The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-05-12
CHRI0T,A 6ENTENC E.

CHRIsT,a 6ENTENCE.
It Was Engraved on = Brass Plate
Which Still Exists.
Il viii probably b surprise TO 1 ma.
Jodg Of the people to learn that the orig.
ginal death sentence passed upon Jesu.
Christ il still in existence in the form Of
IN engraved plate, dating from the very
day the sentence was pronounced by
Pontius Plate, and which has been re
tanned through all these years as one of the
most precious of all relics of the Saviour.
The sentence is engraved on plste d
brass In tho Hebrew language, and on
the other side are the following words
"a similar plate has been sent to each
tribe"
This particular plate was discovered IN
tho year 1920 in the city of Aquilla, in
the Kingdom of Naples, by scientific
commission that had been appointed to
search that ancient city for the antiquities
known to have been kept there. Evidence
renal, ed that that city had been the
repository Of many old Roman records
and other documents and mementoes asso-
ciated with the early Roman Empire, and
for this reason it was especially made
the object of the commissions inquiry.
The plate bore every evidence of genu-
iheness, and accompanying it were reli.
able documents. and among the records
we're references which placed the authen-
ITCHY Of the engraving beyond question,
The plate is now kept in the chapel of
Caserta, little town twenty miles north
Of Naples, where it is contained in box
Of ebony and shown to curiosity loving
travellers; and many voyagers en- route
for Naples diverge from their beaten
track to visit this little chapel and look
upon the everlasting memorial Of the
most remarkable judicial sentence ever
pronounced In the history of the world,
Transitions in English, French and
German hang upon the wall near the
original, and it is thus understood, while
the study of the engraved lines and the
appearance of the simple brass appeal to
the Imagination Of even the most indif-
ferent, and bring to the minds eye the
picture of that memorable scene 1900
years ago. Aside from the sacred asso-
Citations that are called forth in every
Christian mind at sight Of this relic, there
is also the historical interest aroused by
looking upon an existing object that was
contemporaueous with and called forth
BY an incident that will be the most
prominent in history so long as the world
exists:
The plate reads as follows:
Sentence pronounced by .Pontius Pr
late, intendent of the Province of Lower
Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall suf-
fer death by the cross.
In the seventeeth year of the. Emperor
Tiberius, on the s5th day Of the month of
March, in the Holy City of Jerusalem,
during the pontidcate Of Annas and Cal.
aphas. i
Pontius Plate, intendent of the Prov
Ince of Lower Galllee, sitting In the pres
identia! seat of the Pretor, sentences
Jesus of Nazareth to death on the cross,
between two robbers, as numerous and
testimonies of the people prove:
e /. Jesus is misleader.
s 2. BE has excited the people to sedi-
ton. @ss IS = s~
8. He Is an enemy to the laws.
4. He calls himself the Son of God.
s, He calls himself falsely the King
of Israel.
8. He went into the Temple followed
BY multitude Of people carrying palms
in their hands.
Orders the FIRST centurion, Quirillins
Cornelius, to bring him to the place of
execution.
Forbids all persons, rich or poor, to
prevent 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 q value
that their owners probably never antici-
pated would cling to them by being at .
tached IS witnesses of the PRONUNCIATION
Of this sentence. E
The names Of the witnesses and the or
der which they come are:
/. Daniel Robani, Pharisee.
.. John sorobable.
s. Raphael Robani.
It is believed that twelve of these
plates were engraved aud sent to the
various tribes throughout Judea and over
into the Roman provinces Of Europe.
The remaining eleven are probably buried
IA widely separated points where they
never will he brought to the knowledge
Of mankind, or have long since been de-.
stroyed.
The engraving on the plate is we'll done
the Hebrew characters are cut deep and
with perfect accuracy. g