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Show CARRIED THE SAVIOR'S CROSS Simon of Cyrene Pressed Into Service Through Accidental Meeting on That Dread Day. There Is a more or less general belief be-lief that Simon, who carried the cross for Jesus, was a negro. While there Is no direct evidence on this point, he was probably a white man and a Jew. The city of Cyrene, from which ha came, was in northern Africa, but It was a Greek city and the Jews were settled there In large numbers. Simon was a Jewish name and not likely to have been borne by a native African. St. Mark speaks of him as one Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and liufus, both of whom were well-known well-known Jews and white. The curious thing about Simon's carrying the cross on which Jesus was to be crucified was that he had nothing to do with the proceedings before Pontius Pilate, aid was forced into the service of carrying the ross. Matthew, after describing the trial and the surrender of Jesus to the crowd, says: "And they came out, and they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear His cross." Mark says: "And they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by. coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross." Luke says: "And as they led Him away they laid hold on one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the' country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it for Jesus." These accounts indicate tli a t the crowd met Simon by chance and that he was pressed into the service serv-ice of carrying the cross. |