ks in the spiritual landscape of humanity." The integrity of the man
along with the power and dramatic quality of his speech was unveiled for
all the world to see. One recalls in this particular a certain Good
Friday after World War I when he took up Sarah Bernhardt's ghastly
reversal of the First Word from the Cross, "Father, do _not_ forgive
them for they _know_ what they do," and with terrific intensity
literally shouted, "That is a lie straight from hell."

His preaching always illumined a fine feeling for the mastery of
language, and those who heard him over the span of the years were
conscious that in his Good Friday addresses he employed plain,
Anglo-Saxon words, fundamental, strong words that lent a cumulative
effect to his speech. Because of his modesty he never consented to the
publication of any of his Good Friday addresses, which is lamentable for
without a doubt they represent his best preaching. A full, stenographic
report, however, was made of his last addresses in 1939, and certain
paragraphs from the Third Word may well be quoted. This Word from the
Cross, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by
whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then
saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!", was greatly loved by his
people because he gave to it an interpretation that was entirely
original:

As those of you who have been here on other Good Fridays know, I
give that my own interpretation. Some say that I am wrong: that
when Jesus Christ said "Woman, behold thy son," He meant He was
directing her attention to His friend, St. John, who would be a
son to her now that He was going away. Perhaps. But I like to
think the other way: that He was revealing to that mother of His
the thing that should justify her motherhood, and her faith, and
her love. He was saying, as it seems to me, things like this:

"Behold, your Son, bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh. Known
and yet unknown. The Son whom the angel announced to you long ago
among the Judean hills. The things that you have treasured and
pondered in your heart must be brought out now to allow God to
open to you their hidden meaning. For I am your Son, your
first-born. In these years of wonder and strangeness I have not
forgotten the love and care and protection given me. Through you
I grew up in the knowledge of the Scriptures and the love of
God's House. No, I have not forgotte