The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-08-04


n8rs that bore the image of the Roman emperor; |
gsd although in this instance, l had committed |
8Astal error, yet the sacrilege did not appear I
less henious III their eyes. Another grievance +
also rankled in their bosoms. l had proposed /
to employ part of the treasure of the Temple |
in erecting edifces of public utility. My propo-
sal was scowled at The Pbarisees were the |
avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared not for |
the Government but they bore with bitterness
the severe reprimands which the Nazarene had
for three years been continually throwing out
against them wherever he went. Too weak and
.pusilanimous to act by themselves, they had ca
gerly embraced the quarrel of the Herodians and
Saducees. Besides these three parties, / had to
contend against the reckless and prohigate pop
uace always ready to join in sedition, and to
profit by the disorder and confusion that result
therefrom.
Jesus was dragged before the Council of the
Priests and condemned to death. 1t was then
that the High Priest Caiaphas, performed der
isory act of submission. He sent his prisoner
to me to pronounce his condemnation and secure
his execution. l answered him that, as Jesus
was Galilean, the affair came in Herod's juris-
diction, and ordered Jesus to be sent thither.-
The willy Tetrarch professed humility, and pro-
testing his Difference to the lieutenant of Caesar
he committed the fate of the man to my hands.
Soon my place assumed the aspect of a beseged
citadel every moment increased the number of
the seditious Jerusalem was inundated with
crowds from the mountains of Nazareth. All Ju-
dea appeared to be pouring into the devoted
city.
/ had taken a wife, girl from, among the
Gauls, who pretended to into futurity.-
Weeping, and throwing herself at my feet "Be-
ware" said she to me, beware and touch not
that man, for he is holy. Last night 1 saw him
in a yision,-he was walking on the water-he
was flying on the wings of the wind. He spoke
to the tempests, to the palm trees, to the fisher
of the lake-all were obedient to him. Behold
the torrent of Mount Kedron flows with blood
the statues of Caesar filled with the filth of
the gemoni@e-the columns of the Pretorium
have given away, and the sun is veiled in mourn
ing like yestal in the tomb o, PLATE, evil
awaits thee. If thou wilt not listen to the words
of thy wife, dread the curses of a Roman Senate
dread the frowns of Ceaser ~
BY this time the marble stairs groaned under
the weight Of multitude. The Nazarene was
brought back to me. Iproeeeded to the Hall of
Justice, followed by my guards, and asked the
people in a severe tone what they demanded?-
1.-The death of the Nazarene," was their reply.
For what crime ?' ''He has blasphemed (; he
has --prophesied the ruin of the temple he calls
himself the son of God-the Messiah-the King
of the Jews" "Roman justice" said l, ''pun-
ishes not such offence with death" 'Crucify
him, cruelty him!'' shouted forth the relentless
rabbIe:
The vociferations of the infuriate multitude
shpok the palace to its foundations. One man
alone appeared calm in the midst of the tumult
He was like unto the statues Of Innocence placed
in the Temple of the Euminides. 1t was the Ma
zarene.
After many fruitless attempts to protect him
from the fury of his merciless prosecutors, had
the baseness to adopt measure, which. at that
moment, appeared I'd me to be the only one that
could save his life. l order him to be scourged;
then, calling for ever, L washed my hands in
the presence of the clamorous multitude, thereby
sipnifying them my disapprobation of the deed.
But in vain. 1t was his life that these wretch
es thirsted after. Often, in civil commo-
tious. have witnessed the furious animosity of
the multitude, but nothing could ever be compar-
eh to what beheld in the present instance. 1t
might have been truly said that, this occa-
sion, all the phantoms of the internal regions
had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd ap-
peared not to walk they were borne off and
whirled as a vortex, rolling along like living
waves, from the portals of the Pretorium even
unto Mount Zion, with bowling screams, shrieks
and vociferations, such as were never heard in
the seditions Of Panonia, in tae tumults OF the
Forum.
By degrees the day darkencd like a winter
twilight such as had been seen at the death OF
the great julius Caesar. 1t was likewise towards
the Ides of March. I, the contemned governor
of a rebellious province, was leaning against a
column of my basilic contemplating athwart the
dreary gloom, this Theory of Tartarus dragging
to execution the innocent Nazarene. All around
me was desert Jerusalem had vomited forth
her indwellers through the funeral gate thvt
Gemonia An air of desolation and sadness en-
veloped me. My guards had Joined the cavalry,
and the Centurion, to display shadow of pow
err was endeavoring to maintain order. was
left alone, and my breaking heart admonished
me, that what was passing at that moment ap-
pertained rather to the history of the gods than
to that of man. Loud clamors were heard pro-
ceeding from Golgotha, which borne on the winds
appeared to announce an agony such as never
had been heard by mortal ear Dark clouds
lowered over the pinnacle of the temple, and
larre ruptures settled over the city and covered
as with a veil. SO dreadful we're the signs that
were manifested, both in the heavens and on the
earth, that Dionysius, the Areopagit is reported
tn have exclaimed, EITHER the 4uthor Of nature
is suffering, or the niverssis falling apart"
Towards the first hour of the night, l threw
nv mantle around me, and went down into the
city towards the gates of Golgotha. The sacra-
fee was consnmmated. The crowd was return
ing home still agitated, it is true, but gloomy,
taciturn, and desperate What the had witness
ed had struck them with terror and remorse. L
also saw my little Roman cohort pass by mourn
fully the standard bearer having yeiled his eagle
in token of grief, and 1 overheard some OF the
soldiers murmuring strange words which did
not comprehend Others were recounting pro-
eidies almost similar to those which had SO Of
ten smote the Romans with dismay by the VIII
of the gods Sometimes groups OF men ana
women would halt then looking backwards TO-
wards Mount Calvary, would remain motonless,
in the expectation of Witnessing some new pro-
Dizzy.
Treturned to the Pretoriun, sad and pensive.