Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26

1t Was Engraved ON a Brass Plate,
Which still Exists.
From the New York Press.
1t will probably be a surprise to the ma
jorlty- Of the people to learn that the orig
nal death sentence passed upon Jesus
Christ Is still existence in the form of an
engraved plate. dating from the very day
the sentence was pronounced by Pontius
PLATE. and which has been retained through
all these years as one Of the most precious
of all relics of the Savior.
The sentence is engraved on a plate Of
brass in 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 year 12so in the city Of Aquills in the
kingdom Of Naples. by a scientific commits
sion that had been appointed to search that
ancient city for the antiquities known to
have been kept there. Evidence remained
that this city had been the repository Of
many old Roman records and other docu-
ments and mementoes associated with the
early Roman empire, and for this reason it
was especially made the object Of the COM
The plate bore every evidence OF gen.
uineness, and accompanying II were ret-
able documents. and among the records
were references which placed the anthem
ITCHY of the engraving beyond question.
The plate is now kept in the chapel of
Caserta, little town some twenty miles
north of Naples, where 1t is contained in a
box of ebony and shown to curiosity loving
travellers. and many voyagers> en- route for
Naples diverge from their beaten tracks
TO visit this little chapel and look upon
the everlasting memorial of the most re-
markable judicial sentence ever pronounce
ed In the history of the world
rTran alafi ions in noli ~
man hang upon the wall near the original
and 1t is thus readily understood, while
the study of the engraved lines and the ap-
pearance of the simple brass appeal to the
imagination of the most indifferent bring
to the minds eye the picture of that
most memorable scene 1850 years ago
Aside from the sacred associations that are
called forth in every Christian mind at
sight of this relic there is also the historical
interest aroused by looking upon an exist
ing object that was contemporaneous with
and called forth by an incident that will
be the most prominent In the history SO
long as the world exists.
The plate reads as follows:
Sentence pronounced by Pontius PLATE
intendant of the province of Lower Galilee
that Jesus of Nazareth shall suffer death
by the cross.
In the seventeenth year of the Emperor
Tiberius, and on the 25th day of the month
Of March. in the holy city Of Jerusalem
during the pontificate of Annas and Gala
phas.
Pontius PLATE, intendant of the province
of Lower Galilee, sitting in Judgment in
the presidential seat of the praetor, SEN
fences Jesus of Nazareth to death on q
cross, between two robbers, as numerous
and notorious testimonies of the people
prove:
l. Jesus Is a misleader
2. He has excited the people to sedition.
y. He Is an enemy to the laws.
4. He calls himself the Son Of God
He calls tppa pa1o h.
Israel. ,
6. He went into the temple followed by a
multitude Of people carrying palms in their
hands.
Orders the first centurion, Quirilius Cor
nelius, to bring him to the place Of execu-
ton.
Forbids 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 per-
petuated and given a value that their
owners probably never anticipated would
nesses OF the PRONUNCIATION Of this sentence
The names of the witnesses and the order
In which they come are:
]. Daniel Robani, 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 remain
ing eleven are probably buried in widely
separated points where they never will be
brought TO the knowledge of mankind, or
have long since beeen destroyed.
The engraving on the plate Is we'll done;
the Hebrew characters are cut deep and
with perfect accuracy.