The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-07-05
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger
HEw ORLEAN-, SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1874
d I O N
L H E S l B Y l. S.
CLASSIC, CHRISTIAN MOTEL,
MILES GERALD KEON,
Author Of Harding, the Money.Spinner,' etc.
From the Catholic Wo,li.l
L II E S I B Y l. S {.
d CLASSIC, CHRISTIAN MOTEL,
MILES GERALD KEoN,
From tho Catholic World.
tConcluded.)
PART III.


Esther had discussed in hushed tones and i
Greek the wonders and various portents at
tendant upon the supreme and central fact
that Resurrection of the Master which absorbe
their whole hearts and minds, leaving no room
for any other interest therein at this tremend
GUS epoch-tho grand turning point of human
destnies and of our whole planets history.
From the parapet against which they were
leaning, they now gazed in silence upon the
splendid scenes below and opposite. Across a
maze of narrow streets they saw the mansions
the pinnacles, the towers, and that great
supernal "Tcmple of God, }" all soon to perish
violently, in general, a complete, and an
irreversible destruction. They saw the play
of light and shadow upon one long tree-lined
side Of Herod's proud palace; they saw the
ripple Of quivering leaves reflected upon the
white colonnades (and their tessellated, shady
too.s) of Pilates fatal house and, while
revolving thoughts and questions of unspeaks-
BILE Importance and solomnity, they all three
suddenly beheld an acted picture, a passing
scene, voiceless to them, yet impressive, which
blent itself into their recollection of other
scenes. never to be effaced from the memory of
mankind, which. not q week before, had been
under those very colonuades enacted.
woman in the attire of Roman matron
came quickly forth upon the frst-story balcony
in the house of Pontius PLATE, and, leaning
over the rail, waved her hand with an impera-
tive gesture to some one below.
She was followed into the balcony more
slowly by man wearing the grand costume of
an ancient Roman military governor, who held
in his hand q sealed and folded letter, tied
with the usual silk string. The man was
evidently Plate himself. He looked long and
gloomily at the letter, and seemed to be
plunged in thought He even let what he
carried fall ut his feet, and did not appear to
be aware of this for some moments. 1t was
the woman who picked up the letter and gave
II back into his hand. Then PLATE leaned
ever the balustrade, in his turn, and spoke to
man below in military costume, who was
mounted on powerful horse, and seemed to
De equipped for travel. The soldier saluted
looking up,SShen he was addressed, and "a
luted again when his superior had ceased
speaking; whereupon Plate dropped the
letter "a large and heavy dispatch), which the
soldier caught and secured under his belt,
inside the tunic, or "sagum," Immediately
atterward riding away at a canter. Our three
friends saw PLATE, his head bent and his ewes
on the ground, slowly and ponderingly re.en-
ter the house by q screen door, the same
through which he had come out upon the
balcony; but the lady, claspipg her hands q
little in front of her forehead, gaxed into the
heavens with q face ashy pale, and with eyes
from which tears were streaming.
1t is well-known and for centuries uniyer-
sally received tradition, besides being u fact
recorded by one most respectable and trust
worthy author (wbo, besides, was not o Chris.
uan, but Jew)-a fact without which the
allusions to it in various ancient authorities.
together with Phlegon the Chronolosers sub
seqaent recital of Tiberiuss extraordinary
conduct, would be unintelligble and unac-
countsble-that Pontius PLATE, harassed by
the uuappeasable reproaches of his wife, and
stunG by something within his own bosom
which allowed him peace no more until (sleep.
less, and unable again, unable for ever, to
sleep he bequeathed, some years afterward
by an awful death, whether intentional or
not, his name to great Alpine hill, hill not
thenceforth named, or to be named, while time
and mountains last, by any name but "Pilates"
among distant aud then barbarous nations--it
Is well known, say, that PLATE sent to Tibe-
RUS CTsar u long and minute relation con-
corning the life, the death, and the disappear
ance from the tomb of him whom he had
scourged, and whom the Jews had crucified, |
together with notice of the supernatural
wonders wrought byzhim his previous noto. |
rious announcement of HE own intended |
resurrection; the directly consequent and |
equally notorious precautions taken to hinder |
1t; the disappearance in spite of this of the
body; the testimony of the soldiers that they
Were witnesses to the abstraction, which thew
were unable to stop, because they alleged that
they were not witnesses Of it (beiDg buried in
sIeep); that, in fact, their testimony proved
ho'ninG save the body's disappearance from
the masSiVely- sealed tomb (Which would have
stood small siege); the failure of the Sypa.
soGue to account for the body; the account of
IL by the disciples; aud, finally, the admission
d the Phar'S"cs that all their prophets had
become une>plalnAhle if this was not their
Messiah, yet that sach Il conclusion VIVA 70
hem impossible, because he was to haye hao,
heir king, aud a couquernS king, and to bave
ounded an empire extending through. all
latioDs aud tongues; their stern and ever