Speaking of operations

Front matter

Copyright)^'

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

THE SON OF MAN

Preface

nPHIS book has been written with a twofold pur- '■' pose: that of showing what a large part of the English Bible (illustrated by the Gospels) is poetry as it stands; and of presenting to the public another view of the Son of Man — perhaps in some ways similar to those already expressed, and perhaps entirely different. One does not tire of reading about Jesus; and by studying various books about him and his work one is able to clarify and increase one's own knowledge of him.

Let no man, even the most devout and conservative Christian, take offense at the certain privileges which have been used herein, for everything has been done with an attitude of sincere reverence — with the utmost admiration and love for Jesus of Nazareth, his memory, and his living power, which exercises such a tremendous part in the thought and the activity of the world today.

The Gospels have been drawn from so extensively that it seems hardly worth while to use quotation marks or to make acknowledgment in each instance where the Biblical material has been borrowed : either the Bible is familiar to the reader, or else it is within reach.

vu

Introduction

¥ N previous days the syllable was used as the unit

'■' of verse more than was the accent. For example,

"Wei nyne and twenty in a companye. Of sundry folk, by aventure y-falle — ,"

which smacks of French versification with all the monotony of its accentless flow of twelve and thirteen syllables. Nowadays such continuous artificiality is well-nigh unendurable. Much more beautiful sounds Shakespeare's

"This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath. May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet,"

(Romeo and Juliet)

which has five accents rather than just so many syllables. One reason why the Greek and Latin epics — Homer and Vii*gil — are so grand is because in their verse there was no monotony: dactyls, which are the basis of the meter, are varied with spondees (and trochees, seldom). Thus:

(Iliad) ; and

(Aeneid),

viii

Rhythm will stand two unaccented syllables with every accented one, as can plainly be seen in the above quotations; three unaccented syllables together destroys the flow of rhythm, so two may be taken both as allowable and as the limit. Therefore we have kept in tiiind accent rather than syllable as the unit, and have permitted ourselves to use either the iambic, which is the standard (the line is supposedly unrhymed iambic pentameter), or the anapaest, which is a substitution, at will; and other substitutions, as the trochee and dactyl, when their effect is deemed more desirable. We confess that our verse may be a bit rough in places, but better so than sickeningly smooth. Monotony is the curse of verse ! We could, if we wished, have made our lines as smooth as those polished writers whose attempts at poetry (too often they partly succeeded) trouble him who reads as well as censure him who wrote.

One thing must be noticed particularly: since no thought ends naturally at the close of each line, we have very often run a line over into the next informally, in order to make the reading pleasant, thus : ' "Who is my mother ? behold, who are my brethren V Stretching forth his hand toward his disciples — '.

IX

If the second line were written immediately after the first (as of course it is read), the last syllable of 'brethren/ which is unaccented, forms the first part of the iambic foot whose second part, the accented syllable, is 'stretch — ,' and so it goes. This is entirely allowable by the rules of versification (which fortunately were never set forth by poets, who have seldom any other guide than their ear and intuition, and which must be disregarded whenever the effect makes it so desirable), since an unaccented syllable may be dropped anywhere in the verse without changing it from pentameter, or can be added wherever there are not two together already. Of course once in a great while three unaccented syllables might exist, but that is forcing the rhythm beyond its bounds. The standards of all poetry, as well as music, go back finally to and exist primarily in the physiological structure of the ear.

Therefore pardon the roughness of our verse if you notice it; and if you do not notice it, enjoy it. An epic is like rhythmical prose, not carefully studied or spontaneous bursts of perfect lyricism, since it deals mainly with objective narration. After all it is the result that counts.

When 'The Son of Man" was a little over half done, I took it to Prof. Hugh Black, author of ''Friendship" and other remarkable books, and asked him whether he would kindly read it and give me his frank opinion about it, especially about the taking over of so much material from the Evangelists instead of inventing fiction of my own about the Son of Man and his heroic career. He reported that he did not mind the roughness of the meter, found no fault with the borrowing from the Bible, and liked it in every way except my having Jesus fall in love with Mary Magdalene. That, he said, did not seem to be consistent with the character of Jesus as he imagined it.

Now I differ strongly with Hugh Black on this point. Jesus was a genius of the first water — strong, vigorous, virile, passionate, quick, tempersome, excitable, ambitious, idealistic and affectionate. What was more natural than that he should fall in love, while still a youth with hot blood flowing tempestuously through Semitic veins and arteries, with a beautiful woman, perhaps older than himself, whose tendency toward dissoluteness had not yet appeared? He was an artist and a poet; and such a man is never drawn toward unsexed females thin of body and spirit, but prefers full curves and physical beauty, especially in the early days when manhood comes with a rush like a tempest.

It might well be that Mary had no thought of being loose in those days when Jesus first loved her, but was driven to many loves by the loss of that one great love which towered above all loves, endeavoring to fill the vacant place in her heart, yet always in vain. It might be — ^but we had best cast no reflections on the character of a great prophet; only let us remember what Mohamet, a great prophet and moral reformer, did when the woman he loved so much died, that seldom can a man practice what he preaches, and that intercourse with a person one devoutly loves is by far not the worst fault in the world — it may be even a virtue, judged by God's highest standards! We laugh at society's hypocritical boundaries, although we find it best in the long run to follow some of them.

However, it is natural for a Presbyterian to be more circumspect in his opinions about great men than must those of less primitive and more advanced,

jdi less artificial and more natural, less imaginative and more useful religious ideas.

We are surely grateful to Prof. Black for his criticism, and hope that he will some day become reconciled to the viewpoint presented in "The Son of Man."

xm

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Jesus as he may have looked when a youth

The Magi

Jesus with his nurse (his mother)

The young reformer in his father's arms .

Nazareth Spring

The Sea of Galilee . .

Jesus and Mary Magdalene

Jerusalem

Mary Magdalene entertaining Jesus

The great Jew, with companions, in a storm

The trinity in Cedars of Lebanon

The Prodigal Son

Bethlehem Market-place ....

Jordan River

A study of the Son of Man

On the cross, with the Magdalene near

Frontispiece ^

Page

12 ^'

17 19 '

32 :

41/

52 58

94 ' 114 120 136 148.

THE SON OF MAN

Book I

SPIRITS of the limitless Universe, And Thou, Author of All, Creator, God, Under the hollow of whose hand the World Must ever be by law firmly controlled, — Inspire us as we sing the story of Jesus, The Hebrew Prophet who lived and died that men Might find eternal life — thro' noble love. Favor the boldness of our plan; affording Strength and courage that we may fulfill The epic song in measures suitable To the theme divine — Jesus the Son of Man, And reverently play upon the stops Of the sacred instrument while thus we sing.

Then through the mouths of the prophets Jahweh had spoken.

In times of old; and they, with inspiration Glorifying, marvelously prophesied Concerning the coming Messiah, the Holy Man,

And mightily, for the sins of the people were many, And Jahweh God of Hosts was very angry Against them for their sins. But merciful Jehovah was — yea, more than their deserts, And by the seers proclaimed the coming of One Who would reveal to them the way of Truth. Thus spake they, filled with the spirit of God the Lord : — "Behold, in Zion a corner stone is laid, A precious comer stone, a sure foundation; The evils of Israel shall be oflf-scourged. Their hypocrisies shall come to naught, their lies Be wiped away with blood, and falsehoods ended; Their whoredoms shall be cut out with the sword. And death will take the place of fornications ; Idolatry shall cease in the high places, The abominations of Israel be put down; No longer shall the wealthy sell the poor For a pair of shoes ; oppression and violence Shall be forced down the bellies of the wicked. The smoky sacrifices shall avail No more, for they are but a covering Of pestilential sins and vilenesses. Israel's leprosy has lived too long.

And her flesh is too corrupt — the vultures shall

have it.

But hope there is for earnest and humble men Who wish for life, and verily they shall find it. Give heed to the voice of the Lord: as clay in the

hand Of the potter, so are the puny children of men ; Like grass in the forest-fire are they consumed Within their time — three score of years and ten. For them the stars of heaven shall cease to shine. The sun be dark, and the full-moon have no light. Who can stand against the laws of God? Seek the way of the Lord while he may be found, For out of the fruitful rod of Jesse's tree Shall grow a flower, and out of its roots a branch. And he shall be called Wonderful, The Prince Of Peace, the mighty Counsellor; and the people Who dwelt in darkness shall see a shining light, And their joy shall be increased. For the spirit of

God Shall rest upon him — the spirit of understanding, Of wisdom and might, of fear and worship and love Of God the Absolute, creator of heaven

And earth. He shall judge the poor with righteousness, And govern the rich with strength; he shall teach

the nations To beat their swords into plows, and to pruning-

hooks Their bloody spears, for men shall live in peace. And wars shall cease. The wolf shall dwell with the

lamb, The leopard lie down with the sheep, and the young

lion That roared for prey with the fatling and the calf. And the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the

Lord.

Tho' the Prince the Messiah be scorned and rejected

of men, A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, despised, Afflicted to carry our sorrows and bear our grief. Wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our

sins, — He shall bind the broken-hearted, free the captive. And open the prisons to them that are scourged and

bound ; Comfort them that mourn, give beauty for ashes —

Even as Spring gives beauty to the Year,

And gather the nations to see the glory of God.

The bHnd shall see and they that were lame shall

walk."

Thus spoke the prophets, in whom the spirit had

come.

And behold, there was a man, whose name was

John, Who came to bear a witness to the Light, The Light of Jesus Christ, that men might love And have an understanding in their heart.

Now in the time of Herod, King of Judaea, There lived a certain priest called Zacharias, Abijah's course, whose wife Elisabeth Was a daughter of Aaron; and tho' they both were

blameless.

Righteously walking in all the commandments of God, They had no child, for Elisabeth was barren And well advanced in years ; but it came to pass, That an angel of God appeared to Zacharias As he was burning incense in the temple, And he had fear, for the light about the angel Was very bright; and the spirit seemed to say, "Fear not, O Zacharias — thy prayer is heard,

For Elisabeth thy wife shall bear a son

And name him John. He shall be great before

The eyes of God, and men shall rejoice at his birth.

The spirit and pow'r of Elias shall be with him

And give him strength to turn the foolish folk

Unto the wisdom of the just, and prepare

The people for the coming of the Messiah.

I am the angel Gabriel, who come

From God. Until that time shalt thou be dumb."

Thus spoke the messenger, and disappeared.

Behold! EHsabeth conceived, and hid Herself, pleased that she should be with child.

Now the angel Gabriel, when Elisabeth Had carried her child six months, came down from

heaven Unto the house of the virgin Mary, who dwelt In Nazareth of Galilee, espous'd To a man named Joseph, descended from David's

line ; And when the angel came to her, he said : —

"Blessed art thou, O Mary, among women; For thou hast a mighty work to do on earth. Behold, thou shalt conceive and be with child. And bear a son, whose name shall be called JESUS.

He shall be great — a son of the highest God, And Son of Man; of his Kingdom there is no end. Thy cousin Elisabeth hath too conceived, And soon will bear a son. Before Jahweh, What is impossible?" And he departed.

It came to pass as Gabriel had said. That Elisabeth was delivered, and bore a son; And there was great rejoicing; and on the eighth Day they did come to circumcise the child; And because the mother and father so proclaimed, They named him John. Then Zacharias opened His mouth, and prophesying praised the Lord, 'Whereby the dayspring from on high hath come To give to them that sit in darkness light And deliver them from the fear of the shadow of

death, And guide their feet unto the way of peace.'

So John grew up, waxing strong in spirit. And strong in body. But he went to the desert. Leaving the cities and towns, to be at peace With Nature, Man and God, for in the cities Evil was everywhere, and he had met A sect of men who called themselves Essenes, Who dwelt apart, communicating not

Especially with women, nor sacrificing

With animals, since their best sacrifice

Was reverence. They made no weapons of war,

Nor laid by gold, nor traded like the hucksters.

They had no slaves, for slavery to them

Was violating the holy laws of Nature,

Which makes men free. The foolishness of empty

Philosophy and logic they did with care

Avoid, as being bad; but natural

Read the scriptures ; practised piety,

And followed virtue, cleanliness and wisdom.

They had no oaths, trusted in Providence,

And treated fellow men with kindliness.

These men John met, therefore, and on his life They had an influence; so he did spurn The priestly office, which by inheritance Was his, for the mightiness of prophecy Had come upon him, with powers of the spirit. He lived in the wilderness, robed in a cloak Made out of camel's hair, loose fitting, rough, With a girdle of leather wound about his loins ; His food was wretched locusts and wild honey.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius,

The Caesar, Pilate being governor,

And Annas and Caiaphas the highest priests,

Behold there came the angel Gabriel

To John in the wilderness, and John did marvel,

And was afraid, so glorious seemed the spirit.

He said no word, but beckoned with his hand

Toward the Jordan country, and blessed him there.

So John went to the River Jordan, and preached.

Saying, "Turn ye, O people, turn ye now,

The Kingdom is at hand; prepare the way

Of the Lord, make straight his paths, for every vale

Shall be filled up, and the mountains be brought low ;

The crooked shall be straight, and the rough ways

smooth."

And many people did he there baptize. Many sought him from Jerusalem, And all Judaea, and the region near the river, And were baptized by John, confessing their sins.

But when he saw some of the Pharisees And Sadducees among the other folk. He was anangered, and cried, ''Who hath warned you To flee the wrath to come? The ax is laid Unto the root of the tree; and every stock That beareth not good fruit shall be hewn down!'*

The people said, "What shall we do?" He cried, "Let him that hath two coats give one away."

Then too came publicans to be baptized (Who were the tax-collectors for the king) And asked of John, "Master, what shall we do?" He answered, "Take no more than what is due."

The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, "What shall we do?" He said, "Do violence Unto no man; and be content with your wages."

The people wondered, and mused within their hearts Of John, whether he were the Christ or not. He answered, saying, "I baptize with water; But another mightier than I will come, Whose shoes I am unworthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, And he will gather the wheat into his garner."

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: The angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph, And said, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not. For Mary thy wife shall bear a son, whose name Shall be called JESUS, and too IMMANUEL, For he shall strip the people of their sins."

But it came to pass, those days, that a decree

Went forth from Caesar Augustus, that all the world Be taxed. So every one went to his own City; and Joseph went from Nazareth Into Judaea, unto the city of David Called Bethlehem (because he was of the house And lineage of David), to pay his tax With Mary, who was with child. Behold, while they Were there, the days of Mary's delivery Did come, and she brought forth her first-born son. She wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid him down In a manger, because there was no room for them In the inn. And all the angels were glad and rejoiced That Jesus was born, and ministered unto him.

And there were shepherds, abiding in the field. In that same country, keeping watch by night Over their flocks; and behold! the archangel Gabriel descended unto them, Shining bright with the glory of the Lord, And they were sore afraid, but Gabriel said: — "Fear not, O shepherds, for behold I bring Good tidings of great joy to all people. This day in the city of David is born to you

A saviour, which is Jesus Christ. This sign

Shall be — ^the babe is lying in a manger,

Wrapped in its swaddHng-clothes. Seek ye the babe.

Not for the sake of the proud and haughty rulers

Of Israel has Jesus come to live,

For they are cursed in their self-righteousness,

But for the sake of men like you, and all

Who humbly seek for higher, nobler things."

And suddenly there appeared a multitude Of spirits and angels praising God, singing, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, Good-will toward men: — the Son of Man is born!"

The host of spirits disappeared, and then The shepherds, astonished by the happening, Said unto one another, "Let us go At once to Bethlehem and see this thing Which, come to pass, has been made known to us."

So they set out with haste, and found Mary And Joseph, and, lying in the manger, the babe. And when they saw, they spread abroad the news Which had been told to them concerning the child ; And those that heard it wondered in their hearts.

Mary pondered, knowing that her son Should become great, and bring joy to the world.

< H

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things revealed to them.

When the child was eight days old he was named Jesus, And when the days of Mary's purification Had been accomplished, they brought to Jerusalem Jesus, and him presented unto the Lord, Offering up a pair of turtle-doves. It happened that Simeon, a man of Jerusalem, And just, was waiting for the consolation Of Israel; and he, thus spirit-guided. Came to the temple, and took the child in his arms, Saying, "O God, let me depart in peace. For I have seen the glory of all people — A light to lighten the Gentiles and Israel!"

And Joseph and Mary marveled at these things.

Now at the time when Jesus was born — the days Of Herod the king — in Bethlehem, that night A wonderful star appeared to three Wise Men In the East — Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar, — The first, a Magus of India; the second. Of Egypt; and Balthasar, the third, of Persia. They found by astrological calculations That in Judaea a Prince of men was born;

And, getting ready, they hastened on a journey To find the new-born child and worship him. Carrying with them gifts of gold, and myrrh. And frankincense. And lo ! when evening came, Each night as they were journeying, a spirit Appeared within the heavens like a star — The angel Michael. — Unto the Mount Of Sinai led he them together there ; And when the Magi beheld the one the others, Greatly they did rejoice and make them glad. For verily they knew it was the truth.

In company they then continued on. Upon the way, led now by one bright star ; But when they came to the country of Judaea, It disappeared; and knowing not what town Or city was the place where the great child was, They traveled unto Jerusalem, and there Demanded, "Where is the child that has been born,- That is to be a mighty Counsellor, The Prince of Peace, and ruler of the Jews? For in the east we have beheld his star. And we have journeyed hither to worship him."

But when the king heard this, he was disturbed, And all Jerusalem with him. So Herod

Did summon together all the chiefest priests And too the scribes of the people, to ask of them Where this great child was born and where he dwelt, (Since now it was two years after his birth In Bethlehem). They answered Herod thus: — " 'Tis written by the prophet. Thou Bethlehem, In the land of Judah, art not the least among The princes, for out of thee shall come a Prince Who shall be Governor of Israel'."

Then Herod, when he had summoned privily The three Magi, inquired diligently Of them what time the bright star had appeared. They answered him, ''About two years ago." So he commanded them to Bethlehem, Saying, "Go search for the young child diligently. And when ye have found him, bring me word again, That I may come and also worship him."

Not knowing what intentions Herod had. The Wise Men did depart; and, lo, the star Which they had seen appeared to them again, And went before them till it came and stood Above the house where the young child Jesus was, — For Joseph and Mary had stayed in Bethlehem.

So they rejoiced with exceeding joy, and came

Into the house, and saw the child with Mary His mother; and falling down they worshiped Jesus, And opened for him their costly treasures of gold And frankincense and myrrh ; and they blessed Jesus, Because he was to be the Son of Man.

They did depart into their own country Therefore another way, because the angel Michael appeared to them and said (He came by a dream at night) that they must not Return to Herod, who had an evil mind.

Likewise the angel spoke to Joseph and Mary By dream, saying to them, "Arise and take With you the child, and flee away to Egypt, And stay ye there until I bring you word: For Herod seeks the boy that he may kill him."

So they arose, and took the child by night, And secretly departed unto Egypt, Remaining there until the death of Herod.

Herod was very wroth when he saw the Magi Mocked his authority, and sent forth men To slay the children that lived in Bethlehem, And all the region round about, from two Years old and younger, according to the time The Wise Men had determined. Then indeed

From an oil painting by P. & L. Wellsl

Jesus with his nurse (his mother).

Arose a dreadful weeping and lamentation —

The mourning of sorrowful mothers who were bereft

Of the babes they loved, and would not be comforted,

Wailing in bitter anguish. Then was fulfilled

The mournful prophecy of Jeremiah:

*In Rama Rachel wept for her children/ — ah!

And there were many broken hearts in Judah.

But when Herod was dead, behold an angel Appeared to Joseph, in a dream, in Egypt, Seeming to say, "Arise, take thou thy child And Mary his mother, and go to Israel : For they which sought the young child's life are dead."

So he arose, and took the child and Mary, And came again to the land of Israel. But much he feared, because that Archelaus The son of Herod was ruling in his stead. To return to Judaea; therefore, warned by angels By night in a dream, he turned toward Galilee; And there in Nazareth, his native town, He stopped to dwell. Thus were the prophecies Fulfilled, — "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Jesus grew tall, and waxed strong in spirit, Filled with wisdom : the grace of God was upon him.

Now it happened that Joseph and Mary went each year To the feast of the Passover at Jerusalem; And when Jesus was twelve years old, they went According to the manner of the feast Up to Jerusalem to celebrate; But lo! when they had been there all the days And started to return, the boy Jesus Tarried behind in the city, and Joseph and Mary Knew not of it, since they supposed that he Was with them in the company, and missed Him not till they had journeyed for a day. So, when they found him not among their friends And kin, unto Jerusalem they turned Again, seeking Jesus. It came to pass That three days afterward they found the boy Within the temple, sitting among the doctors, Hearing them and asking of them questions ; And all that listened to him were astonished Both at his understanding and replies.

When they beheld him, they were much amazed. His mother said unto him, "Alas, my son, Why hast thou treated us this way? Behold, Thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing'' —

From an oil painting by P. & L. WelJsH

The young reformer in his father's arms.

For verily they loved Jesus their son.

But he replied, "How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" But they comprehended Not the saying which he spake to them.

So, coming down with them, he did return To Nazareth, and was obedient; And all his sayings Mary kept in her heart.

Thus Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature, In favor with God and man.

As was the custom with the Jews, Jesus Was taught his trade, becoming a carpenter And joiner, making plows and yokes and many Other things of wood beside the bench. He developed wonderfully his physical power, And gladly did his work. So long as Joseph His father lived, he had much time besides For study; so he learned the holy writings — The ancient histories, and laws, and prophets. But when his father died (he became sad. Mourning his death) he often had to work Into the evening, and had less time for thought, Except for meditation at his bench. So he became unhappy, until his brother

Grew old enough to help; and often then He went about the country seeking wood, And visiting the husbandmen who needed Yokes and plows and beams. He loved the fields, In which the grass and flowers grew, the farms, Where busy planters worked, the lake and sea In which the fishers cast their nets, and hills Which brought him nearer to the sky — whereon He sat sometimes thinking of God the Father.

One day behold! it happened, when the young Carpenter went into the wilderness On a journey, he met a savage mountain lion Which leaped at him ferociously, for it Had had nothing to eat. He cried for help. And tried to defend himself with a stout stick That he was carrying— for he was very Strong. The Lord did not allow his servant Thus to be killed before his time so young, For as it came to pass, his cousin John Was near at hand, gathering locusts and honey For food (already had he left the haunts Of men) and came running unto his help. And both together they killed the hungry lion.