New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-22
DISCUSSING CHRIST BEFORE PLATE"

DISCUSSING CtthlSl ILF1A''
DR. VAN DYKE WOULD CALL IT " PLATE BEFORE
CHlI~T'-A GREAT PICTURE.
In the Brick Presbyterian Church DR. II. J. Van
Dvke ir smoke on plate Before Christ His text
was in St Luke's GOSPEL: "And the whole company
OF them rose Up and brought him before Plate" The
subject was suggested by MunAacsys painting. In
the introduction 10 his sermon he said;
Three men were Immediately concerned in the
death Of Jesus Christ, JUDAS lscarot greedy ira
or: Caapha-, cruel bigot; am Ionuus Ilate-What
the Interest of thoughtful people For it Is at once
apparent that there are conflicting elements IN tne
character OF this man. The problem o. MS person
alltv Is complicated and III, refOre stimulates our
moral curiosity. lie i not to be cassed with Judas
ciares itself at But the secret of Pilates dis
Know how a man with so much good in him could
haze acted SO bad y; how judge who had so keen
a sense Of justice could Lave consented at last l"
such fragrant inlquiy. , ,. 3, .
This inquiry II awakened with fresh Interest Just
by the presence IN our city OF great picture
which deals IN a mas terry way with This cry point
call i great picture because aieT an our c or
O jections 10 the artists method and 70 his coorng,
after we have expressed deep dissatisfaction with
SAVIOUR Of the World II stlll remains true that the
tent. Intense throbbng with life. But it has been
n snamed. II does not re present Christ sei tse
Is the true a. ect of that scene before the Prhorium
The prisoner is the Judge H position = secure;
hi- destiny i Pilae who Is beng WEIGHED ID IN the
teeniy the painter has expressed this. Look that
heavy thick set figure, IN IT, brawny arms, bul
neck and bullet head clad III the robe Of white and
purnle and ted the Benla which represents for
Judca. the imperial throne. All the mighty power,
Rome are there. But read the palld countenance
with it, contracted brow. furtive eyes. nervous v
wording lips rrach the tremuious hand with IT. fin
gers half outstretcbed and IT. uptnrned palm, ana
YOU Will see the miserable lndechlOn OF the man VINO
knows the Cht but il afraid TO do it. the wretched
time serving loliuca1 "nSse sUI Is ye dorur VIZ sa
q thousand innocent men suffer than have his little
place and his ignObc dign " inn erilled. What 30
contempthle a. low man in high station. a selfish
man IN control Of just c.. man who regards public
such man was Governor PLATE. For the character
which this picture eas 70 Us If true 10 history.
Or Van Dyi'e then proceeded TO sum up what il
known OF Piate from secular accounts, and then
b Is seen as in the picture seated on the
Cod the preacher discussed the subject Of moral
cowariice that threatens men in modern life.
HOW MP. LLOYD WAS IMPRESSED.
The Rev William Lloyd in the Central Congregational
Church, spoke upon the words And the whole multi
tude Of them arose and brought Him Plate He said
in part:
There sphere in which the genius of has
umphed where great men sprang from the ranks Of
a. Lorraine are grand examples OF like birth was the
artist Mnnkacsy. Rising through great difficulties his
Christ before PLATE and Calvary are destined 10
BE- lasting do not crtcise the painting IL "a work Of
printed my consciousness The is Herods Judg
nent hall It is early morning Plate has taken his
official scat Before him stands the Christ His bound
hands are his breast His deep clear rests
not the crowd. the Jews. on his aecusers but
PLATE. BY Plate stands accusing Caaphas. Back OF
Christ stands the bowling crowd and only face the
t,,ctl,re that Of beautiful woman, shows sympathy
There is much criticism Of the face
ana figure Of the Christ IL Is too
human But Is this criticism just
TO portray Man Of SOrrOws n not easy Munkacsy,
ia his study Of the character that triumphant
glorious Christ would be the sympathetic Christ The
head of Christ al that deyOut wOr.ipper could de-
sire. The picture pOTtTays my hca Christ no haoed
Spirit II shows tie of Man IN his dlNlnest fOrl te
brother o. the oppressed and wronged Ia every age he
interest the picture In the three ngres, CHRIST
taiphas aud Plate Christ the supreme OF me lniee'
His calm majestic stands In contrast 10 the athS
accusing Caapas. and 10 the hesating Undecided COW
ardly Plate The picture well shows Pilates detestaA0n
of TIE Jews, bnt The dOwncas weak shows MS lnce
cison OF character Careleasy he asks Jesus nat ls
truth J! mat Is the moment seized by the artist
But this u not painting OF "A IL u a
portrait OF history The Christ OF the TRIAL is but
The Christ OF history tumping the Judaism Of Cal
aDhas and the pagansm of Plate That fettered hand
Is the that has struck of the letters
Of every slave; that hand that destroyed
the power Of the Roman Empire that hand that over
threw proudest ecelesiaseisn that ever existed IL
siiall strike down the vulgar hands In this
Sneeenth century would destroy freedom Of speech and
se freedom Of eeclecastcism- This the Christ