The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-04
DEATH ON THE CROSS.
How II Was Inflicted in the Time Of
the ROmnns.

from the New York Herald
1t was only natural that the early and
medieval Christians. finding the cross a
symbol OF life among the nations Of an
uquity, should look curiously into the Old
Testament to see whether there were not
foreshadowings in il Of the wood where
by righteousness cometh." Nor was their
search unrewarded. In Isaac leaving the
wood Of the sacrifice they saw preigured
both Christ and the cross. They saw the
cross in Moses with arms expanded on the
Mount, IN the pole, with transverse bars
upon which was wreathed the brazen SER
pent, in the two sticks gathered by the
widow Of Sarpeta. But plainest Of all, they
read 1t in Ezekial, TX. a. s, Go through the
midst of the city, through the midst of Je-
rusalem, and set a mark upon the fore
heads of the men" that are to be saved
from destruction by the sword. The word
here rendered mark is in the Vulgate
sigma thau." The THAI was the old He
brew character. shaped like a cross, which
was regarded as the sign of life, felicity
and safety.
Yet the cross was not always a symbol
of honor. Among the Phoenicians and Sy-
rians, and later among the Romans, Il
was punishment inflicted on slaves, rob-
bers, assas@ns and rebels-among which
last Jesus was reckoned on account of His
proclaiming Himself King, or Messiah.
The person sentenced TO this u1uiShrnenf
was stripped of his clothes, except a COW
ering around the loins In a state of mud
ity he was beaten with whips Such was
the severity. Of this fiagellation that num-
bers died OF II. Jesus was crowned with
thorns, and was made the subject of mock
cry; but insults of this kind were not com
mon. In this instance they were owing
to the Detulance Of the Roman soldiers.
The criminal, having been beaten, was
condemned TO the further suffering OF car
rying the cross TO the place of punishment,
which was commonly hill near the pub
lie highway, and out of the city. The place
of crucifiXiOn at Jerusalem was a hill to
the northwest Of the city. The cross,
pitiOus or ominous tree-consisted Of a
piece Of wood erected perpendcularly, and
intersected by another al right angles,
near the top. The crime for which the
culprit suffered was inscribed on the
transverse piece, near the top of the per-
pendicular one. There is no mention made
by the ancient writers Of anything on
which the feet of the crucified person
rested. 1t is known, however, that near
the base of the perpendicular beam, on
which he sat, and which answered as a
support to the body-snce the weight of
the latter might have otherwise torn the
hands by the nails driven through them.
The cross, when driven firmly in the
ground, rarely exceeded ten feet in hight.
The victim was elevated and his hands
We're bound by rope around the trans
verse beam and nailed through the palm
His feet were also nailed. He thus re-
manned fastened until death ended his suf-
ferngs. While he exhibited any signs of
left him when II appeared that he was
dead. If there was no prospect that the
victim would die on the day of execution
the eXecutioners FASTENED the end by kim
ding fire at the foot of the cross so as TO
suffocate him with smoke; or by letting
loose upon him wild beasts; or occasional
~ when in particular haste by breaking
his bones upon the cross with a mallet. as
upon an anvil. II was at one time custom
airy to offer the criminal, before the com
mencement of his sufferings a medicated
drink, compounded of wine and myrrh.
The object of this was to produce in
toxication, and thereby to lessen the suf-
fering.
Crucifxion was not only the most ieno
minious, but by far the most cruel mode
OF punishment. The victim sometimes liv-
ed until the seventh day The thieves
who were executed at the same time with
our Savior were broken with mallets on
the same day; and in order to ascer-
tain the condition Of Jesus, a lance was
thrust in His side, but no signs of life
appeared.
Cicero says the very name Of the cross
should be removed afar, mot only from
the body, but from the thoughts, the eyes
the ears of Roman citizens. for all these
thirgs not only the actual occurrence
and endurance, but the very contingency
and expectation, nay the mention Itself
are unworthy Of a Roman citizen and a
free man" Hence the force of St Pauls
frequent illusions to the humiliation
which Christ endured when He suffered
death upon the cross.
IL was precisely this idea which made
the early Christians seize upon the cross
as the emblem Of their faith. That which
had been the symbol 20, Of shame now be-
came their glory The instrument Of
Christs passion, by his death upon II,
became hallowed for all time.
II should think you would feel a bit
nervous over the idea Of your husband