDAY, MARCH 25th: 11.15 a.m. "Mary, Queen of Scots" 12.45 pan. The Bell Boys 7.00 p.m. The Novatones TUESDAY, MARCH 26th: Complete Election Returns, CBNX and Canadian Press bulletins every five minutes front 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27th: 11.15 .a.m. "Mary, Queen of Scots" 12.45 p.m. The Bell Boys '7.00 p.m. The Norsemen THURSDAY, MARCH 28th: 8.30 a.m. Breakfast Club 7.00 p.m. Joyce Allman 8.30 pm. Grenadier Guards Band HON. R. J. MANION No finer tribute could have been paid Dr. Manion, National Conserva- tive leader, than was done by Mr. King (Hansard, January 12, 1939): "My Hon, friend brings to the two positions which he now holds person- al attainments and professional achievements of a high order, a wide. and quite exceptional parliamentary experience, and, also, in other ways, a long and intimate association with the public life of our country." GOERING FARMS ON GRAND SCALE Field Marshal Hermann Goering, who holds more jobs than any con- temporary German official, has be- come a farmer on et grand scale. Farms, fields and pastures under his control as head of the German Air Force, yield the nation, annually 1,500,000 pounds of wool. 7,0,000,000 pounds of mutton and many thous- ands of tons of fresh fodder, especi- ally grass, besides huge quantities of flax, hemp, potatoes and other vegetables. To everyone of Germany's airports and airfields Marshal Goering who among other things, is the nation's economic dictator — has assigned one experienced farmer who is respon- sible for cultivation of every inch of groutid under his care. Just what area is in the hands of the Air Force is a military secreb. Already 60 per cent of the crops lost through condemning of valuable lands for Air Force purposes have been recovered through intensive, cultivation. HEALTH EASTERTIDE IN MEXICO CITY The Betrayer, Hangs Himself Again One of the strangest ways in all the world of observing Eastertide oc- curs in Mexico, 'where the people, du- ng Holy Week, take part i'tt all man- ner of events, which, to say the least of them, have remote conueetien with' the Crucifixion. During this week in Mexico Gity (writes H. P. D. in The London, Sphere), near the heart of the city, on the borders of the green, shady Alameda Park, booths are erected and a holiday fair is held. Refreshment tents contain enchiladas, frijoles, puehero, and the host of tasty things dear to the mouth and stomach of the Mexican, whilst stalls are packed with basket -work, pottery-, and sou- venirs. But the featuiie of the fair is the number of doll -like effigies of Judas; he is there in his thousands. Stacks of him arrive in big hampers on the outskirts of the fair; jumbled masses of bodies, arms, legs and heads. These are transferred to banner -like frame- works frem which they hang in rows, and are then hoisted aloft on poles to tempt young Mexico. As no known authentic likeness of Judas exists, the representation varies. The flowing robes of Pales- tine have been discarded for a non- descript combination of tunic and breeches. At one end of the gallery Judas is pictured with a pair of horns, at the other he is wearing a tiny model of the straw hat of Mexico. Although the thought that Judas may have been a Mexican is not flattering, it tends to popularize him and to assist the sales. Further on is an antiquated roundabout and swings, but there is no blaring organ; noise and rowdines are entirely ab- sent. It is an exemplary crowd; the balloon -seller and peanut vendor do not seem out of place even in the Matt of the sylvan Alameda. But on the Satenday morning Mex- ico casts away restraint, gives vent to its feelings, and "the betrayer" is allowed to execute'himself in public. A rope swings across a main street, and from the centre of t h e rove hangs Judas. He is many sizes larger than his conrades of the Alameda, and, like a Christmas turkey, he is stuffed, but with fireworks. A crack, and a tiny puff of smoke bursts through the jacket, followed by another and another, till ib be- comes a fusilade. Now he is blazing, and only the skeleton hangs in mid- air. A last explosion, and the re- mains of poor Judas lie in the street. As in the case of his progenitor, it is self-destruction, but here internal forces have hastened his death. Once is not enough, and the tragedy is repeated several times until the effigies run out or the appetite of the crowd is sated. MARY& JIM e • «ate WINOLIZN sE LESS $$ULTS THE CROSS "His cross is but a common thing Of cypress wood. Upon a tired Hill Desolate It stood. And yet its arms have reached from sea to sea— Arens so strong that they have set men free,` And love so bright burning long ago Changed the cross to gold with its glow. ` My cross sometimes Is a weary thing, Too hard to bear, A tiny, ugly thing, It floods my life In hopeless care, But with His love I too will make Titan cross of gold, And pour the dark Tear -stained wood Into His mould. biy cross can. never stretch its arms from sea to sea, But it can raise my heart to God rand set mo free." CUT UT ASTE I SEE THE WAR IS COSTING CANADA A MILLION DOLLARS A • DAY WELL,IT 15 BETTER TO SPEND MONEY THAN LOSE CANADA TO HiTLER THEY'RE STILL SPENDING AT OTTAWA AS • IF THERE WAS NO WAR PATRONAGE—JUST PARTY PATRONAGE! ONLY BOE? kW ION'S NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CAN FIX THAT 4140411 tteil A. NATION AT WAR 9VEE"E,5 �� A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT NATIUNAL GOVE "N' ENT Authorized by National Government Headquarters, 140 Wellington Street, Ottawa cry