New-York tribune., 1896-09-29
having commercial value being untaxed: l. e. any
one may use II. JULIA A. KELLOGG
Orange. ~ j. Sept. 25 1896
THE GROWN OF THoRNs" AGAIN,
INAFIITTDE OF THE SMILE POINTED OTT-NIIAT
THE CROWN ON CTIRIsT'S HEAD
REALLY MEANT.

1NAPTITuDE OF THE SMILE POINTED oUT-wHAT
THE CROWN ON CTRIsT'S HEAD
REALLY MEANT.
To the Elor OF The Tribune.
Sir Much has been said in criticism public and
otherwise, and strong exception taken end Justly
So to Mr.. Bryan's igurative phraseology regarding
the cross and crown of thorns." In the gentle
mans somewhat highly colored Illustration. the
object sought for seems TO have been synonymic
comparison between the sufrerings and mockery OF
Christ in the barrack room of the debased Prae-
torium soldieIy and the so-termed crushing OF the
toing masses beneath the iron wheels of monopo-
listic despotism. After Mr.. Bryans choice phrase
"ogc peculiarities have received careful consider
alton and comparison vainly sought the question
might possibly arise Was Christ, in truth. ever
subjected TO the torture of thorns as depicted
through art and tradition II not and IT is so un-
derstood by the ab!est Biblical critics. Mr.. Bryan
must again seek some other pictorial medium TO
bolster up his now dapidate ted and much-shattered
boreastic platform
Religious art sprnging from the Renaissance.
has presented Christ not only with the crown OF
thorns at the time of mockery in mimicry OF the
Emperor's laurel. but has depicted the Messiah as
still wearing the thorns-and a most terrible insru-
ment of torture the appears TO beat his
execution. when each Gospel is absolutely silent re-
gardng thorns at the crucifxon. Possibly slight
review ci Shrists apprehension. etc. would not be
After the arrest at Gethsemane lie led by
the Roman soldiers under the tribune over the
kdron to the palace of the High Priest. His three
trials followed The first. before Annas, known as
the praejudicum the second or discriminating one.
before Joseph Ciaphas; the third ratifying one.
before the entire Sanhedrin. confederacy OF time
ser ing priests the Boethusin, the kamhits the
Pht Dis the family of Hannah mostly Of on-Pales-
tinii orgin-supported by the Government. but
cor '1cted of crimen aesae majestats against Jeho-
va 'ut. as the Jews were deprived of the Jus 1us
gao., the Roman power must condemn and infiict
the means of execution.
Before TIE Procurator. Pontius PLATE, a tool OF
Tiberass mister and favorite. sejanus Christ
was brought Then He was sent by Plate TO
Herod Antipas. who occupied the old Asmonaean
Palace at Jerusalem. and by him returned to Plate,
who ordered Him to be subjected TO the horrible
hagillum." Horace expresses il; and then handed
n bgs rio @ US to the SUBJECT o
ence. Before crowning Christ the plain h abba a OF
let sagum. or soldiers cloak, which undoubtedly
time was buckled His right shoulder. with It's
gittering nbula, burlesque OF the one Woi" ~
hands. and amid peas of brutal laughter ar, an"
coarse derison He hailed King OF the Jews
wreath Of so-caIled thorns? While carefully ex-
amining the Gospels in the original we ma @ tnal
sistent writers OF sacred narration, passes ovea .e
the let preuntibus addita ludibria' without tne
slightest reference to its occurrence, whlIe IN
Matthew. Mark and John the incident IS prominent,
y noticed. Matthew speaks of 1t az follows, ana
his head" Mark: INTERVIEWING an acanthus
wreath" John: And the soldiers wrcathing
From these references ii is noticed that the
acanthus. also known bears foot. was the
plant from which the crown was wreatheu anu
from which no more rain could have been expert
enced by Christ than from the large wnlte turnan
he wore to protect his head from the hot syrian
sun. Unfortunately. art, through the strong re-
ligous sentiment of the medieval age abused i,s
''lcentia vatum." when 1t in this instance shoulc
have strictly adhered TO facts. Even our modern
realsts In art-Vassili Nerestchagn. In his work
kacsv's Christ on Calvary" dssD-secm to have
been governed by tradition and not by truth Inc
jagged crown which art erronousy uIPc'S s If
one made from the thorny nubk OF the ARABS. d
plant so tough and whose thorns are are 700 @rf
and strong to even have been woven into Wrcath,
that 1t would have been Impossible to nave mace
then, the object Of the crown. II not Deing an
instrument for the infction of pain? It's purpose
was that OF insult and mGckery; h1,hing ha ,p
caused him no more Inconvenience than so many
mopS D M wo%S oSann haVe Of
the New Testament" 1t Is stated that the crown
was not intended to torture Chrisrs head; b,t
rather 70 mock his claim to royalty .1D} 1T cIann, @
the well-known Biblical critic, states The crown
was nothing like thorns"
now say as he Will be obliged to seek some other
medium OF torture to press down upon the brow OF
suffering labor? The scourge still remains for his
repertory Of Biblical rhetoric and could be used TO
excellent purpose If applied to the backs Of those
doctrine that the DEPRECIATION of a currency en-
hances It's valuc has poisoned somewhat the blood
O. our commercial and manufacturing industries
But let us, with we'll assured hopes. wait until the
morning following election, when Mr Bryan hears
of tho Overwhelming victory for Mckinley and
Hobart for honest and sound money, for protec-
tion of the court of highest appeal. Tor govern
mental interestc above those Of State, when
tering and strengthening our American Industries,
and above all. for the honor and name Of the
American Nation in the eyes of the civilized world.
Then Will Mr. Bryan learn that a false balance IS
abomnaton. not only to the Lord, but 10 a people;
Jul '''' BENJ A. JEssUP
No. 225 Pearl-st., New-York City, Sept p. 1890.