The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-02

the most precious of all relics Of the
Savior.
The sentence is engraved on a plate Of
brass il the Hebrew language; and on its
side are the following words:
"A similar plate has been sent TO each
tribe"
This particular plate was discovered in
the wear 1880 in the city of Aquilla, in the
kingdom Of Naples, by a scientific com
mission that had been appointed to search
that ancient city for antiquities known
to have been kept there. Evidence re-
manned that this city had been the re
posiJory of many old Roman records and
other documents and mementoes associ-
ated with the early Roman empire, and
for this reason it was especially made the
OO,eCt of the commission inquiry.
The plate bore every evidence of gen
uiueness, and accompanying it were re
liable documents, and among the records
were references which placed the au-
thenticity of the engraving beyond ques-
tion. The plate is now kept in. the
/ chapel of Caserta, a little town some
twenty miles north of Naples, where it is
contained in a box of cLouy ana shown
TO curiosity-lOving travellers, and many
VOyaEers en- route for Naples diverge
from their beaten tracks 10 visit this
little chapel aud look upon the eYerlas T.
ing memorial of the most remarkable ju-
l.
history of the world.
TRANSACTIONS in English. French and
German hang upon the wall near the orig
inal, aud it is thus readily understood
while the study of the engraved lines and
the appearance of the simple brass appeal
TO the Imagination of the most indiner-
eut, bring TO the mind S eve the picture
of that most memorable scene l,S00 years
ago. Aside from the sacred associations
that are called forth in every Christian
mind at sight of this relic there is also
this historical interest aroused by look
ing upon an existing OBJECT that was con-
tempOrdneOus with and called forth by
an mi ent that will be the most proml-
nent in the history so long as the world
exists.
The plate reads as follows
Sentence pronounced by Pontius PLATE,
iutendant of the pro vince of Lower Cali
lee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall su1er
death by the cross.
In the 18th year of the Emperor Tiber-
ius, and on the 18th day of the month of
March, in the holy city of Jerusealem,
during the pontihcate of Annas and Gaia
phas.
Pontius PLATE intendant of the prov
ince of Lower Galilee, sitting in 1udg-
ment in the presidential seat of the prae-
tor. sentences Jesus of Nazareth to
death on a cross, between two robbers, as
numerous and notorious testimonies of
the people prove:
1. Jesus IS a misleader.
,. He has excited the people to sedi-
ton
g. He is an enemy to the laws.
T. He calls himself the Son of God.
,. He calls himself falsely the King of
Israel.
g. He went into the temple followed
by multitude Of people carrying palms
in their hands.
Orders the first centurion, Ouirilious
Cornelius, to brim him to the place of
execution.
Fornids all people, rich or poor, to pre-
vent the execution of Jesus.
This constitutes the body and of
course, the interesting portion of the
plate, but in addition the names Of three
men are perpetuated and given a value
that their owners probably never antici-
pated would cling TO them by being at
tached as witnesses of the PRONUNCIATION
of this sentence.
The names OF the witnesses and the or
der in which they come are;
]. Daniel Rooani, Pharisee.
2. John Sorobabel.
3. Raphael Robani.
1t is believed that twelve of these
plates were engraved and sent to the
various tribes throughout Judea, and
over into the roman provinces of Europe.
The remaining eleven are probably bur
led in widely separated points where
they never will be brought to the knowI-
edge Of mankind or have long since been
esUroyed.
The engraving on the plate is well done
the Hebrews characters are cut deep and
with perfect accuracy.