Evening found Jesus comfortably situated in Jericho, while his near friends gathered in secret to plan for the morrow. A dim oil lamp lit up the stable-like enclosure, where the dejected and sorrowful had assembled. Peter's speech, as usual, was lengthy and to the effect that as Jesus was determined to face his enemies at Jerusalem, it would be cowardly to abandon him, but if worse came to worse and Jesus was seized, they might be able to scatter so that the officers would not recognize them.

John's opinion acted as a glimmer of light 011 the gloom when he assured them that if they, the disciples, were detained as followers, they would simply be beaten with stripes and driven from Jerusalem.

Diversity of opinions among the others revealed the fact that most of them were on the point of breaking away as they did in Galilee, until Magdalene arose and tried to greet them with her old-time winning smile.

When she began speaking the flush came to her cheeks, her voice became clear and soon she stood erect, the same Magdalene of old, with that true feminine grace and spirit of her sex, who flee at a mouse but turn not aside from a lion, the attention was eager.

"Friends from Galilee, you believe in God, I know you do. You believe in eternal life as set forth by the Master, I know you do. You believe that soon we all will pass away from this earthly scene, and as from Jericho this night we can look back to sad and glad days in Galilee, so some unknown day, from some unknown place, under some unknown conditions, we shall look back to scenes of this life and what will we linger on and love to contemplate most? Will it be the beauty of face and form we wore? No! Will it be earthly fame? No! Will it be the days when the soft summer breeze fanned our cheeks and flitted our souls away on an untroubled sea? No! Will it be that while others died, we live to good old age? No! Then what will it be? Will it not be the heroic stand we took for love, sympathy and justice towards our earth-born companions, when the cruel hand of injustice stayed not from shame and persecution?

"Dark and gloomy is this enclosure, but greater darkness prevails outside. Two thousand souls or more line the way to Zion. All Israel meet now at Jerusalem, but few, if any, know that the foretold Redeemer, in human form, is on his way to the city of David. Do you know it? Do I know it?

"Could we know it? Have we the ability to comprehend his claim? Were his mission for the present inhabitants, we might better understand it, but if it is for all time, and for all the coming generations, how can we know, for what is wisdom to us today may be folly to the people in two thousand years, so let us fearlessly follow and not falter.

"I dread tomorrow. I dread all these coming days. Jerusalem to me is a throne of wickedness. Satan reigns there and God permits, but Jesus loves them all. Do you recall his word as he stood on Olive's brow, 'Oh, Jerusalem—Jerusalem, which killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood under her wing, but ye would not.' Does not this sound more like God than man, lamenting over the unfortunate condition of those who reject him? Will we reject him? Well I know your answer, but listen—listen, men of Galilee, this night may seal your doom, desertion falls little short of rejection.

"Behold your house is left desolate. What does that mean? Does it mean that our beautiful Zion, the throne of David, shall become the home of the Gentiles, while the Jew stands outside the gate and knocks as the centuries pass on? We do not know, but one thing is sure; his kingdom is not for this generation. It either refers to days gone by or days to come or possibly both. If this is true why not follow the Master through darkness into light? If this meek and lowly way, dark and stormy as it may appear, is the magnet of love to win the world, let us follow that our names may be recorded in the book of life as the faithful few who, when the night was dark and billows of fear and trouble ran mountain high, stood firm. Stand up, you men of Galilee, all who are ready for the fray." All responded quickly but Judas Iscariot, who slowly raised to a stooping position.