The painting was done by Howard Ellis in 1959.  It hung in the Royal Bennett Chapel until 1981 when the "new" church was built.  Mr. Ellis was a chalk-talk artist who toured churches all over the country with a particular emphasis on youth evangelism.  While here he was inspired to do the chalk painting depicting Christ weeping over the world, which he called, "How Often".  Returning to Nashville, Mr. Ellis decided to re-do the painting in oil mosaic and later presented it as a special gift to our church. 

 

Members of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, thinking that the painting was such a fine source of inspiration, decided to plan a prayer room with the picture as its focal point.  Virginia Johnsen, daughter of the late Merle & Ethel Johnsen, and Jim Page, the son of Helen and the late Lavern Page, served as chairpersons of the faith area group which had charge of the room.  Sometimes the painting was gone temporarily while Mr. Ellis exhibited it at various religious art shows.  It hung for a time in the Chicago Temple and has also been on display in Nashville and Minneapolis.

 

The painting depicts Christ weeping over the city of Jerusalem; however, the city has been drawn so as to intermingle the modern with the ancient, and thus the painting in reality is of Christ weeping over the world.

 

Be sure to admire this inspirational painting in Morehouse Hall.