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 MEMORIES OF 
 CALVARY 
 
 AN EASTER SKETCH• 
 
 COMPOSED BY 
 
 OLIVIA WARD BUSH 
 
 BOSTON, MASS. 
 
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 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MEMORIES OF 
 CALVARY 
 
 AN EASTER SKETCH 
 
 COMPOSED BY 
 
 OLIVIA WARD BUSH 
 
 BOSTON, MASS. 
 
 The A. M. E. Book Concern Print, 631 Pine St., Philada, Pa. 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 . UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
PREFACE 
 
 It is the writer’s strong conviction that more and 
 more the need for strong faith in Christ, as the Re¬ 
 deemer of men, impresses itself upon those who seek' 
 
 / 
 
 not only for Spiritual Truth, but for Spiritual Peace 
 as well. 
 
 The many doctrines of the present day, the rapid 
 advance of materialism all tend to detract from 
 rather than add to spiritual strength, and the writer 
 believes that the recognition of Christ, as the High¬ 
 est Ideal is imperative and absolutely needful for 
 man’s best development. 
 
 OLIVIA WARD BUSH. 
 
 
CHARACTERS 
 
 NIGHT (personified)—a young woman wear¬ 
 ing a long black robe, trimmed with stars. 
 
 ANXIOUS SEEKER—(a young woman who 
 seeks to know the truth of Calvary's Cross, wear¬ 
 ing first black, then white). 
 
 MALE QUARTETTE (invisible). 
 
 HERALDS OF THE CROSS—(15 or 20 young 
 men and young women, who herald the Easter 
 morn; white robes are preferred). 
 
MEMORIES OF CALVARY 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 Night on Calvary 
 
 Tall palms may be used on platform arranged to 
 suggest a grove—lights are turned off or dimly 
 seen. In the distance, on an elevation, is seen a 
 wooden Cross, at the base of which kneels or sits 
 the Anxious Seeker, robed in black. 
 
 Night appears robed in black and silver stars. • 
 Night soliloquizes, comforts Anxious Seeker, then 
 departs. Anxious Seeker soon follows. 
 
 Before curtain rises invisible male quartette sings 
 the familiar hymn, “Peace, Perfect Peace.” 
 
 Voice of Night (Soliloquizes). “Day has long 
 since departed, over the sleeping earth, silence has 
 fallen and the restless heart of man beats calm again 
 in these, his slumbering hours, while there on Cal¬ 
 vary’s Hill stands out the cross and though Earth’s 
 shadows cast their endless lengths over all the vast 
 expanse of the Creator’s earth, they cannot hide 
 from view this sacred emblem of man's imperish¬ 
 able immortal inheritance, they cannot dim the 
 greatness of its glory. 
 
 But as for man, he sleeps, for he is a weary, poor, 
 
6 
 
 restless man, ever weary, yet ever striving, seek¬ 
 ing always, yet still unsatisfied. He has traversed 
 the earth from shore to shore, laying low the migh¬ 
 ty forests in his pathway, holding back the onward 
 course of rushing waters, awearied, yes, hut re¬ 
 lentless in his search for greater triumphs. 
 
 Deep down into the heart of Mother-Earth he has 
 forged his way and brought up priceless gems from 
 Nature’s richest mines. Down into the almost un¬ 
 fathomable depths of mighty oceans he has laid his 
 cable lengths, bringing near the distant lands, en¬ 
 abling man to send with speed a message to his far 
 off brother man. He has hewn his way through 
 mighty rocks of unnumbered ages. He has scaled 
 the mountain even to its highest peak and builded 
 there his magnificent palaces of home. Awearied? 
 Yes, but not content, he needs must try the unknown 
 regions up and beyond the floating clouds, and out 
 of the mighty power of his mental concept, he has 
 wrought the wonder of the centuries—the chariots 
 of the air—by which men fly at will to heights such 
 as man ne’er before conceived of. 
 
 But man’s soul is not at rest, for, over and beyond 
 his great achievements, stands out the Cross of 
 Christ, the mortal and immortal Emblem of man’s 
 highest need and strongest hope. 
 
 O Calvary! Calvary! in thee, and thee alone shall 
 man find peace and rest. (Discovers Anxious Seek¬ 
 er at the foot of Cross). 
 
7 
 
 But who is this in mournful guise beneath the 
 Shadow of the Cross? Speak Mortal! Why art 
 thou here in this, the gloom and darkness of Earth’s 
 silent hour? The Voice of Night now bids thee 
 speak! What seekest thou? ‘ 
 
 Anxious Seeker. —O Voice of Night, I seek to 
 know the meaning of this Cross; my soul is weight¬ 
 ed down with longing for the higher way of life, 
 and I did feel that, somehow here, beneath this 
 Cross, my soul might find release, and I must here 
 abide until the morning breaks. Dost’ thou know 
 the meaning of this Cross? 
 
 Voice of Night. —O Anxious Seeker, ’tis the Cross 
 of Christ, and beneath it is the Mount of Calvary. 
 Have you not heard the wondrous story of Him, 
 who suffered there and died? 
 
 Anxious Seeker. —Ah! Yes the story has been 
 told, yet I, alas! but darkly can discern its mean¬ 
 ing. O, tell me aught you know of Calvary’s Christ. 
 
 Voice of Night. —O Anxious Seeker, in the days 
 when man first felt the need of Life and help Di¬ 
 vine, I looked from out my home, amid the shining 
 stars, and I beheld on Calvary’s Hill the Cross, 
 where hung the Crucified, who gave His Life a ran¬ 
 som for man’s sin. I saw the veil of the Mighty 
 Temple rent in twain, I heard His agonizing cry. 
 It is finished! It is finished! I heard the cry of 
 
8 
 
 mortals in their terror and their fears. But once 
 again I looked, and Lo! the Cross was bare. The 
 Christ had filled His mighty purpose. Through the 
 vaulted heavens above my starry home I heard An¬ 
 gelic hosts proclaim: The Christ has risen! Behold! 
 man’s fettered soul is now redeemed forevermore. 
 O, Anxious Seeker, have but faith and thou shalt 
 truly find the Prince of Peace. And now, the morn¬ 
 ing breaks! Farewell, and when we meet again, 
 may you have changed your robe of gloom for one 
 of spotless white. Farewell! Farewell! 
 
 fNight disappears and lights are turned on grad¬ 
 ually.) 
 
 Anxious Seeker. —The Prince of Peace! Ah! 
 now the light comes in; I feel His Kingly Presence 
 in my soul! The Cross stands out in all its bright¬ 
 ness now, and from the distance comes the sound 
 of heavenly music, as if ’twere borne on Angel’s 
 wings. (Listens). 
 
 Invisible Male Quartette sings the familiar hymn. 
 
 Jesus calls us o’er the tumult 
 Of our Life’s wild, restless sea, 
 
 Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, 
 
 Saying Christian, follow Me! 
 
 Jesus calls us, by Thy mercies, 
 
 Saviour, may we hear Thy call, 
 
 Give our hearts to Thy obedience, 
 
 Serve and love Thee best of all! 
 
9 
 
 Anxious Seeker.—Ah! how sweetly strange this 
 music seems, as if in answer to my soul’s desire. I 
 will arise, I will put off this robe of gloom for one 
 .of spotless white to greet the Easter Dawn. 
 
 (Anxious Seeker departs and lights are turned 
 on in full) 
 
 SCENE II 
 
 Easter Morning 
 
 Lights are turned on full. Heralds of the Cross 
 enter bearing flowers to cast at the foot of Cross. 
 They sing, Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Al¬ 
 mighty. Enter Anxious Seeker (robed in white). 
 She joins them in praise. They depart together 
 singing, All hail the power of Jesus’ Name. 
 
 (Enter 15 or 20 young men and women, “Her¬ 
 alds of the Cross,” robed in white; they approach 
 the Cross and scatter flowers at its base, singing 
 Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty. They 
 continue to sing until the Anxious Seeker returns 
 and lays her flowers at the base of Cross. Then 
 rising, she turns to the singers.) 
 
10 
 
 
 Anxious Seeker.—O glad young voices, heralding 
 this blessed morn, I, too, would seek to praise the; 
 Prince of Peace, for He has passed my way, and 
 from His storehouse rich with love, has showered • 
 blessings on my waiting soul. 
 
 O listen, while I give to you the wondrous mes¬ 
 sage of His love. (Recites the following verses) : 
 
 Anxious Seeker.— 
 
 Stealing over my heart with strch sweetness. 
 
 Came the words so divinely true: 
 
 “I will open the windows of Heaven, 
 
 And pour rich blessings on you.” 
 
 He did open the windows of Heaven, 
 
 And oh, such a blessing He poured; 
 
 My Father, so rich in His mercies, 
 
 My Saviour, my King, and my Lord. 
 
 I had asked Him in pitiful weakness, 
 
 To lead me, in this, my way; 
 
 It was night, in my soul, as I pleaded, 
 
 But He led me to perfect day. 
 
 Out into the broad green pastures, 
 
 Of which I had little dreamed; 
 
 Out into the bright clear sunshine, 
 
 Where the rays of His Glory gleamed. 
 
 Ah, the blessing was more than He promised, 
 
 For it seemed I could scarcely contain 
 
 The wonderful flow of His mercies 
 I could only whisper His name. 
 
 And praise Him for what He had given, 
 
 His promise so sweet and true, 
 
 “I will open the windows of Heaven 
 And pour rich blessings on you.” 
 
 Heralds of the Cross reply: 
 
 We do rejoice with Thee 
 In this, Thy new-found peace, 
 
11 
 
 Come blend your voice with ours 
 In highest praise. 
 
 All retire from stage, headed by Anxious Seeker- 
 singing “All hail the power of Jesus’ Name.” They 
 sing until their voices sound as if in the distance. 
 
 Curtain falls. 
 
 Note—One of the following Easter poems might 
 be used between the two scenes and one might be 
 used at conclusion of Memories of Calvary. 
 
12 
 
 THE CRUCIFIED. 
 
 Night’s Shadows wrapped the Cross in gloom, 
 
 And e’en the shining stars grew dim with grief; 
 
 All Nature bowed in agony, 
 
 And yearned in silent anguish for relief. 
 
 The Temple’s Veil was rent in twain, 
 
 The dead, though sleeping through the quiet years, 
 Arose, and walked the troubled Earth 
 
 While living souls grew faint with many fears. 
 
 What can this mighty tumult mean? 
 
 The Christ, the suffering Saviour now has died! 
 
 Ask not, but gaze on yonder Mount 
 Of Calvary, where hangs the Crucified! 
 
 Olivia Ward Bush. 
 
 AN EASTER ECHO. 
 
 Easter dawned, but I was weary 
 With the fever and the pain, 
 
 And my soul within seemed sinking, 
 Never to revive again. 
 
 This affliction pressed me sor.ely, 
 
 “Oh, if Fate would just be kind 
 And relieve my tortured being, 
 
 That my soul might be resigned.” 
 
 “O, that peace would follow conflict, 
 O, that grief would turn to joy, 
 
 O, that suffering might conquer 
 Where it threatens to destroy.” 
 
 “Ah! if I could catch a vision 
 Of the risen Christ today, 
 
 I am sure my faith would strengthen, 
 And all doubt would pass away.” 
 
I 
 
 13 
 
 Thus with self I lay communing, 
 
 Tossing, restless, in my pain, 
 
 When, within my room came stealing 
 Softly breathing, this sweet strain— 
 
 Sung by little children’s voices, 
 
 Heralding our Easter day; 
 
 Ringing through my open window 
 From God’s Temple o’er the way. 
 
 “He is Risen! He is Risen! 
 
 Wipe away your falling tear, 
 
 Pain and grief and doubt are vanquished, 
 
 For the Lord Christ draweth near.” 
 
 Hushed at once was my complaining, 
 
 And my earthly sight grew dim, 
 
 For my soul had caught a vision, 
 
 And rejoicing, cried to Him,— 
 
 Who today arose in triumph, 
 
 “O, Thou Conqueror of strife, 
 
 I accept Thy heaven-sent message, 
 
 Let it echo through my life,— 
 
 Till it overrules all weakness, 
 
 Till it crushes doubt and fear, 
 
 Till I say in Death, victorious, 
 
 He, the Lord Christ draweth near. 
 
 Years have passed and still the echo 
 Lingers with assuring ring, 
 
 E’en in pain or sore affliction, 
 
 Children’s voices seem to sing: 
 
 “He is risen! He is risen! 
 
 Wipe away your falling tear, 
 
 Pain and grief and doubt are vanquished, 
 
 For the Lord Christ draweth near.” 
 
 Olivia Ward Bush. 
 
 t 
 
14 
 
 AND I, IF I BE LIFTED UP. 
 
 He giveth songs way in the night, 
 
 He listens when His children pray; 
 He m.akes it bright as noontide light, 
 He turneth darkness into day. 
 
 I heard His voice at midnight hour, 
 
 It came so sweet and tenderly; 
 
 And I, if I be lifted up. 
 
 Will surely draw all men to Me. 
 
 And I beheld Him on the Cross, 
 Uplifted for my guilt and sin; 
 Uplifted th^re in love divine • 
 
 That He might draw all men to Him. 
 And I beheld Him once again, 
 
 L^plifted as the Father’s Son, 
 
 Uplifted in the realms above, 
 
 A King upon a Kingly throne. 
 
 I fancied Heaven’s pearly gates, 
 Swung wide that I might enter in; 
 I fancied Heaven’s arches rang, 
 
 With praise for victory over sin. 
 And I beheld a white-robed host, 
 Low at His feet, adoring fall, 
 
 I heard their grand triumphant song, 
 He is our King, the Lord of all. 
 
 ’Twas but His voice at midnight hour, 
 
 Which came so sweet and tenderly; 
 
 And I, if I be lifted up, 
 
 Will surely draw all men to me. 
 
 He gave me songs way in the night, 
 
 I felt His joy and peace within, 
 
 He led toward Heaven my fancy’s flight, 
 
 That He might draw me close to Him. 
 
 Olivia Ward Bush. 
 
15 
 
 $ 
 
 FOR THEE. 
 
 (An Easter Poem) 
 
 And from His hands and from His side, 
 
 Flowed down great drops of blood; 
 
 For you, for me, for everyone, 
 
 Streamed out that crimson flood. 
 
 Take thou this comfort to thine heart, 
 
 Poor wounded, stricken soul, 
 
 That He who chastens thee with love, 
 
 Thy weakness will control. 
 
 If bitter is the cup you taste, 
 
 In dark Gethsemane; 
 
 Remember that He tasted first 
 That bitter cup for thee. 
 
 He'll move thy obstacle of sin, 
 
 He'll set thy spirit free, 
 
 He proved His endless boundless love, 
 
 On rugged Calvary. 
 
 Ah, trembling One, He did it all, 
 
 Because He loved thee so; 
 
 Then cast on Him this care of thine, 
 
 O, trust in Him, and know: 
 
 That from His hands and from His side, 
 Flowed down great drops of blood, 
 
 For you, for me, for everyone, 
 
 Streamed out that crimson flood. 
 
 Olivia Ward Bush 
 
 WHY WEEPEST THOU? 
 (Easter Poem) 
 
 “Why weepest thou here?" said the Master, 
 And whom dost thou seek today? 
 
 And Mary replied in her sorrow: 
 
 “They have taken my Lord away. 
 
16 
 
 \ 
 
 And I know not where they have laid Him, 
 Though I’ve watched since the early morn; 
 
 I would take Him away could I find Him, 
 
 Oh, Sir! to whence was He borne.” 
 
 And the Master with love overflowing, 
 
 Said Mary, in accents so sweet, 
 
 That she knew her dear Master had spoken, 
 
 And with joy she fell at His feet; 
 
 Wiped away were the tears of her sorrow, 
 
 Her waiting had not been in vain, 
 
 In her soul rang the Angel’s glad message: 
 
 He arose, and He liveth again! 
 
 Why weepest thou here, waiting Christian, 
 
 Know ye not that He’s risen today? 
 
 That the confines of earth could not hold Him, 
 And the stone has been rolled away? 
 
 Have you waited and watched since the morning? 
 Then your waiting has not heen in vain, 
 
 List the voice of His Angel proclaiming, 
 
 He arose, and He liveth again! 
 
 Why weepest thou too, trembling sinner, 
 
 Know ye not of His power to save? 
 
 For thy sake over death h^s triumphed 
 For thy sake He arose from the grave. 
 
 Wipe away then the tears of thy sorrow, 
 
 For your longings have not been in vain, 
 
 For thee is the Angel’s glad message, 
 
 He arose, and He liveth again! 
 
 Olivia Ward Bush